What Virginia sellers and buyers actually pay in real estate commissions, what the 2024 settlement changed, and the dollar math on typical Virginia home prices.
There is no official commission rate in Virginia, because commissions are not set by law and are fully negotiable. One industry survey offers a rough reference point: a 2026 survey of 533 agents by Clever Real Estate reported a national average total commission of 5.70% of the sale price, typically split between the listing side and the buyer side. Individual Virginia deals can land above or below that.
Here is what that means in dollars, what changed in 2024, and how to pay less.
If a total commission were 6% (a hypothetical; commissions are negotiable), here is what it would come to at typical median prices in Virginia markets:
| Market | Median price | Total commission if 6% |
|---|---|---|
| Norfolk | $285,000 | up to ~$17,100 |
| Richmond | $320,000 | up to ~$19,200 |
| Virginia Beach | $340,000 | up to ~$20,400 |
| Fredericksburg | $375,000 | up to ~$22,500 |
| Alexandria | $625,000 | up to ~$37,500 |
Two things stand out. First, the commission is almost always the largest single cost of selling. Second, because it is a percentage, the dollar amount scales with the price even though the work involved often does not.
The NAR settlement did not abolish commissions or set new rates. It changed the mechanics:
The result is more pricing models competing in the open: traditional full service, discount brokerages, flat-fee MLS listings, and technology platforms.
Negotiate. Even full-service agents negotiate rates, particularly on higher-priced homes.
Unbundle. Flat fee MLS listing services list your home on the MLS for a set fee, which varies by provider, if you are prepared to do most of the rest yourself.
Use a platform model. VroomBrick charges a 1% technology fee for the platform, paid by the seller at closing. You don't pay an agent commission on the side VroomBrick works with. On a $400,000 home, a 1% technology fee is $4,000. If an agent on your side charged 3%, that would be $12,000, a difference of $8,000. Commissions are negotiable, so your number depends on what you'd have paid. If the seller agreed to pay more than 1% for the buyer's side, the rest can be requested as a closing cost credit, if the seller agrees and subject to lender approval. Licensed professionals, a closing attorney, showing agents, and lenders, still handle the licensed work.
See how the model works in how the 1% technology fee actually works, or compare every lower-cost option in flat-fee home selling in Hampton Roads.
The fastest way to make this concrete is your own home price: the agent commission cost calculator shows the exact difference between a traditional commission and a flat 1% technology fee at any value.
To see how a commission rate changes what you walk away with after your loan payoff, transfer taxes, and closing costs, run the seller net sheet.
Sources: Clever Real Estate, 2026 commission survey of 533 agents (national average 5.70%; an industry survey, not an official statistic); median prices from VroomBrick market data for Virginia cities.
About VroomBrick: VroomBrick is a real estate technology platform, not a licensed real estate brokerage. VroomBrick does not provide brokerage services, represent buyers or sellers, or hold real estate licenses. VroomBrick charges a 1% technology fee for the platform, paid by the seller at closing. You don't pay an agent commission on the side VroomBrick works with. Closing attorneys, showing agents, and lender partners are independent licensed professionals. Commissions are not set by law and are fully negotiable. Savings examples are illustrative; actual savings vary by transaction.
There is no official Virginia rate, and commissions are fully negotiable. One industry survey (Clever Real Estate, 2026, 533 agents) reported a national average total commission of 5.70%, split between the listing and buyer sides. It is a survey, not an official statistic, and individual deals vary.
Traditionally the seller has paid both sides out of the sale proceeds. Since the 2024 NAR settlement, buyer-side compensation is negotiated explicitly and can be paid by the seller, the buyer, or split, depending on what the parties agree to.
No. Commissions are not set by law and are fully negotiable. There is no required rate: discount brokerages, flat-fee services, and technology platforms all price differently, and full-service rates can be negotiated too.
It depends on the rate you negotiate. On a $400,000 home, a 1% technology fee is $4,000. If a seller's agent charged 3%, that would be $12,000, a difference of $8,000. Commissions are negotiable, so your number depends on what you'd have paid.
About the Author
VroomBrick Contributor
VroomBrick Team writes for VroomBrick on real estate, homeownership, and how to buy or sell with a 1% technology fee.
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