NAR Settlement One Year Later: What the Numbers Really Show

When the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) reached its historic $418 million settlement back in March 2024, the real estate world was buzzing with predictions. Headlines screamed about the "end of 6% commissions" and warned that buying and selling homes was about to get a lot more complicated—and expensive.

But here at AceableAgent, we took a different approach. While others were predicting seismic shifts that would turn the industry upside down, we shared our analysisNational Nar Settlement Means Real Estate Agents Career Center that the settlement would change very little in practice. Our market experts believed buyer's agents would remain essential, and the fundamentals of real estate transactions would stay largely the same.

Now, one year after the settlement took effect on August 17, 2024, let's examine what actually happened and what it means for your career.

What the Numbers Show One Year Later

Despite all the predictions about commission cuts, the numbers tell an interesting story:

The average U.S. buyer's agent commission was 2.43% for homes sold in the second quarter of 2025—that's actually up from 2.38% a year earlier, according to Redfin's latest analysisCommissions Q2 2025 News.

Even more telling? The average combined buyer's and seller's agent commission increased from 5.32% to 5.44% in 2025, according to a nationwide survey of 806 real estate agents by Clever Real EstateAverage Real Estate Commission Rate Listwithclever.com.

This represents three straight quarters of commission increases since the NAR settlement went into effect. The market has responded quite differently than many industry observers anticipated.

How Our Analysis Compares to Today's Reality

When everyone else was forecasting dramatic changes to real estate compensation, here's what our experts shared with you:

What We Discussed: "Sellers Will Keep Paying Buyer's Agent Fees"

We explained: "If home sellers want to attract a wide pool of buyers to remain competitive, they may choose to offer a concession to the buyers for real estate fees."

What's happening today: Most commissions are still being covered by sale proceeds. As Miami-based real estate agent Devin Kay confirms in CNBC's recent analysis08 26 Where Real Estate Commissions Stand A Year After New Rules Were Introduced.html 202508 26 Where Real Estate Commissions Stand A Year After New Rules Were Introduced.html 2025: "sellers are still usually the ones covering the buyer's agent fee."

"Buyer's Agents Aren't Going Anywhere"

Our expert Laura Adams stated it clearly: "Buyers' agents save clients time and money and will continue to be essential in real estate transactions."

The reality: Not only are buyer's agents still essential, but the market has actually validated their worth by increasing their compensation. This shows that consumers continue to see real value in professional representation for life's biggest purchase.

Our Analysis: "The Traditional Model Will Survive"

We discussed how competitive market forces would naturally preserve existing compensation structures.

Current reality: "The traditional model is still what's playing out08 26 Where Real Estate Commissions Stand A Year After New Rules Were Introduced.html 202508 26 Where Real Estate Commissions Stand A Year After New Rules Were Introduced.html 2025," confirms current industry analysis. In competitive markets, sellers are offering to cover buyer's agent fees to make their properties more attractive to potential buyers.

The Settlement's Two Changes: Less Dramatic Than Expected

The NAR settlement did make two key changes, and their real-world impact has aligned with our expectations:

1. No More Commission Info on MLS While agents can't advertise buyer's agent compensation on the Multiple Listing Service anymore, sellers are still covering these fees—they're just communicating it through other channels.

2. Written Buyer Agreements Required Yes, you need a signed buyer representation agreementWritten Buyer Agreements 101 The Facts before touring homes now. It's an extra step in the process, but it hasn't changed the fundamental economics of how deals get done.

Understanding Market Fundamentals: What This Teaches Us

While other industry voices focused on dramatic headlines, our experts emphasized the fundamental market realities that drive real estate transactions. These insights offer valuable lessons as you build your career:

• Buyers face real financial constraints with down paymentsFinancing Dream New Agents Guide Mortgages Blog, closing costs, and moving expenses—most don't have extra cash available to pay agent fees upfront

• Sellers want every competitive advantage they can get—in markets with choices, sellers who don't offer buyer's agent compensation put themselves at a disadvantage

• Systems that work tend to stick around—the existing compensation structure evolved because it makes practical sense for how people actually buy and sell homesNational How Does A Real Estate Agent Get Paid Career Center

As we highlighted last year: "Buyers already have so many expenses between the down payment, closing costs, and moving, that many simply don't have funds available to also pay for professional representation from an agent."

That fundamental reality has remained constant—and learning to analyze market dynamics like this will serve you well throughout your career.

How This Plays Out in Different Markets

The settlement's impact varies by market—just like we expected it would. Let us show you what this looks like in practice:

In Manhattan's softer market, broker Mukul Lalchandani explains to CNBC08 26 Where Real Estate Commissions Stand A Year After New Rules Were Introduced.html 2025: "sellers are still footing the bill, typically 2.5% to 3%, because they know shifting the cost to buyers makes their listing dead on arrival."

Meanwhile, in more competitive markets, sellers are using buyer's agent compensation as a strategic tool to attract more buyers. This market-by-market variation shows you how natural economic forces find their own balance—regardless of regulatory changes.

What This Year's Developments Mean for Your Career

One year later, here's an important takeaway: Understanding market fundamentals often provides more insight than following sensational headlines.

While many were making dramatic predictions, our focus remained on the economic realities that drive real estate transactions. As you build your career, this approach—analyzing underlying market forces rather than reacting to regulatory changes—can serve you well.

The agents who understood their lasting value and maintained strong client relationships? They're thriving in this environment that has evolved much as our analysis suggested it would. Learn more about what makes a successful real estate agentNational Career Center in today's market.

Here's what this teaches you: successful agents focus on providing genuine value to their clients, understanding their local market, and building lasting relationships. Those fundamentals remain constant, and having educators who can help you understand market dynamics makes a real difference. Want to learn more about building your real estate careerCareer Center?

The Bottom Line

The NAR settlement was supposed to revolutionize real estate. Instead, it has demonstrated what experienced professionals understand: good agents provide irreplaceable valueRepresentation Sellers Real Estate Blog, and the market finds ways to compensate that value appropriately.

As we discussed a year ago: "There's one thing everyone agrees on: buyer's agents aren't going anywhere." The current data supports this view, along with our broader analysis of how market forces influence compensation structures.

If you're building your real estate career, focus on the fundamentals: developing your skillsReal Estate Careers Blog, providing genuine value to clients, and understanding your local market. Don't get distracted by regulatory changes that may not be as transformative as headlines suggest.

At AceableAgent, we focus on giving you market insights and education that help you navigate industry changes with confidence. Understanding how market dynamics actually work gives you a foundation for long-term success.

Ready to build your real estate career with solid market understanding? Get your real estate license with AceableAgentReal Estate License and join the thousands of students who benefit from our market expertise. We help you understand not just the rules—but how the real world actually works.