As you may have seen or heard, there is a proposed settlement by the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR). While the settlement still requires final approval, there have been plenty of headlines in the media causing confusion. To clarify some of the misinformation about the settlement, I want to provide a few facts:
- Sellers retain, as they always have, the discretion to offer compensation to buyer’s brokers. The proposed settlement does not prohibit their ability to do so.
- Commissions have always been and will continue to be negotiated through transparent conversations with our clients. We believe strongly in transparency around broker compensation.
- Commissions have always been negotiable and are not set by law. Reduced fee alternatives have been and will continue to be available for consumers seeking those options.
- The proposed settlement would require that every buyer represented by an NAR-affiliated agent sign a Buyer Representation Agreement outlining the relationship between the buyer and broker before touring a property, something that is already required in many states for over a decade.
- Buyers deserve representation at every income level. Our experience has shown that transactions flow more smoothly when there is professional representation on each side, creating open lines of communication that benefit all parties involved.
- Compass agents provide tremendous value to our clients. As a result, we will continue to encourage a transparent commission conversation that reflects the time, effort, expertise, and support we invest in each transaction.
- Compass is fully prepared to adopt the changes laid out as part of the settlement. We see these updates as being positive both for our clients and for the brokerage community, as they provide additional transparency and clarity and will encourage the most professional agents to thrive.
