How buyer agents are paid now

Since August 17, 2024, real estate agents can no longer list an offer of buyer-agent compensation in the MLS. That single rule change is behind most of the confusion I hear from buyers and sellers.

For sellers: you can still choose to offer compensation to the buyer's agent. You are not required to. Offering it can make your home easier for buyers to afford, and the amount is negotiable. We talk it through before the listing goes live.

For buyers: you sign a written agreement with your agent before touring homes. It spells out what your agent does for you and how they are paid. That amount can come from the seller if the seller offers it, from you, or from a mix of the two, and it is part of the offer we write together.

None of this changes the work. I still research the property, negotiate the price and terms, and manage the deadlines. It just means the conversation about money happens up front, in writing, which is where it belonged all along.