Who Pays the Buyer's Agent Now? The NAR Settlement, Explained for Santa Clarita Sellers

If you have thought about selling recently, you have probably heard that “the commission rules changed.” They did. The industry settlement around how buyer’s agents get paid rewrote some long-standing habits. Most sellers I talk to are not sure what it means for them. Here is the plain version, and how I use it for you.

What actually changed

For decades, the seller effectively advertised a set commission to the buyer’s agent through the MLS, almost automatically. The settlement ended that automatic, baked-in offer of buyer-agent compensation on the MLS. It also put buyer-agent agreements front and center, so buyers now sign an agreement with their own agent about how that agent gets paid.

The short version: whether, and how much, a seller contributes to the buyer’s agent is now an open, negotiable question on every deal. It is not assumed anymore.

What it means for you as a seller

This is where confusion becomes leverage if you have the right agent. A few realities:

• You are not required to pay the buyer’s agent. It is negotiable.
• But buyers still often want or need help covering their agent, and a smart contribution can widen your buyer pool and strengthen offers.
• The right move depends on your price point, your buyer demand, and the specific offer in front of you. There is no one answer, and anybody who gives you a blanket rule is guessing.

Get this wrong and you either leave money on the table or shrink your buyer pool. Get it right and you use it as a tool.

How I handle it for you

I read every offer for you and only you. When it comes to buyer-agent compensation, I model it against your net, your demand, and your timeline, then I recommend a position and negotiate it. Because I represent sellers only, I have no conflict pulling me toward the buyer’s side of that number.

This is exactly the kind of shift where a full-service, seller-focused agent earns their place. The rules got more complicated. That complication is where the leverage lives.

I’m Connor MacIvor, Connor with Honor, Santa Clarita’s seller’s only agent. Call or text me any time at 661-888-4983. All commissions are negotiable (CA B&P 10140.6).