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One Year Since NAR’s New Commission Rules
August 17 marked one year since the National Association of Realtors® (NAR) put new commission rules into place as part of a settlement agreement. These rules changed how buyers and sellers pay their real estate brokers and led to major discussions in the industry.
New NAR Commission Rules:
- Buyers must now sign agreements with their agents before touring homes. These agreements must clearly explain how the agent will be paid.
- Sellers are no longer allowed to list offers of buyer-agent compensation in the MLS.
- Buyers must either pay their agents directly or negotiate for the seller to cover the cost through concessions.
These changes caused many buyer agents to worry about how they would get paid.
Industry leaders say the effects have been uneven.
NextHome CEO James Dwiggins called the results “a mixed bag,” since outcomes depend on how brokerages, MLSs, and REALTOR® groups adjust to the new system.
NAR said the new rules have given consumers more choices and improved transparency for both buyers and sellers, and that members are committed to supporting the changes.
What the Data Shows:
- Buyer-agent commissions have stayed mostly stable.
- According to Redfin, the average buyer-agent commission was 2.43% in the second quarter of 2025. This is slightly down from 2.51% at the start of 2023, but a bit higher than 2.36% right after the rule change.
- An Inman survey in July 2025 found most agents said commissions haven’t changed much. Some reported increases, since negotiations now happen earlier in the homebuying process.
While the initial concerns have settled down, experts believe the true impact of these reforms will continue to show over time. We recommend that our seller clients remain open to the idea of concessions, focusing on the overall price and terms that will result in the best outcome for them.
