Virginia commission guide
In Virginia, real estate commissions are fully negotiable and not set by law, and since August 2024 they are agreed in writing between you and the agent you choose.
Commission is the fee paid for the work an agent does on a sale or purchase. In Virginia, commission is agreed in writing before you work with an agent: buyers sign a buyer-representation agreement before touring, and sellers sign a listing agreement before their home is marketed. There is no standard or customary rate. The amount is set between you and the agent you hire, in writing, and it is fully negotiable and not set by law.
You may see published ranges online. Treat them as illustrative examples, not a going rate. The number that matters is the specific amount in your own written agreement. smover keeps this simple: we charge one flat fee for our own services, and we take no commission and no referral fee from anyone.
The August 17, 2024 NAR settlement changed how buyer-agent compensation is handled. Here is what is current.
Since August 17, 2024, offers of compensation to a buyer agent are no longer published on the listing service. Any compensation is negotiated separately, in writing.
In Virginia, a buyer agent must have a signed written agreement specifying their compensation before showing you homes, including tours they arrange.
Before a listing agent markets your home, you agree to their commission in writing. As with a buyer agreement, the amount is negotiable and not set by law.
That agreement states a specific, objective amount or rate (flat fee, percentage, or hourly), and conspicuously states that fees are fully negotiable and not set by law.
Closing costs are the fees due at settlement, separate from any agent compensation. Buyers commonly budget roughly 2 to 5 percent of the purchase price. Your lender Loan Estimate has the numbers for your purchase.
One price, until you close. smover runs the deal logistics so you can buy or sell with or without your agent. Your move, your call.
We are not in the middle of your transaction. No referral fees, no kickbacks, no commission split. We give you the information and tools to run it.
There is no standard or set commission in Virginia. Real estate commissions are fully negotiable and not set by law. The amount is agreed in writing between you and the agent you choose, as a flat fee, a percentage, or an hourly rate. Any range you see published is an example, not a norm, and the figure that applies to you is the one in your own written agreement.
Buyer-agent compensation is negotiated directly between you and your agent and is documented in a written agreement before you tour homes. Since the August 17, 2024 NAR settlement changes, compensation is handled separately from the listing service. smover takes none of it. We charge one flat fee for our own services and receive no commission, referral fee, or kickback from any agent or lender.
Yes. Effective August 17, 2024, offers of compensation to a buyer agent can no longer be communicated through the listing service, and a buyer agent must enter a written agreement with the buyer before touring homes. That agreement must state a specific, objective amount and must conspicuously state that fees are fully negotiable and not set by law. These are NAR practice changes applied through local listing services and they sit on top of existing Virginia agency-disclosure rules.
Yes, on both sides. A buyer signs a written buyer-representation agreement stating the buyer-agent compensation before touring homes, a requirement since the August 17, 2024 NAR settlement changes. A seller signs a written listing agreement stating the listing commission before a listing agent markets the home. In each case the amount is fully negotiable and not set by law, and it is the figure in your own written agreement that applies to you.
Yes. Real estate commissions are fully negotiable and not set by law in Virginia. You and the agent you choose agree on the amount and the structure in writing. This page is informational and does not advise any specific rate or course of action. Consult a licensed professional about your specific situation.
Buyer closing costs in Virginia generally include lender and origination fees, appraisal and credit report fees, title search and title insurance, settlement fees, recording fees and Virginia transfer and recordation taxes, and prepaid property taxes and insurance. Buyers commonly budget roughly 2 to 5 percent of the purchase price for closing costs, though the exact figure depends on your loan, price, and locality. Ask your lender for a Loan Estimate for numbers specific to your purchase.
Yes. You can buy a home in Virginia with or without an agent. If you do work with a buyer agent, Virginia requires a signed written agreement specifying their compensation before they show you homes. smover runs the deal logistics either way, with or without your agent, so you can move on your own terms.
No. smover charges one flat fee, paid once by you, for our own platform and transaction-coordination services. We take no commission, no referral fee, and no kickback from any agent or lender, and lenders cannot pay for placement. We are not in the middle of your transaction.
Seller costs in Virginia generally include settlement and title-related fees, the Virginia grantor tax and applicable recordation costs, prorated property taxes and HOA dues, any concessions you agree to, and any agent compensation you agree to in writing. Agent compensation is fully negotiable and not set by law. A net-proceeds estimate depends on your sale price, payoff, and the terms you negotiate.
One price, until you close. We run the deal, with or without your agent.
