Average Realtor Fees in Pennsylvania | Updated for 2023

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  Written by Jon Stubbs

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  Edited by Kristy Snyder

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

The average total real estate commission in Pennsylvania is 5.53%. This includes a 2.81% listing agent commission and a 2.72% buyer’s agent commission. In Pennsylvania, sellers typically cover the real estate commission fees for both agents out of their sale proceeds at closing. 

Pennsylvania sellers pay an average of $13,149 in realtor fees, based on the average Pennsylvania home price of $327,514.

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

Pennsylvania 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 $327,514.

	Average rate	Cost
Listing agent commission	2.81%	$6,681
Buyer’s agent commission	2.72%	$6,467
Total realtor fees	5.53%	$13,149

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How much are realtor fees in Pennsylvania?

Home sellers typically pay 5.53% in realtor fees in Pennsylvania, compared to the national average of 5.37%. This includes the commission for the listing agent and the buyer’s agent, both of which are usually paid for by the seller. 

The exact commission you’ll pay depends on the home’s location. Brett Rosenthal, a realtor and team leader with the Revolve Philly Group at Compass in Philadelphia, notes that fees are slightly higher in the city than the suburbs.

“In the City of Philadelphia it leans towards 6%, and in the suburbs, it leans towards 5%,” says Rosenthal.

Commissions also change with market trends. In Pennsylvania, the average home value is virtually the same as it was a year ago, but the number of homes sold has dropped by over 30%. So while agents are making about the same from each sale, they may have far fewer homes to sell, making them hesitant to lower commissions.

“Market trends such as inflation or a crash may increase or decrease the commission respectively,” says Jon Sanborn, an agent and co-founder of Brotherly Love Real Estate in Philadelphia. “During COVID, our company reduced the commission fees to 3%.” But that fee has since returned to the standard 5–6% now that the market is stabilizing. 

How real Pennsylvania agents and brokers set commission rates

Agents generally set their fees based on competing agents’ commission rates. However, the agents we spoke to allow for some flexibility based on how much work they’ll need to put in to sell the house. 

Sometimes, client-specific situations might convince an agent to lower rates. Rosenthal says he would consider lowering his rate for some sellers “when there is a mortgage balance owed that is so high that they will walk away with nothing.”  

Keep in mind that total commission is typically split four ways: between the listing agent and their broker and the buyer’s agent and their broker. So even though the total commission can be tens of thousands of dollars, each party only takes about 25%. 

Realtors also need to cover a lot of costs out of their pocket. In Pennsylvania, 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: $150–300
• Multiple Listing Service (MLS) fees: $300–600 yearly
• State license fees: $96–126 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 Pennsylvania?

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

Consider how difficult your home is going to be to sell before negotiating with a realtor. If the agent has less work to do, they might be willing to lower their rate. 

“To successfully negotiate a lower commission, you should be able to convince the agent that your home will be easy to sell,” says Sanborn. To convince them, you’ll need to point out how homes in your neighborhood are selling quickly, something you can prove with a comparative market analysis provided by the agent. 

Sanborn adds that agents might be more receptive to lowering their fee if “you are a regular and reliable client, your home has a high value, or your home is in pristine condition.” 

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

Other FAQs about Pennsylvania 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 18 agents across Pennsylvania. 

We also interviewed Brett Rosenthal of Revolve Philly Group at Compass in Philadelphia and Jon Sanborn of Brotherly Love Real Estate in Philadelphia.

Sources

• Redfin – Pennsylvania Housing Market
• Pennsylvania Real Estate Commission
• Clever Real Estate Commission Survey Data
• Internal Revenue Service