Information only · sourced below
The change that actually altered the job
Two years on from the settlement, one structural change has done more to reshape the daily work than any commission number has.
- A written agreement between a buyer and their agent is required before touring homes, with compensation spelled out in clear, specific terms.
- Offers of compensation from sellers to buyer agents can no longer be posted on the MLS.
- 34% of agents name buyer-side compensation negotiation as their single biggest strain; 30% point to negotiating with sellers.
- Roughly two thirds of agents surveyed in early 2026 reported no significant change in their own commission levels.
- The pressure is not falling on agents who charge more. It is falling on agents who never had to explain what they do.
Sources: NAR settlement rules · survey of 213 real estate professionals, early 2026. Figures verified August 2026.
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