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Why Should Sellers Avoid Offering Low or No Buyer's Agent Commission?

Updated: Apr 13

Image courtesy Housingwire


Did you know that it's possible as a seller being represented by a listing agent (or a seller representing themself) to provide no buyer's agent commission? While that's been possible for years, following the NAR settlement, now it's official & a lot more people know about it. However, doing so substantially lowers your buyer pool and the agents that will push your property to their buyers, so I allow it if a seller wants to, but it's not something I typically recommend. Per NAR's 2023 Quick Real Estate Statistics available in 2024, "89% of buyers purchased their home through a real estate agent or broker." Most of them didn't pay their buyer's agent's commission, but if you don't, they may need to if they want to buy your house, and if they don't want to, they may not even see your house, even if their buyer's agent is following their orders and doing things ethically.


  • NAR Settlement Impact

  • "Nationally, lower commission rates were associated with fewer page views, more days on market and lower odds of a sale." The odds of sale were less than half as likely for buyer agent commissions offered under 2%.

  • Many Agents Tend to Direct Buyers' Attention Away from Low Commission Properties, Even Though They Aren't Supposed to

  • You'll be Cutting Out Some Buyers from the Buyer Pool Due to Minimum Commissions in Buyer Brokerage Agreements Even if the Agent Does What They are Supposed to Do

  • The Top # of Closings Builder, Who Does the Highest Revenue is Also One of the Most Generous W/ Buyer's Agent Commissions

  • Hampton Roads Buyer Agent Commission Data from REIN MLS

  • Who is Listing Under 2% in Hampton Roads (.3% of active listings, excluding Ryan Homes, in a 2021 search)?

  • Who is Listing Under 2.5% in Hampton Roads (3.2% under $200k in a 2021 search)

  • % Commission Varies by Market


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