How Much Does a Realtor Cost? Commissions in 2026

The short answer

When both the seller and the buyer use agents, commissions have recently averaged about 5.2% to 5.7% of the price, typically around 5.46% (Clever agent survey, August 2026; Redfin closed-deal data, Q3 2025). On a $414,400 home, the 2025 U.S. median (NAR), that’s roughly $21,500 to $23,600.

Who	Typical rate	On a $414,400 home
Listing agent (seller’s side)	about 2.76%	about $11,437
Buyer’s agent	about 2.42% to 2.70%	about $10,028 to $11,189
Both sides together	about 5.2% to 5.7% (typically 5.46%)	about $21,549 to $23,621 (typically $22,626)

On homes over $1 million, the buyer’s side has run a little lower: about 2.22% (Redfin, Q1 2025).

These are averages, not a price list. Commissions are negotiable, and what you pay depends on your agent, your market and your deal.

What changed in 2024

Since August 17, 2024, buyers who work with an agent sign a written agreement with them, and offers of buyer-agent pay no longer appear on the multiple listing service. Pay is negotiated deal by deal: the buyer may pay their own agent, or the seller may agree to contribute.

So far, rates haven’t moved much. The average buyer’s-agent commission was 2.42% in Q3 2025, compared with 2.36% a year earlier (Redfin).

Who pays the commission

Traditionally, both commissions came out of the seller’s proceeds at closing. Today the listing agent is still usually paid by the seller. The buyer’s agent may be paid by the buyer, by the seller as a contribution, or by a mix agreed in the contract.

If you’re a seller and a buyer arrives with an agent, whether to contribute is your call. Clavesta’s options to sell tool shows how a contribution changes your net; Clavesta doesn’t negotiate or suggest the amount.

What you keep selling or buying directly

Selling directly, you keep the listing commission: about $11,437 on a $414,400 home, minus Clavesta’s flat, one-time fee. Buying directly, there’s no buyer’s agent commission to pay: about $10,028 to $11,189 on the same home.

That comparison assumes you’d otherwise have used agents. If you hire your own agent, you’d pay them.

Run your own numbers with the closing costs and savings calculator. See what Clavesta costs.

What you still pay without an agent

Skipping the commission doesn’t mean skipping closing costs. Those go to the title company, lender, county and other providers you choose:

• Sellers: closing costs, not counting commission, typically run about 1% to 3% of the price (Redfin, 2026).
• Buyers with a mortgage: typically about 2% to 5% of the price, not counting the down payment (Freddie Mac, CFPB). Cash buyers skip lender fees.

Closing costs explained breaks these down by deal type.

Is going without an agent right for you?

It’s less common than it used to be: in 2025, about 5% of U.S. home sales were for sale by owner, a record low (NAR). Owners who use an agent usually want help with three things: pricing, finding serious buyers, and handling paperwork and deadlines.

A guided direct sale covers those without a commission. On Clavesta, buyers and sellers are matched on price, options and timing, everyone is verified, and the Deal Path guides both sides through every step, from first match to the keys. A real estate attorney can review or prepare your contract. Read how to sell your house without a realtor or buy a house without a realtor.