Century 21 agents typically charge around a 3% listing fee, which is in line with the industry standard. Exact fees may vary between Century 21 offices because the company uses a franchise model, which means each office is an independently owned business.
Average real estate commission in the U.S. is trending slightly downward. It currently sits at 5.32%, split between the listing agent (2.74%) and the buyer’s agent (2.58%). For a home valued at the U.S. median price of $428,096, that works out to about $22,774 in total commission. Sellers who use a Century 21 agent can expect to pay close to these average fees.
However, you can save money on your listing agent fee by negotiating directly with your agent, handling the sale yourself, or using a top low-commission brokerage like Clever Real Estate. Clever has pre-negotiated lower listing commission rates — 1.5% for home sellers — with experienced local agents from top brokerages like Century 21, Keller Williams, and Coldwell Banker. There’s no obligation, and referral to a full-service, top agent near you is free. Get proposals sent straight to your inbox from local agents charging a 1.5% listing fee.
Let’s dig into how Century 21 agents are paid, how the firm calculates real estate commission, and what the fees cover.
What is Century 21?
Founded in 1971, Century 21 is a major real estate brokerage with more than 14,000 independently owned and operated franchise offices across 86 countries.
Does Century 21 pay a base salary?
Century 21 agents do not earn a base salary; they earn only commission, taking a percentage of the total sales price. As one Century 21 agent put it in a Glassdoor review, “For agents this is entirely commission only; if you don't produce you don't earn anything, but if you do produce you can earn.”
However, Century 21 agents don’t get to keep the entire commission — the brokerage company takes a cut.This unique approach is called a commission split. Learn more about Century 21’s commission split.
How much are Century 21 Realtor® fees?
Century 21 follows the traditional model for commission. Your listing agent will take a percentage of the total sales price of your home, typically around 3%, for the services they provide. This includes conducting a comparative market analysis (CMA), pricing and listing your home, and negotiating with buyers.
For many years, the traditional arrangement required the seller to pay both their agent’s commission and the buyer’s agent’s commission. A 6% commission was split evenly between the seller’s agent and the buyer’s agent. However, a recent lawsuit settlement against the National Association of Realtors® (NAR) made significant changes to how commission is paid.
Sellers are no longer obligated to pay the buyer’s agent commission, and listing agents can no longer advertise a specific buyer’s agent commission to attract buyers. That leaves buyers responsible for paying their agent out of pocket, through a negotiated seller concession, or by rolling it into their financing. While most sellers will still want to offer some kind of financial concession to attract buyers, this settlement is a big win for sellers and a definite opportunity for savings.
How much does Century 21 charge to sell a house?
While commission rates are negotiable, Century 21 agents generally use the default, industry-standard listing commission: around 3% (2.74% national average) of the total sales price of the home. In addition, most sellers will want to offer a buyer’s agent concession of just under 3% (2.54% national average) to bring in buyers.
Say you sell your home for $360,000 with a 6% commission rate. Your total fees as a seller will add up to about $21,600, with your Century 21 agent pocketing about half that.
While the recent NAR settlement means sellers are no longer required to pay the buyer’s agent commission, experts agree that most sellers will want to continue to offer a competitive buyer’s agent concession to attract buyers. Simply put, in this post-settlement market, buyers will be attracted to homes that offer a concession to cover their agent’s commission, rather than homes that leave the buyer to pay that commission out of pocket.
Should you use Century 21 to sell your house?
Century 21 is a reputable, national brokerage with decent reviews and many high-quality agents. But while the company offers brand recognition and institutional knowledge, it doesn’t have any built-in savings for home sellers or buyers.
There’s no clear-cut reason to use Century 21 over other big brokerages like Keller Williams or Compass. They’re also at a distinct disadvantage compared to low-commission brokerages like Redfin or Clever Real Estate, which offer full-service agent experiences at a significantly lower price point. That means sellers get the same benefits, support, and resources of a traditional full-commission agent but can save up to 50% in commissions.
Clever Partner Agents work for a flat fee of 1.5% if your home sells, saving you thousands in commission fees. All our Partner Agents are full-service, top-rated agents from major brands and brokerages like Century 21. They’ll help you navigate the entire selling process, from pre-listing home prep to closing day.
See how you can save thousands in commission by selling for 1.5% and working with a high-performing agent in your area. Answer a few questions about your home to get matched with a full-service Clever Partner Agent.