Average Realtor Fees in Delaware | Updated for 2023

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  Written by Lindsay Stefan

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  Edited by Kristy Snyder

In this guide: How much you’ll pay | Average Delaware realtor fees | How Delaware agents set rates | How to save on commission in Delaware | FAQ | Our research

The average total real estate commission in Delaware is 5.44%. This includes a 2.72% listing agent commission and a 2.72% buyer’s agent commission. In Delaware, sellers typically cover the real estate commission fees for both agents out of their sale proceeds at closing. 

Delaware sellers pay an average of $19,513 in realtor fees, based on the average Delaware home price of $358,686.

Realtor commission rates vary considerably by region, city, or even neighborhood. The agent and brokerage you choose, as well as the specifics of your sale — like your home’s value, location, and condition — are also factors.

This guide breaks down how much commission sellers can expect to pay in Delaware. We’ll also explain why Delaware commissions are what they are (and offer up some tips that could help you save). 

Delaware real estate commission: How much will you pay?

Here’s what you can expect to pay in realtor commission based on the average home price of $358,686.

	Average rate	Cost
Listing agent commission	2.72%	$9,756
Buyer’s agent commission	2.72%	$9,756
Total realtor fees	5.44%	$19,513

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How much are realtor fees in Delaware?

The average real estate commission in Delaware is 5.44%, which is a little higher than the national average of 5.37%.

These realtor fees are split between the listing agent and buyer’s agent, as well as their respective brokers. They’re paid by the seller from the proceeds of the sale.

Realtor fees in Delaware can vary based on location, the state of the housing market, and the agent’s relationship with the client. Delaware real estate commissions are down from 5.70% in 2021, likely because of the changing housing market.

According to Redfin, home prices in Delaware were up 2.8% year-over-year in January, despite total home sales being down 25.3% in that same timeframe. This price increase is probably due to lack of inventory, as the number of homes for sale during that same period dropped 9.67%.

When there are so few homes for sale, competition increases among Delaware realtors, which could be why the average commission rate went down. If inventory remains low and prices drop because of rising interest rates, it’s unlikely Delaware realtors will be able to afford lowering their commissions further than they already have.

Ultimately, the best way to know what’s a good rate in your market is to talk to local experts and realtors in your city.

How real Delaware agents and brokers set commission rates

Some realtors are firm on their rate, but many are willing to be flexible — to a point. Real estate agents in Delaware need to account for a variety of factors when setting their rates, including:

• Competitors’ rates in their area
• The state of the housing market
• Anticipated sale price of each property
• If the client is a repeat customer

If you have a high-value home in a desirable neighborhood, it’ll probably take relatively little effort to sell and yield a large commission check for your agent. In cases like these, realtors may be willing to accept a lower percentage since they’ll still make enough money on the transaction to make it worth their time.

However, if the market is slow or you’re selling a low-value home that requires a lot of effort to market and sell, it’s not reasonable to expect an agent to give a significant discount on that sale.

Don’t forget that commissions need to be split four ways between the buyer’s agent, listing agent, and both brokerages. Considering the amount of time, effort, and money it takes to sell a home, it’s understandable that many agents don’t relish the idea of accepting less money for their services.

Overhead expenses also factor into how a realtor sets their rates. Here are just some of the many expenses agents and brokers have to pay:

• Taxes: Real estate agents must pay a self-employment tax of 15.3% on all commission earned
• Association dues: $92–615 monthly
• MLS fees: $90—174 quarterly
• State license fees: $180–357 every two years
• Administrative staff: Assistants can help with bookkeeping, scheduling, and other day-to-day operations
• Marketing costs: Professional photos, advertising, open houses, and staging

You can still negotiate with your agent to get the best rate possible, but you should do so with the knowledge of all the things that go into setting their rate in the first place.

How can I save on realtor fees in Delaware?

While it may take some outside-the-box thinking, there are a few ways you can save on realtor fees:

• Negotiate with a traditional real estate agent or broker
• Work with a discount real estate broker
• Sell without a realtor

Negotiate with a traditional realtor

If you want a realtor to give you a discount on their commission, you’ll likely have to ask. From the realtor’s perspective, it might seem odd if you ask for a discount without giving a good reason, so you should probably have some idea of why you deserve a lower rate.

Since most people can’t significantly influence how much their home will sell for, you’re probably better off trying to minimize the effort required for your realtor to get paid. Below are some ideas for how you can incentivize a lower rate from your agent.

Negotiating can be awkward and uncomfortable. If you’d rather avoid it, you can find an agent through Clever Real Estate. They’ve already pre-negotiated a 1.5% listing fee with experienced agents in Delaware, so you don’t have to. Find a Delaware agent for less.

Work with a discount real estate broker

Some brokerages offer discounted realtor fees up front. These companies can help you save money, but some come with risks or worse-than-average customer service. Do your research to understand what you’ll get for the discounted fee. See how we ranked discount real estate brokers in your area based on savings, customer reviews, and our experience mystery shopping with each company.

To save an average of $7,000 on your listing fee without sacrificing service, Clever Real Estate is your best option.

Sell without a realtor

The ultimate way to save on realtor fees is to sell without a realtor — though we don’t recommend this to most Delaware sellers.

You’ll avoid paying a listing commission, but you’ll have to do all of the work of a listing agent on your own. Plus, you’ll still want to pay a full buyer’s agent commission to incentivize other agents to show your home to their buyers.

Learn more about how to sell a house without a realtor in Delaware.

Other FAQs about Delaware real estate commissions

Research methodology

We regularly survey our pool of 14,000 partner agents nationwide on the commission rates they use for buying and selling. These data points are averages based on responses we’ve received from three agents across Delaware. 

Sources

• Redfin – Delaware Housing Market
• Clever Real Estate Commission Survey Data
• Internal Revenue Service
• New Castle County Board of Realtors
• Bright MLS
• Delaware Division of Professional Regulation