Who Pays the Buyer's Agent Commission in Palm Beach?

By Raymond Fernandez

Originally from New York, I relocated my family to South Florida 20 years ago. Knowing that we wanted to live in Florida but not where exactly, we did a thorough investigation of the entire State and consider ourselves fortunate that we decided on the exact right place for us.... South Florida.

If you haven’t bought or sold a home since before 2024, the rules around buyer’s agent commissions have changed, and the news coverage left a lot of people with the wrong idea. Sellers especially came away thinking they were off the hook for paying a buyer’s agent.

Here in Palm Beach, Florida, and really across the state, that’s not how it played out, and getting it wrong can cost you on either side of a deal.

It all goes back to a 2024 settlement between the National Association of Realtors and a group of home sellers. It was everywhere for a while, then it faded, and what most people remember is that commissions were supposedly getting cut. What got lost is what the settlement actually changed, and what it left exactly the same.

What changed is transparency, not cost. The old way had the buyer’s agent commission built right into the MLS listing, advertised for everyone to see. That part is gone. You can’t post that compensation on the MLS anymore, which, believe it or not, makes things less transparent than before, not more.

Buyers also have to sign a written agreement with their agent before they tour homes or new-construction communities. But people overlook that sellers can still pay a buyer’s agent. In fact, if you want buyers coming through your home, you’ll want to. The number just moved off the screen and into a conversation.

That’s why the big commission collapse never happened. Nothing really changed underneath. Buyers still want someone representing them, and sellers still want represented buyers walking through the door. The only real difference is that the commission is now worked out in negotiation instead of sitting in the listing.

If you’re buying, the biggest change is the agreement you sign upfront. It spells out what your agent gets paid before you start looking. In almost every deal I’ve done, that cost gets worked into the offer, and the seller covers it. Even if you’re not buying right now, it’s worth knowing so you’re ready when you are. Most buyers still use an agent, same as always, because they want someone in their corner. The seller has one. You should, too.

If you’re selling, the call you make on compensation matters more than it looks. You can offer it or not, that’s up to you. But here’s what I see: sellers who offer it get more showings, while those who don’t get fewer. It’s not advertised anymore, but it still comes back around. Fewer showings usually mean a lower sale price, so what looks like saving money up front can end up costing you more.

If you haven’t been through a transaction since these changes, let’s talk before you go off old assumptions. I’ll walk you through exactly how it works for your situation, whether you’re buying or selling in Palm Beach, Florida, no confusion, no outdated assumptions, just a clear picture of where things stand today.

Call me at (561) 781-7821, email me at info@livinginpalmbeachfl.com, or visit blog.livinginpalmbeachfl.com. It would be an honor to help you move forward with the full story instead of half of it.