What changed after the NAR settlement
Before August 17, 2024, the listing agent usually posted on the MLS how much the buyer's agent would be paid, and the seller paid both sides out of the sale price. That is why people talked about a "6% commission."
Under the NAR settlement rules, offers of compensation are no longer allowed on an MLS, and an agent working with a buyer must have a written agreement with that buyer before touring homes. NAR's settlement FAQs describe both changes and state that compensation is not set by law and is fully negotiable. A seller can still offer to pay the buyer's agent. It just happens through negotiation and not an MLS field.
Redfin's tracking of U.S. sales found the average buyer-agent commission was 2.40% in Q1 2025, about the same as the quarter before the rule change (2.37% in Q4 2024 and 2.36% in Q3 2024). It also reported that most sellers were still choosing to pay it. So the headline rate barely moved. What changed is who has to ask for what.
Typical Massachusetts commission rates, with sources and dates
We could not find an official Massachusetts source for average commissions. Brokers do not report them to the state. The numbers below are industry surveys, so treat them as a reference point and not a price list.
| Measure | Figure | Source and date |
|---|---|---|
| Average total commission, Massachusetts | 5.03% | Clever Real Estate, Aug 2026 survey |
| Average listing-agent commission | 2.59% | Same survey |
| Average buyer-agent commission | 2.44% | Same survey |
| Typical listing-side range | 1.00% to 4.00% | Same survey |
| U.S. average buyer-agent commission | 2.40% (2.17% over $1M, 2.29% from $500K to $999,999, 2.49% under $500K) | Redfin, Q1 2025 |
Clever says its state figures come from a survey of 434 agents nationwide, with the Northeast number based on 66 agents. Clever also sells a reduced-fee listing service, so read its numbers as marketing-adjacent. We are not endorsing it.
There is no single "standard" Massachusetts commission. What you pay is whatever the listing agreement says.
| Total commission | On $400,000 | On $600,000 | On $800,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4% | $16,000 | $24,000 | $32,000 |
| 5% | $20,000 | $30,000 | $40,000 |
| 6% | $24,000 | $36,000 | $48,000 |
How to negotiate it
Redfin's March-April 2025 survey found 37.4% of recent U.S. sellers negotiated or tried to negotiate their agent's commission. Most did not, which means many sellers pay the first number they hear.
- Ask each agent for two numbers in writing: the listing-side fee and the buyer-agent offer.
- Ask what you get for the fee: photos, pricing analysis, open houses, marketing, who handles showings and who negotiates.
- Ask whether the rate drops on a quick sale or if the agent also finds you the buyer.
- Decide your buyer-agent offer on purpose. Offering a lower amount may cost you buyers, and offering nothing is allowed. Ask your agent how buyers in your price range and town are reacting.
- Get the term and the cancellation rules before you sign. How long are you locked in, and what if you want out?
Flat-fee and discount brokers
Some brokerages offer a reduced or flat listing fee, usually in the 1% to 1.5% range according to Clever. These models differ. Some give full service for a lower percentage. Others charge a flat fee and leave tasks such as showings or negotiation to you. Read what is included and what is optional.
The savings are real but small compared with price. On a $600,000 sale, each 1% is $6,000. A weaker sale price or a longer time on the market can erase that. Ask what the broker does on pricing and negotiation, not just the fee. See also the for-sale-by-owner guide.
What a commission buys, and what it does not
A listing agent typically prices the home, markets it, handles showings and offers, negotiates, and coordinates your attorney, the buyer's side and the closing. The agent is usually paid only if the house sells, and splits the fee with their brokerage, so the agent's take-home is a fraction of the headline number.
The commission does not cover your attorney, the deed excise tax, the municipal lien certificate, smoke/CO inspection, repairs or cleanout. Those are separate. See the full list of selling costs.
If the commission is the problem
If a high commission is the reason you are hesitating, compare your real net under each route. A cash buyer pays no commission but offers less than a listing price, and may also change who pays for repairs and closing. Home Options MA is a referral service, not a broker, and does not buy houses. You can compare a cash offer with listing at the comparison tool, and see how each route works in cash buyers in Massachusetts and how to compare cash offers.