Who pays the buyer's agent commission in 2026?
After the 2024 NAR settlement, the answer changed. Buyer-agent commission is now negotiated on every deal, and sellers still cover it on most sales. Here is how it works, and how it connects to your rebate.
The short answer, and what changed
Buyer-agent commission is now negotiated on every deal. Since the National Association of Realtors settlement took effect on August 17, 2024, sellers are no longer automatically responsible for paying the buyer agent, and that pay can no longer be posted on the MLS. Instead, you and your agent agree on the fee in a written buyer-representation agreement before you start touring homes.
So who actually pays it?
On paper, the buyer is now responsible for their own agent fee. In practice, sellers still cover it on most transactions, roughly three out of four, by offering a concession negotiated as part of the deal. So the money often still comes out of the sale rather than your pocket, but it is no longer automatic. It is negotiated.
How much is it?
There is no legally set rate, and there never was. Buyer-agent fees commonly run around 2 to 2.5 percent of the purchase price, but everything is negotiable. Because the fee is now spelled out in writing up front, this is the natural moment to discuss both the rate and whether part of it can come back to you as a rebate.
How this connects to a rebate
A rebate is simply your agent returning part of the commission they earn. Whether the seller covers that commission through a concession or you negotiate it directly, a rebate-friendly agent can hand part of it back to you at closing, in states where rebates are allowed. Settling the fee and the rebate in the same written agreement, before you tour homes, is when you have the most leverage.
See how much a rebate is worth in your state →
Frequently asked questions
Who pays the buyer agent commission in 2026?
Since the NAR settlement took effect in August 2024, the buyer is contractually responsible, but sellers still cover it on most sales through a negotiated concession. It is decided deal by deal.
How much is the buyer agent commission?
There is no set rate. It commonly runs about 2 to 2.5 percent of the purchase price and is fully negotiable, agreed in writing before you tour homes.
Did buyer agent commissions change in 2024?
Yes. As of August 17, 2024, sellers no longer automatically pay the buyer agent and the fee can no longer be posted on the MLS. Buyers now sign a written agreement setting the fee.
← All research & guidesSource: National Association of Realtors settlement rules effective August 17, 2024, and 2026 market reporting on buyer-agent compensation. This is general information, not legal or financial advice.