Agent compensation is negotiable, and since the NAR settlement it is spelled out in a written agreement between you and your agent rather than assumed. We will not quote a specific average, both because agents are limited in discussing compensation among themselves and because there genuinely is no single going rate. What we can tell you is how to compare well: - Talk to a few agents in your market and ask each directly what they charge and what the fee includes. You will usually find a real spread, and that spread often reflects different levels of service, marketing, and negotiation experience. - Compare the whole package, apples to apples. A lower fee with a lighter service model and a higher fee with full marketing, pricing strategy, and strong negotiation are different products, so ask what specifically you get for the number. - On the buy side, compensation is a term you and your agent agree to, and it can be part of what gets negotiated in the deal. Ask how your agent approaches that rather than assuming any party covers it automatically. Interview a few, and choose the agent whose value justifies the fee.