Selling Resources   -   Commission and Fees

Real estate commission in Florida - what’s negotiable and what your options are

Commission is often the biggest single cost when selling a home, but it is also one of the most misunderstood. There is no legally required commission rate in Florida, and sellers have more options today than they did even a few years ago.

Quick takeaway: Real estate commission in Florida is negotiable. What matters most is not the percentage itself, but what services you are paying for and whether the deal structure actually requires two agents.

No. Despite what many sellers assume, there is no standard or legally required real estate commission in Florida. Commission is set by agreement between the seller and the broker.

You may hear percentages discussed frequently, but those are market conventions, not rules. Everything from the total amount to how it is split is negotiable.

Historically, most home sales assumed two agents:

• A listing agent handling pricing, marketing, and coordination.
• A buyer agent guiding the buyer through showings, paperwork, and negotiations.

The total commission was typically split between these two roles. The assumption was that both were necessary for the transaction to work smoothly.

• The total commission – there is no fixed percentage.
• How it is split – listing side vs buyer side.
• What services are included – marketing, negotiations, paperwork, coordination.
• Whether a buyer agent is needed at all – depending on the tools and structure used.
• How representation is disclosed – especially in direct buyer interactions.

Traditional full-service listing

A full-service agent handles marketing, pricing, negotiations, and coordination. Buyers are typically represented by their own agent. This is familiar and hands-on, but often the most expensive structure.

Flat-fee or limited-service listings

Sellers pay a flat amount for specific services, often MLS exposure. Buyers usually still have agents, and sellers handle more of the process themselves.

Direct buyer transactions with broker support

Buyers interact directly with the listing broker and platform tools. When buyers do not need an agent, the traditional two-agent structure may not be necessary.

YELLOW was built around a simple idea: sellers should not have to pay traditional listing-side Realtor fees to access professional tools, exposure, and broker oversight.

On the buyer side, YELLOW provides tools that allow buyers to:

• Schedule showings directly.
• Review disclosures and documents online.
• Submit offers digitally.
• Track the transaction through closing.

Because of this, many buyers do not need a separate agent to complete the transaction. When that happens, the overall commission structure can be significantly reduced compared to a traditional two-agent model.

Important nuance: Commission savings are not automatic or guaranteed. They depend on buyer choices, representation needs, and negotiated terms. YELLOW simply gives sellers a structure where traditional fees are no longer assumed by default.

Instead of asking “What percentage should I pay?”, a better question is:

“What services do I actually need, and what structure best fits my situation?”

For some sellers, full-service representation is worth the cost. For others, modern platforms and broker oversight provide everything needed without traditional fees.

Disclaimer: Commission terms are negotiable and vary by transaction. This page is informational and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Buyers and sellers should review representation disclosures and agreements carefully.