How Much Does a Real Estate Agent Make on a $300,000 Home?

It's one of the most common questions sellers ask, and the answer isn't as simple as a dollar figure. Here's how it actually works, and how it's changed.

The traditional model

For years, the standard setup was that the seller paid a single commission, usually around 5-6% of the sale price, which was then split between the listing agent and the buyer's agent. On a $300,000 home, a 6% commission would be $18,000, of which each side might receive roughly $9,000.

How it works now

That model has changed. Following recent industry rule changes, how agents get paid is more transparent and less automatic. The seller negotiates the commission they pay their own listing brokerage. Separately, the buyer's agent's compensation is negotiated too, and it may come from the seller's side, the buyer's side, or as part of the offer, depending on the deal.

The key change: the old assumption that the seller automatically pays and splits one fee for both agents no longer holds. Whether the seller contributes toward the buyer's agent's compensation is now a specific, negotiated term of the transaction, not a given. In many markets today, that contribution is a deal-by-deal decision rather than the default split it used to be.

What the agents actually take home

In any structure, the agents don't keep the full amount. Brokerage fees, marketing costs, professional photography, administrative support, and other expenses come out of it. The negotiation and the split have real consequences, which is why it's worth understanding your own side of the transaction clearly.

The practical takeaway

Commission structures are negotiable and vary by market, brokerage, and deal. The only way to know the actual numbers for your transaction is to ask, clearly and up front, on both sides of the table. Whether you're buying or selling, knowing how your agent gets paid protects you, and a transparent agent will walk you through it openly.