Split commission
When the total commission gets divided between the listing brokerage and the buyer's brokerage. The split isn't always even, and terms have to be set in writing.
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Free to set up. No credit card.Part 1 of 4
Why a seller cares
The split used to describe one commission divided between the listing and buying brokerages. Since 2024 the two fees are set separately, and what reaches the buyer's side is decided in the offer, not by a split.
Part 2 of 4
A simple example
Your agent's fee is 2.5% by agreement. The buyer's offer asks for 2.5% for their agent, and you agree, so 5% leaves your proceeds in two pieces.
| The piece | How it is set |
|---|---|
| Your agent's share | The listing agreement |
| The buyer's agent's share | The offer, and your answer to it |
| The split inside a brokerage between broker and agent | Their business, not yours |
Split is an old word for two fees that are now negotiated separately.
Part 3 of 4
What people get wrong
That the split is fixed at half and half. There is no fixed split anymore; each side is its own number.
Part 4 of 4 · where to read next
Where it appears in the sale
What a definition is, and what it isn't
Keighbor is a software company, not a law firm, brokerage, or tax adviser. This is general information, not legal, tax, financial, or real estate advice about your sale. Your situation may differ. Before acting on a contract, disclosure, title, tax, or pricing question, ask an appropriately licensed professional in your state.
Written and researched by Keighbor Research · drawn from the reference glossary · how we research and check what we publish
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