If the seller refuses to pay, you must cover the fee as part of your closing costs.
You can technically "finance" the fee by offering a higher purchase price in exchange for a seller credit that covers your agent’s commission. Key Cost Benchmarks (2026)
As of 2026, you generally pay a buyer's agent commission ranging from of the home's purchase price . While historically the seller covered this fee, recent legal changes (the NAR settlement ) mean you are now directly responsible for negotiating and potentially paying your agent's fee yourself. Who Actually Pays?
There are now three primary ways your realtor gets paid at closing:
You can negotiate for the seller to cover your agent's fee as a "concession" in your purchase offer. This remains common as it helps attract buyers who may not have extra cash for fees.
Based on current national averages, here is what you might expect to pay at common home price points: Home Price 2.5% Commission 3% Commission $500,000 $750,000 New Rules for Buyers
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If the seller refuses to pay, you must cover the fee as part of your closing costs.
You can technically "finance" the fee by offering a higher purchase price in exchange for a seller credit that covers your agent’s commission. Key Cost Benchmarks (2026) how much do you pay a realtor when buying
As of 2026, you generally pay a buyer's agent commission ranging from of the home's purchase price . While historically the seller covered this fee, recent legal changes (the NAR settlement ) mean you are now directly responsible for negotiating and potentially paying your agent's fee yourself. Who Actually Pays? If the seller refuses to pay, you must
There are now three primary ways your realtor gets paid at closing: While historically the seller covered this fee, recent
You can negotiate for the seller to cover your agent's fee as a "concession" in your purchase offer. This remains common as it helps attract buyers who may not have extra cash for fees.
Based on current national averages, here is what you might expect to pay at common home price points: Home Price 2.5% Commission 3% Commission $500,000 $750,000 New Rules for Buyers
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