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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.
In this guide: How much you’ll pay | Average Oregon realtor fees | How Oregon agents set rates | How to save on commission in Oregon | FAQ | Our research
The average total real estate commission in Oregon is 4.99%. This includes a 2.54% listing agent commission and a 2.45% buyer’s agent commission. In Oregon, sellers typically cover the real estate commission fees for both agents out of their sale proceeds at closing.
Oregon sellers pay an average of $24,225 in realtor fees, based on the average Oregon home price of $485,475.
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 Oregon. We’ll also explain why Oregon commissions are what they are (and offer up some tips that could help you save).
Oregon 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 $485,475.
Average rate | Cost | |
Listing agent commission | 2.54% | $12,331 |
Buyer’s agent commission | 2.45% | $11,894 |
Total realtor fees | 4.99% | $24,225 |
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How much are realtor fees in Oregon?
If you’re selling a home in Oregon, expect to pay about 4.99% in total realtor fees. That’s lower than the national U.S. average of 5.37%. These fees include both the listing and buyer’s agents’ commissions and are paid by the seller.
Agent commission can vary from one location to another. The state of the housing market also affects commission rates. While prices are high and homes are selling quickly, realtor fees may go down because agents are selling more houses. But when the market cools, fees likely rise because realtors need to make more from each sale.
Currently in Oregon, home sales are slowing after a few years of a booming market. Housing prices are up only 1.3% from one year ago, and the number of homes sold has gone down by 44.5%. On top of that, it’s taking more than twice as long to sell a home than it did a year ago.
All of this means Oregon realtors are investing twice as much time to sell about half as many homes compared to 2022. In a market like this, agents may be hesitant to reduce their fees in most situations.
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 Oregon.
How real Oregon agents and brokers set commission rates
Realtors set their commission based on what their competitors are charging. However, most agents have some flexibility in their commission rates. They may charge more or less depending upon several factors, including how much work they think it will take to sell the house and where the house is located.
For example, an immaculate home in a popular Portland neighborhood will likely sell for a high price without much work, so an agent might be inclined to lower their commission. Conversely, a fixer-upper home in a rural area might take some extra work and marketing expenses to sell, so the agent might be reluctant to lower their fees.
Some agents may also reduce their commission if the client is in bad financial shape or if the amount owed on the mortgage is so high the client will barely break even.
Keep in mind that the total commission is split four ways. Whatever amount the listing agent charges will be split with their broker, and the buyer’s agent will split their commission with their broker. This means that with a 6% commission, each party will take home 1.5%.
Realtors need to cover a lot of costs out of their pocket. In Oregon, agents pay for:
- Taxes: Most real estate brokers and agents are considered self-employed and must pay taxes on their transaction earnings each year
- Association dues: $285 annually
- Multiple Listing Service (MLS) fees: $300–600 annually
- State license fees: $300 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
By charging a fair commission, realtors are able to pay for these expenses of doing business.
How can I save on realtor fees in Oregon?
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
Before asking an agent to lower their fees, take into account how difficult your home is going to be to sell and what expenses they’ll incur. If you can convince your agent that your home will sell quickly without a lot of marketing, they might be more amenable to reducing their fee.
Ways to negotiate lower realtor fees
- Agree to do some of the work yourself. By taking your own photographs and staging the home, you could potentially save your realtor some money. They may pass those savings on to you.
- Use the same agent to buy and sell. If your agent is guaranteed both a buyer’s agent fee and a listing fee, they might be open to reducing the listing fee.
- Ask about reduced fees for fewer services. If you can persuade your agent that you don’t require an extensive advertising campaign, they may be willing to lower their fee.
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 Oregon, so you don’t have to. Find a Oregon 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 Oregon 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 Oregon.
Other FAQs about Oregon real estate commissions
Who pays real estate commission in Oregon?
In Oregon, both the listing agent commission and the buyer's agent commission are typically paid for by the seller. All of these costs are taken out of the sale proceeds during closing. Learn more about how real estate commission works in Oregon.
How much commission does a realtor make in Oregon?
Typically, an Oregon listing agent makes 2.54% in commission, and a buyer's agent makes 2.45% in commission. The agents then split this commission with each of their brokers. Learn more about how real estate commission works in Oregon.
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 10 agents across Oregon.
Sources
- Clever Real Estate Commission Survey Data
- Redfin – Oregon Housing Market
- Internal Revenue Service
- Oregon Real Estate Agency
- Oregon Realtors Association
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