Redfin: Buyer’s agent commissions largely unchanged after NAR settlement

The analysis is based on Redfin’s national data, including home sales closed by Redfin agents, partner-agent referrals, and transactions involving Redfin-owned Bay Equity Home Loans.

Commission shifts by home price

While the overall commission rate has changed little, there are notable shifts when broken down by home price.

For homes sold at $1 million or more, the average buyer’s agent commission was 2.17% in the first quarter. That’s unchanged from the previous quarter but lower than the 2.22% in the third quarter of 2024 and 2.30% in the same period last year.

Commissions for homes priced between $500,000 and $999,999 rose slightly to 2.29%, compared to 2.26% in the previous quarter and 2.27% in the third quarter of 2024. A year ago, commissions in this range averaged 2.34%.

For homes priced below $500,000, commissions rose to 2.49% — up from 2.46% the previous quarter, 2.42% in the third quarter of 2024, and slightly higher than the 2.48% recorded a year earlier.

Redfin said commissions tend to be lower for more expensive homes because agents can reduce their rates while still earning a substantial income.

Sellers still paying buyer’s agent fees

Despite the NAR rule changes, most sellers are continuing to pay the buyer’s agent commission, Redfin agents report.

“Most sellers are choosing to pay a 2.5% or 3% commission to the buyer’s agent, but I am seeing an increase in the number of sellers offering 2%,” said Stephanie Kastner, a Redfin Premier agent in Seattle.

Kastner said many of the lower commissions she’s observed are tied to new-construction homes located outside Seattle’s core.

In Portland, Ore., Redfin Premier agent Chaley McVay said the rule changes have yet to significantly alter the market.

“Sellers don’t seem to have any issue paying a buyer’s agent commission,” McVay said. “But if we enter a seller’s market similar to that of 2021 and 2022 — with rampant bidding wars — sellers may be inclined to offer low or no commission to the buyer’s agent, forcing buyers to bridge the gap. And if that happens, first-time buyers will be hit hardest because many of them can already barely afford to buy a home.”

Consumer negotiations, gradual shift

A Redfin-commissioned survey conducted by Ipsos in March and April 2025 found that most recent homebuyers and sellers did not attempt to negotiate agent commissions.

Among sellers, 37.4% said they negotiated or tried to negotiate their agent’s commission, while 45.9% did not. Buyers were less likely to engage on the issue, with only 27.2% attempting to negotiate.

Nearly half — 47.8% — did not try.

Commission rates had already been declining slowly in the years leading up to the NAR settlement. But as home prices have increased over time, agents are often earning more in absolute dollars despite slight percentage reductions.

Market reactions to the new rules have varied by region, with some agents noting subtle shifts while others report little to no change.