Since the real estate commission rules changed back in August 2024, there’s been no shortage of news stories, videos, and conversations about what it all means. And yet—confusion still reigns.

That confusion isn’t just among buyers and sellers. Even real estate brokerages are handling things differently. Over the past few months, I’ve been getting the same two questions over and over again:

• “Do sellers still have to pay the buyer’s agent commission?”

• “As a buyer, do I now have to pay my agent directly out of pocket?”

If you’ve been wondering the same, you’re not alone. That’s why I made a video breaking everything down in plain English—what’s changed, what hasn’t, and what it actually means for you whether you're buying or selling.

What Actually Changed?

Here’s the short version: there can no longer be unilateral offers of compensation in the MLS. That means sellers and their listing agents can no longer automatically offer a set fee to the buyer’s agent through the MLS like they used to.

Instead, commissions are now uncoupled. Sellers negotiate their fee with their listing agent. Buyers negotiate their fee with their buyer’s agent. Totally separate.

What This Means If You’re Selling

You’re no longer required to offer compensation to a buyer’s agent—but that doesn’t mean you won’t be asked to. Most buyers will still request some kind of closing cost credit to help cover the fee they owe their agent.

The good news? It’s all negotiable now. Nothing is assumed. You get to evaluate each offer based on the total package, not just price.

Still, if you outright refuse to contribute anything toward the buyer’s agent, you may shrink your buyer pool. Many buyers today can afford the monthly mortgage but are tight on cash for extras. If they can’t afford both the down payment and agent fees, they might skip your home altogether.

What This Means If You’re Buying

There’s more change on the buyer side—especially this one big shift: you now need to sign a buyer representation agreement before an agent can show you a home.

I’ll be honest: I don’t love this rule. It forces commitment before you even know if you and your agent are a good fit.

The workaround? Many agents (myself included) now offer short-term or property-specific agreements. Think of it like a first date—you get to see how things go without locking yourself in long-term.

The upside? You now have more flexibility than ever before. You can:

• Work with a full-service agent

• Use an agent in a limited role (for inspections, contracts, etc.)

• Represent yourself

• Hire a real estate attorney

• Go directly to the listing agent (although I don’t recommend this—more on that in the video)

So... Are Sellers Still Covering Commissions?

Yes—most of the time. They’re just doing it differently.

In our local market, when I list a home, we discuss whether the seller is willing to contribute toward the buyer’s agent fee. If the answer is yes (and it usually is), we mark “Seller Concessions: Yes” in the MLS.

From there, it becomes part of the negotiation process. Agents submit offers including the amount they’ve agreed upon with their buyer, and the seller decides whether or not to accept it—just like any other offer term.

Why This All Matters

At the end of the day, this shift is about transparency and flexibility. Everyone now has more control, more choices, and—yes—more responsibility.

Whether you’re buying or selling, the best thing you can do is have honest conversations with your agent upfront about how everything works and what your options are.

Let’s Talk About Your Plans

Still have questions? You’re not alone. That’s why I offer a free 30-minute consultation to help you sort through it all.

📅 Click here to book a time on my calendar

Thanks for reading, and I hope this helped bring some clarity to all the recent changes in real estate commission rules. Watch the video above if you haven’t already—it goes into even more detail.

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