What is the standard real estate commission?

The standard real estate commission in the US is typically 5-6% of the home's sale price, split between the buyer's and seller's agents. On a $500,000 home, that's $25,000-$30,000. But you don't have to pay that much.

How flat-fee brokerages save you thousands

Flat-fee brokerages like ShopProp charge a fixed amount — $4,995 for full-service listing — regardless of your home's price. The higher your home value, the more you save compared to percentage-based agents.

How to Save Money on Real Estate Commissions When Buying a Home in 2026

Buyer-focused guidance on flat fee representation, buyer rebates, and commission negotiation after the NAR settlement.

How buyers actually save on commission in 2026

Home buyers now need to pay closer attention to agent compensation. The cleanest way to save is to use a flat fee buyer brokerage that rebates the rest of the seller-offered commission back to you at closing instead of keeping the whole amount.

How flat fee buyer representation saves you thousands

With ShopProp, buyer representation starts at $1,995. If the seller offers a 2.5% buyer-side commission on a $750,000 home, that is $18,750 gross. ShopProp keeps the flat fee and rebates the balance, which can put $16,755 back in your pocket at closing.

Comparing commission models

Traditional agents charge 2.5-3% per side. Discount brokerages like Redfin charge 1-1.5%. Flat-fee services like ShopProp charge a fixed dollar amount. On a $1M home, that's the difference between $30,000 and $4,995.

What to look for in a discount brokerage

Not all discount services are equal. Key things to verify: Are they a real brokerage or just a referral service? Do they provide full MLS listing? Will you work with a licensed broker or just an agent? ShopProp guarantees a managing broker on every team.

The managing broker advantage

A managing broker holds a higher license than a regular agent and has more training and accountability. ShopProp puts a managing broker on every team — something even luxury brokerages charging 3% don't always do.

When to negotiate commission

The best time to negotiate is before signing a listing agreement. After the NAR settlement in 2024, commission structures are more negotiable than ever. But why negotiate when you can just pay a flat $4,995?

What buyers should do right now

If you are buying in 2026, ask three questions before you sign anything: what fee does the buyer brokerage charge, how much of the seller-offered commission gets rebated back to you, and whether a managing broker is actually involved in the transaction. Those three answers usually tell you whether you are looking at real savings or just marketing.