Total real estate commission in Virginia is 5.50% on average. See what you can expect to pay in realtor commission with our commission calculator.
Home sellers may pay an average of 5.50% in real estate commission when selling a home in Virginia. This includes a 2.75% listing agent commission and a 2.75% buyer’s agent commission.
To put those costs into context, you'd pay around $17,050 in realtor commissions on a $310,000 home; $34,100 on a $620,000 home; or $56,650 on a $1,030,000 home. No matter your home price, that's a lot to pay in realtor fees!
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How does real estate commission work in Virginia?
Typically, there are two real estate agents involved in a home sale.
The seller's agent (sometimes called the listing agent) represents the seller. The seller's agent is responsible for marketing the home and helping the seller set an appropriate price.
The buyer's agent represents the interests of the buyer. They help their client with the home search and assist with negotiations and closing.
The seller and the buyer each sign a contract with their own agents, promising to pay the agreed-upon commission when the sale is complete. Each party must negotiate contracts with its own agents separately, as required by the 2024 NAR lawsuit settlement.
Real estate commission calculator for Virginia
Estimate how much you'll pay in real estate commission with our helpful calculator.
Your cost to sell your home doesn't stop with realtor fees. Learn more about what you can expect to pay when selling a home with our Virginia cost to sell calculator.
Who pays real estate commission in Virginia?
The seller pays for their own agent at closing. Even though the seller is obligated to pay for only their agent, many sellers will offer to pay for the buyer's agent as well, to make the home more affordable. This is known as a buyer's agent concession.
While you might find a buyer willing to pay for their own agent, it’s wise to budget for the buyer’s agent fees ahead of time.
If you offer to pay for both agents, you'll owe an average of 5.50% commission. If you don't offer to pay, you'll owe about 2.75% to your agent and the buyer will owe 2.75% to their own agent on top of the cost of the home.
"In our current uncertain market, be prepared to pay a 2.5% fee," says Mike Wagner of Pearson Smith Real Estate in Ashburn, VA. "If you have multiple offers, then you may be able to pay less, depending on what a buyer offers."
Current Virginia real estate commission in 2026
Your exact commission depends on your final selling price, the home’s condition, and the brokerage you choose. Commissions also vary by region.
Here’s an estimate of what you can expect to pay in listing agent and buyer's agent commission:
| Average rate | Cost for a $310,000 home | Cost for a $620,000 home | Cost for a $1,030,000 home | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Listing agent commission | 2.75% | $8,525 | $17,050 | $28,325 |
| Buyer’s agent concession | 2.75% | $8,525 | $17,050 | $28,325 |
| Total realtor fees | 5.50% | $17,050 | $34,100 | $56,650 |
If these numbers seem high, you can always negotiate commissions with your realtor, or you can use our free service that negotiates a lower rate for you.
How much is real estate commission in Virginia?
On average, sellers pay 5.50% in total realtor fees in Virginia, compared with the national average of 5.70%.
We contacted agents in Virginia to learn more about the average commission in the state.
Commission fees can also fluctuate depending on the location. For instance, a realtor might charge a different rate to sell a single-family home in a suburban community than a condo in a trendy neighborhood.
Most real estate agents we spoke to said that their commission is always negotiable. Not every sale is the same, and listing agents are used to adjusting their fees based on the home and the seller's situation.
To secure the best commission rate, research and compare agents. Even within your local area, agents may offer varying fees based on the services they provide.
How Virginia real estate agents and brokers set commission rates
Real estate agents typically have some degree of flexibility when it comes to setting their commission fees.
While most commission fees fall somewhere near the average, there is no set rate.
Agents usually base the fee on what their competitors in the region are charging, as well as the amount of time and effort they expect to invest in the sale.
For example, an agent who plans on extensive social media marketing and professional drone photography will likely charge a higher fee than another agent who applies only the basics, such as listing the property on the MLS.
Typically, each agent shares a portion of their commission with their brokerage. The listing agent and the buyer’s agent receive their agreed-upon fees, and then each of them split the commission with their broker.
How can I save on realtor fees in Virginia?
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
Negotiating with a traditional realtor is one of the first things to try when looking for ways to save on realtor fees.
Have an honest conversation with your agent about what you need and what the agent can deliver.
Finding a good match will set you and your agent up for a successful sale.
Here are some ways to prepare for negotiations before meeting with an agent:
- 📚 Do your research. Knowing the basics of your housing market will give you a strong basis on which to start your negotiations. Learn about the average commission in your area and check what similar homes have sold for recently.
- 🧹 Get your house in order. It’s much easier to sell an updated house with great curb appeal than a dilapidated house with dated fixtures. Giving your house a makeover and even staging it yourself are great ways to lessen your agent’s burden.
- 🛒 Shop around. Talking to multiple realtors will help you determine who offers the best service for the lowest rate. Knowing you’re talking to other realtors will encourage agents to give you their best rate.
- 🏘️ Be a repeat customer. Sales volume is one of the biggest determiners of a realtor’s success. Offering to sell your home and buy your next one with the same agent might convince them to give you a better rate.
Remember, not all agents will be willing to lower their fees. They may have a set minimum imposed by their brokerage, or they may not change their rate for an individual seller.
Learn more about how to negotiate realtor fees.
