Average Realtor Fees in Ohio | Updated for 2023

Published March 21, 2023

Written by Alex Long
Edited by Kristy Snyder

Why trust us: Our data is based on a survey of 650 real estate agents and brokers across the U.S. Learn how we researched.

The average total real estate commission in Ohio is 5.81%. This includes a 3.19% listing agent commission and a 2.62% buyer’s agent commission. In Ohio, sellers typically cover the real estate commission fees for both agents out of their sale proceeds at closing.

Ohio sellers pay an average of $11,957 in realtor fees, based on the average Ohio home price of $205,800.

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

Ohio 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 $205,800.

	Average rate	Cost
Listing agent commission	3.19%	$6,565
Buyer’s agent commission	2.62%	$5,392
Total realtor fees	5.81%	$11,957

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How much are realtor fees in Ohio?

The average realtor commission in Ohio is 5.81% of the sale price. This is down slightly from 5.9% in 2021 but is still higher than the national average of 5.37%. Both the buyer’s and seller’s agents commissions come out of the sale proceeds.

That said, realtor commissions can vary based on location, market conditions, and a variety of other factors. We suggest you talk to realtors in your area to get a better idea of what you can expect to pay in commission fees.

In an especially hot market, realtors make more in commissions because they sell more homes. This allows them to lower their commission rate without reducing their total income. However, with the recent seller’s market boom behind us, it’s unlikely most realtors in Ohio are making enough to significantly discount their services.

According to Zillow, the average home value in Ohio is $201,688, which is up 9.8% in the past year. That said, like most of the nation, Ohio real estate has experienced a slow down since mid-2022. This likely means that the average realtor commission in Ohio will remain mostly unchanged for the foreseeable future.

Remember: Realtor fees aren’t the only costs of selling a home. You also need to factor in the cost of repairs, your mortgage payoff amount, and closing costs.

Learn what expenses to budget for and estimate how much it’ll cost to sell your house in Ohio.

How real Ohio agents and brokers set commission rates

Although Ohio realtor fees are technically negotiable, there’s only so much room for flexibility. How competitive your local market is or how difficult it is to sell your home are just a couple of the many factors that determine how low an agent is willing to set their commission.

Additionally, some brokerages offer packages for photos, videos, and professional staging. Whether these are included in their fees or are an add-on expense depends on the realtor you’re working with. Ask them about these services before deciding who to list your home with.

Realtors also have to make sure their commissions are enough to pay for the upfront for costs associated with marketing the home and licensing fees. Common expenses realtors must pay include:

Taxes: Real estate agents must pay a self-employment tax of 15.3% on all commission earned
Association dues: $20–220 monthly
MLS fees: $20–290 monthly
License renewal fee: $182–243 every 3 years
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 Ohio?

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

There’s no guarantee a realtor will be willing to lower their commission for you, but the only way to find out is to ask.

It can be easier to negotiate lower commission in desirable areas or during a strong seller’s market. You should also try to either decrease the difficulty of selling or increase the sale price of your home — or both.

Ultimately, a realtor just wants to make a fair rate for the work they put in helping you sell your home. Below are some ideas for negotiating a lower rate with your realtor.

Ways to negotiate lower realtor fees

Be a repeat customer. If you’re a real estate investor or in the market for a second home, that could be a good bargaining chip to negotiate a lower rate for more business.
Improve the house. Making improvements to a home can make it easier to sell and improve the sale price, both of which make it easier to justify a lower rate for your agent.
Work with a newer agent. Beginner agents are trying to build their network, so they may be willing to accept a lower rate to gain more experience and establish themselves in the local market.

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 Ohio, so you don’t have to. Find an Ohio 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 Ohio 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 Ohio.

Other FAQs about Ohio real estate commissions

How much commission does a realtor make in Ohio?

As of March 2023, the average realtor commission in Ohio is 3.19% for listing agents, 2.62% for buyer’s agents, and 5.81% for total commissions. For the average-priced home in Ohio, that equates to $6,931 for the seller’s agent and $5,693 for the buyer’s. That said, both agents split their commission with their respective brokerages, so they probably only receive about half that amount.

Does the buyer pay the realtor in Ohio?

Technically, no. The seller pays all realtor fees in Ohio out of the proceeds of the sale. That said, this is usually baked into the price, so the seller could essentially pass this expense onto the buyer by setting a price with those fees in mind. See more about how much commission you’ll pay in an Ohio home sale.

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 32 agents across Ohio.

Sources

Clever Real Estate Commission Survey Data
Zillow – Ohio Home Prices and Home Values
Internal Revenue Service
Columbus Realtors
AYPO Real Estate