Under the 2024 NAR settlement, real estate commissions are no longer displayed in the MLS. Buyer agent fees must now be handled through direct negotiation—and off-platform.

“It absolutely doesn’t prohibit the seller from paying buyer commissions,” one Florida broker explained in a video breakdown. “We’re just not allowed to announce what the seller is willing to compensate a buyer in the MLS.”

That shift creates logistical friction. Buyer agents now need to call each seller’s agent individually to ask about fees. If no fee is offered, some agents may avoid the listing altogether.

Buyers Now Bear More Upfront Costs

Buyers are expected to sign a representation agreement with their agent before touring homes. That agreement will define how the buyer’s agent is paid—often by the buyer themselves.

This adds significant out-of-pocket cost. In a recent analysis, agent Jackie Baker explains that on a $500,000 home, a 2–2.5% buyer agent fee could cost $10,000–$12,500. For buyers already covering down payments and closing costs, this fee reduces purchasing power and adds financing complications. Most mortgage products, especially FHA and VA loans, do not allow the buyer to finance this expense.

If the seller does not offer to cover buyer agent compensation, the buyer’s affordability drops accordingly.

The Loss of Representation for Buyers

To avoid fees, some buyers may turn to discount brokerages or flat-fee models. But as Baker points out, this often comes at the cost of proper representation. Flat-fee buyers are increasingly expected to “act as their own agent,” handling showings, offers, and inspection negotiations with limited support. This brings the industry full circle: back to a time when listing agents represented both sides, and buyers had no fiduciary protection.

This is especially risky for first-time buyers, who may miss repair red flags, overpay, or fail to negotiate concessions—ultimately losing more money than they saved.

Sellers Must Now Be Proactive About Visibility

With buyer representation costs rising, sellers have a choice: either clearly offer buyer agent compensation or risk limiting the pool of buyers who can afford to make an offer.

Failing to do so can affect sale outcomes. One broker explains, “If a buyer is approved for $300,000, and now they have to pay their agent $5,000 out of pocket, they can no longer afford your $300,000 house.” Visibility and upfront clarity now directly influence offer volume and strength.

FeeViews Makes Commission Terms Visible Again

FeeViews restores a key piece of functionality lost in the MLS overhaul: the ability to show buyer agent compensation publicly.

Sellers—whether FSBO or agent-represented through the MLS system—can list their home on FeeViews and include full property details, media, and a buyer agent fee structure. This allows buyer agents to assess terms before making contact, reducing uncertainty and increasing the likelihood of showings.

Realtors can also connect their existing listings and set custom rates outside of existing MLS limitations by the 2024 NAR settlement. It’s the same information that used to appear automatically—now restored through a tool that gives the seller full control.

Designed to Work Within the New System

FeeViews doesn’t attempt to reverse the settlement. It works within its rules, providing a centralized way for sellers to communicate compensation that is still legal—but now invisible.

The platform’s core value is simple: If sellers want more eyes on their listings and fewer delays, they must state buyer compensation clearly and early. FeeViews offers a way to do that, without requiring legal workarounds or backdoor negotiations.

A Response to Market Chaos, Not Just a Product

Law professor Tanya Monestier, who filed a formal objection to the NAR settlement, described the new system as one that adds “paperwork, lies, chaos, and frustration.”

Read her full statement in Inman

Even the NAR acknowledges the complexity of implementation. While defending the core structure of the agreement, it has advised members to expect significant operational changes and to prepare for buyer confusion.

Official NAR summary

FeeViews doesn’t take a side in the legal dispute. It solves the functional problem: Sellers have something to offer—but nowhere to display it.

Clear Terms Drive Faster Sales

In a market where compensation terms are negotiable, visibility is leverage. Sellers who communicate clearly will reach more buyers, receive stronger offers, and face fewer stalled negotiations.

FeeViews offers that clarity—on the terms that now matter most.