Work with a real estate brokerage that offers built-in savings
A simpler way to pay less is by working with a Virginia low commission real estate brokerage that already offers lower rates. These realtors provide the same level of service and support you'd get from a traditional realtor — but they charge less.
Our free service matches you with top agents from reputable brokerages in your area. You can compare and interview agents, or walk away anytime. If you find an agent through our service, you’ll pay a low 1.5% listing fee — half the rate most realtors charge. Check out your agent matches today.
Sell without a real estate agent
The surest way to not pay any listing commission is to sell the home without a realtor. However, we don’t recommend this option for most Virginia sellers.
You won’t pay a listing commission, but you’ll have to do all of the agent's work yourself, which can take up a lot of your time and energy. Also, you’ll still need to offer a competitive buyer’s agent commission to entice other agents to bring their clients to see your home.
Learn more about how to sell a house without a realtor in Virginia.
The current housing market in Virginia
Local market conditions affect your position when negotiating commission with your listing agent. If you're currently in a seller's market, agents are more likely to be competing for your business and might be open to a lower rate. If market conditions give buyers an edge, your agent's job will be harder, making them unlikely to work for less.
Either way, it's smart to enter negotiations with knowledge of your local housing market. Like any market, you can assess the Virginia real estate market by looking at the current relationship between supply and demand.
Virginia housing supply
Studying the local housing supply data gives you an idea of how many other sellers you're competing with. Here are the three key data points you'll want to pay attention to:
As of May 15, 2026, there were 18,280 homes for sale in Virginia, compared to the average 18,064 typically for sale.
More homes for sale means more competition for sellers; fewer homes means fewer choices for buyers.
Comparing this week's number of new listings to the average number can give you a sense of which direction housing inventory is trending. Last week, 703 new properties were listed in Virginia, compared to the typical 1,549 homes that are usually listed in a week.
If the number of new listings is consistently higher than the average each week, housing supply is increasing and the market is becoming more favorable to buyers. On the other hand, if fewer homes than normal are being listed, supply is decreasing, giving sellers an edge.
Virginia homes are currently spending a median of 36 days on the market, compared to the rolling average of 33.
The median days on market (sometimes abbreviated DOM) gives you a feel for how long it's currently taking to sell a home in Virginia. Compare the current days on market to the average to know if homes are selling faster or slower than usual.
Virginia housing demand
Looking at housing demand data tells you how enthusiastic buyers are in your market. You'll want to start with three indicators: what sellers think their homes are worth, what buyers think those homes are worth, and the divide between the two.
As of May 15, 2026, the median list price in Virginia was $549,950, compared with the rolling average list price of $538,998.
The list price is the seller's asking price for the home. Compare the rolling average with the current median list price to see which direction list prices are trending.
A good listing agent will help their client choose an appropriate price for the home based on comparable homes recently sold in the neighborhood. So even though some individual sellers price their homes too high, the majority of home prices are based on market research, making the median list price one good indicator of market value.
As of May 15, 2026, the median sale price in Virginia was $637,500, compared with the rolling average sale price of $512,574.
The median sale price is what buyers are ultimately paying for homes. Compare the rolling average with the current median sale price to see if buyers are paying more or less for homes than they were a few weeks ago.
Currently, homes in Virginia are selling for 100% of their list price, compared to the rolling average of 100%.
The sale-to-list price ratio is the best figure for determining if the buyer or seller has the upper hand in a market. A 100% sale-to-list price ratio means that sellers are getting exactly what they asked for their homes. A ratio greater than 100% means that buyers are paying more than the asking price, suggesting buyers are maneuvering to outbid one another. Anything less than 100% indicates buyers are having success negotiating offers below the list price.
Remember, when looking at housing market trends, staying local is key. Data for an entire state gives you a big picture of a large market, but market conditions could be vastly different from one city to another. Be sure to research your local market for the most useful statistics.
Frequently asked questions
Each party, the buyer and seller, is contractually responsible for paying their own agent commission. However, it's common practice for sellers to cover both their own agent's fee and that of the buyer's agent. This arrangement helps buyers, as they don't have to factor agent costs into their expenses when they're already saving for their down payment.
Although real estate agent commissions are due when the transaction completes, they aren't categorized as closing costs. Instead, "closing costs" specifically refers to the various fees and charges collected at settlement, such as property transfer taxes, title insurance, and administrative expenses.
Dual agency is when a single agent represents both the buyer and the seller for the same real estate deal. This can lead to a conflict of interest. Dual agency is illegal in eight states: Alaska, Colorado, Florida, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Vermont, and Wyoming.
The most common type of agent contract is known as an exclusive right to sell listing agreement. This contract states the seller agrees to work with only one agent, who gets paid when the home sells, even if the agent doesn't bring in the buyer.
Research methodology
In February 2026, we surveyed 533 agents nationwide, asking about their commission rates for buying and selling. These data points are averages based on responses we’ve received from 12 agents in Virginia.
We contacted agents in Virginia to learn about average real estate agent commission and negotiation in the state. We also asked Mike Wagner of Pearson Smith Real Estate in Ashburn, VA about whether to offer a buyer's agent concession.
Information on market conditions is based on HouseCanary data as of May 15, 2026.
Additional resources for Virginia home sellers
