How Agents Are Paid — and How It’s Changing

🎧 Episode: “How Agents Are Paid — and How It’s Changing”

In this episode of HouseTalk, your host Liz Moore—with 40 years of local real-estate experience in Southeastern and Central Virginia—takes you behind the scenes of how real-estate agent compensation really works, and what the landmark National Association of Realtors (NAR) lawsuit settlement means for buyers, sellers and agents here in Virginia.

What she’ll cover:

• A clear breakdown of the traditional model: how sellers have typically paid a commission—often around 5%-6% of the sale price—that gets split between the listing agent and the buyer’s agent
• What changed as a result of the NAR settlement:
  • The MLS (Multiple Listing Service) can no longer show the commission being offered to a buyer’s agent.
  • Buyer-agents now must have a written agreement with their clients up front that outlines compensation and services…before they look at property
  • Sellers are no longer automatically required to pay the buyer’s agent’s commission — the commission is more negotiable, and potentially the buyer may pay their agent some or all of the commission directly.
• What this means for you in Virginia’s market: how to negotiate agent fees, how this may affect your costs as a buyer or seller, and what questions to ask your agent so you’re informed and protected.
• Liz’s practical tips based on decades of local experience: the dos & don’ts, what to watch out for when contracts change, and how to evaluate value and service, not just the fee.

Whether you’re planning to sell your home, buy your first place, or just curious about how the real estate world operates, this episode gives you clarity on one of the most opaque parts of real estate—and helps you navigate it with confidence.