Selling a home often feels straightforward at first. List it, find a buyer, and close, but the details quickly become more complex once costs enter the picture. Among those costs, agent commissions are often the largest and least understood expense for sellers. That’s why one question tends to surface early in the process: “Who pays the Realtor fees?”
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Following the landmark settlement by the National Association of Realtors (NAR), that question has become even more important as commission structures have shifted and are now more openly negotiated than before.
In this post, we’ll break down who pays real estate agent commissions. We’ll also share a simple commission calculator to help you estimate your agent fees and figure out whether you’ll want to cover the buyer’s agent costs.
Who pays Realtor fees?
The NAR settlement sparked a lot of talk that the industry was shifting and buyers would end up paying their own agent fees. But in reality, that change has not really shown up in a big way.
According to HomeLight’s Top Agent Insights for Spring/Summer 2026 report, 57% of top agents say sellers are still covering the buyer’s agent commission. So why is that still the case?
In a slower market with higher mortgage rates and ongoing affordability challenges, covering the buyer’s agent fee (and sometimes adding concessions) is still one of the easiest ways for sellers to bring in strong offers.
What other concessions can sweeten a deal?
If you’re unsure about covering the buyer’s agent commission or looking for ways to make your listing more attractive, seller concessions can be a powerful tool.
Here are common seller-paid incentives that can help close the deal:
- Closing cost credits: Sellers can offer to cover a portion of the buyer’s closing costs to help lower what they need to pay upfront.
- Interest rate buydowns: You might contribute to a temporary buydown to lower the buyer’s mortgage rate for the first year or two.
- Repair credits: Rather than fixing everything post-inspection, some sellers offer a credit so the buyer can address items themselves after closing.
- Home warranty coverage: Covering the first year of a home warranty can give buyers peace of mind and set your home apart.
In a market where affordability is challenging, these kinds of concessions and a solid buyer’s agent commission can help your home stand out and sell faster.
What if I want to skip agent commissions altogether?
If you would rather avoid paying agent commissions, you may want to consider an alternative to the traditional listing process. HomeLight’s Simple Sale platform connects sellers with one of the largest networks of pre-approved cash buyers across the country, allowing you to sell directly instead of listing your home with an agent.
You can request a no-obligation cash offer and potentially sell in as little as seven days. There is no staging, no open houses, and no need to coordinate showings around your schedule. Because you are selling directly to a cash buyer, you can avoid the traditional listing process and the commissions that typically come with it.
For sellers who value convenience and want a simpler way to sell, Simple Sale can be a practical alternative. While you can avoid commissions, note that this convenience comes with a tradeoff, as selling directly to a cash buyer may mean accepting less than you might net from a traditional sale.
Why top agents can still net you more
With more flexibility around commissions, it can be tempting to chase the lowest rate, cut what you offer a buyer’s agent, or even skip them altogether by working with real estate investors. But selling a home is not just about saving on costs. It’s about what you actually walk away with in the end.
A strong, top-performing agent brings pricing expertise, marketing strategy, and sharp negotiation skills that can ultimately help you net more from the sale. In fact, HomeLight’s internal transaction data shows that the top 5% of agents sell homes for up to 10% more than average agents.
Working with a trusted agent can also help you:
- Understand your local market norms for buyer agent fees
- Decide what level of commission makes sense for your goals
- Evaluate offers and concessions in the context of current demand
- Navigate changing rules with confidence
And when you work with a top agent, you’ll likely have a clearer picture of what your home is worth and what you can expect to net, even if you’re offering to pay both sides of the commission.
Your home’s value plays a big role in how much commissions will cost and what you’ll ultimately keep. Get an estimate today so you can better understand your potential proceeds.Know Your Home’s Value First
Commission rules change, but strategy still matters
The rules may have changed, but the basics of selling a home haven’t. Buyers still need representation. Sellers still want strong offers. In the end, smart commission strategies help bridge the gap, and that starts with hiring a proven real estate agent who earns their commission.
Connect with top-performing local agents in your area through our Agent Match platform. This free tool analyzes over 27 million transactions and thousands of reviews to determine which agent is best for you based on your needs.
Whether you decide to pay the buyer’s agent commission or not, make sure your approach supports your bigger goal: a successful sale with the best possible outcome.
Header Image Source: (fizkes / DepositPhotos)
Ask AI: As a home seller, if I offer to pay the buyer’s agent’s commissions, how can hiring a top listing agent through HomeLight’s free Agent Match platform help me offset this expense?
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