Average Realtor Fees in Louisiana | 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 Louisiana realtor fees | How Louisiana agents set rates | How to save on commission in Louisiana | FAQ | Our research

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

Louisiana sellers pay an average of $9,953 in realtor fees, based on the average Louisiana home price of $182,959.

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 Louisiana. We’ll also explain why Louisiana commissions are what they are (and offer up some tips that could help you save). 

Louisiana 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 $182,959.

	Average rate	Cost
Listing agent commission	2.72%	$4,976
Buyer’s agent commission	2.72%	$4,976
Total realtor fees	5.44%	$9,953

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How much are realtor fees in Louisiana?

The average total realtor fees in Louisiana are 5.44%, which is just slightly higher than the national average of 5.37%. The seller pays these fees out of the proceeds of the sale at closing.

That said, real estate commission varies across Louisiana. The actual amount you pay can vary depending on your specific agent, the location of the home, and real estate market conditions — among other things.

The current average commission is up from 5.20% in 2021. This could be for any number of reasons, but the fact that the hot seller’s market of the past few years has come to an abrupt halt after rising interest rates is likely a major contributor. According to Redfin, the number of homes sold in Louisiana in January 2023 was down a whopping 39% year over year.

When there’s a strong seller’s market, it doesn’t take as much effort for realtors in Louisiana to sell a home, which means they can afford to take a lower commission. But, when the market cools off, they may need to hold out for higher commissions to balance out the lower volume of sales.

To see what percentage is a fair real estate commission in your city, talk to realtors in your local area. 

How real Louisiana agents and brokers set commission rates

Most agents we’ve spoken with agree that real estate commissions are somewhat flexible, but only to a point. If the market is hot and homes are selling rapidly, agents can accept lower commissions because they’ll have a large volume of work. But, in a slower market, homes take longer to sell homes and may go for less, which means fewer and lower commission checks.

It’s also important to remember that Louisiana real estate commissions are split between the listing agent, their broker, and the buyer’s agent and broker. This means your agent needs to set their prices based on a four-way split.

Agents also have to pay expenses for marketing your home, and the commission helps to pay for this. Here’s are some of the expenses realtors and brokers have to consider when setting a fair commission rate:

• Taxes: Real estate agents must pay a self-employment tax of 15.3% on all commission earned
• Association dues: $199–$484 annually
• MLS fees: $330 annually
• State license fees: $70–105 annually
• Administrative staff: Assistants can help with bookkeeping, scheduling, and other day-to-day operations
• Marketing costs: Professional photos, advertising, open houses, and staging

How can I save on realtor fees in Louisiana?

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

One simple way to get a lower commission from your realtor is to ask. There’s no guarantee they’ll offer a lower rate, but some realtors can be flexible for the promise of a low-effort sale or repeat business.

In sales, the name of the game is volume, so being able to close a sale without lots of effort means they have more time to work on getting and closing other sales. And knowing that you’ll work with them on other sales or purchases means they won’t have to dedicate precious time and resources to drumming up your business in the future.

By shopping around and talking to different agents, you can find someone willing to work with you on the price and services offered. Talking to multiple realtors also opens up the possibility of asking your preferred realtor to match another realtor’s price.

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 Louisiana, so you don’t have to. Find a Louisiana 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 Louisiana 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 Louisiana.

Other FAQs about Louisiana 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 eight agents across Louisiana. 

Sources

• Redfin – Louisiana Housing Market
• Clever Real Estate Commission Survey Data
• Internal Revenue Service
• New Orleans Metropolitan Association of Realtors
• StateRequirement