How the 2024 NAR Settlement Changed What Florida Sellers Pay in Commission

Published by Cash Flow Deals · Last updated 2026-08-03 · Reviewed by Camilo Palacio, Licensed Florida Real Estate Professional (License #3280644, REALTOR®), affiliated with Silver Door Realty, LLC (License #CQ1064903) · 5 min read

The 2024 NAR settlement didn't set a new commission rate. It made commission negotiable and stopped buyer-agent pay from being published on the MLS, effective August 17, 2024. With Cash Flow Deals, you choose between the Fast Cash Offer, where we buy your house as-is and close, and the Premium Cash Offer, where a pre-approved FHA or conventional buyer we already have, ready to go, pays more and buys directly from you. The number is agreed before any work starts, and it changes only if you agree. The one exception: if something structural surfaces that was not visible or disclosed before we signed — foundation issues, hidden moisture, old wiring, cast-iron drain failure — we re-cost it and bring the number back to you. You decide. You can walk away. We disclose what we know at offer time so this almost never happens. You can compare what you would take home with either offer against a traditional listing and negotiate the terms yourself.

Factor	Traditional Listing	Cash Flow Deals
Timeline	Commission is negotiated per listing, and the home still sits on market a median of 78 days in Florida as of June 2026	You choose the Fast Cash Offer or the Premium Cash Offer. The number is agreed before any work starts, and it changes only if you agree. The one exception: if something structural surfaces that was not visible or disclosed before we signed — foundation issues, hidden moisture, old wiring, cast-iron drain failure — we re-cost it and bring the number back to you. You decide. You can walk away. We disclose what we know at offer time so this almost never happens.
Repairs	A buyer's agent commonly negotiates repair credits after inspection, which can shrink the seller's final commission-adjusted proceeds	With the Fast Cash Offer, we buy your house as-is without repairs for you to make. With the Premium Cash Offer, only what your buyer's lender requires gets fixed. We cover repair costs, and we figure out a way, so nothing comes out of your pocket; those costs are settled from the sale proceeds, from our share rather than your agreed number. The number is agreed before any work starts, and it changes only if you agree. The one exception: if something structural surfaces that was not visible or disclosed before we signed — foundation issues, hidden moisture, old wiring, cast-iron drain failure — we re-cost it and bring the number back to you. You decide. You can walk away. We disclose what we know at offer time so this almost never happens.
Fees / Costs	Commission is negotiable post-settlement, averaging near 5.70% total nationally in 2026, split between listing and buyer side	Premium Cash Offer: Cash Flow Deals is paid as a separate line item on the closing statement. Fast Cash Offer: no listing commission to Cash Flow Deals

What the NAR Settlement Actually Changed on August 17, 2024

The Sitzer/Burnett settlement, reached by the National Association of Realtors, took effect August 17, 2024. Before that date, a seller's listing agent commonly set compensation for the buyer's agent inside the MLS listing itself. After that date, offers of buyer-agent compensation can no longer be published on the MLS. Buyers must sign a written agreement with their own agent before that agent shows them a home, spelling out what the buyer will pay that agent. MLS participants also have to tell sellers and buyers, in plain language, that commissions are not set by law and are fully negotiable. Nothing in the settlement created a new required rate. It removed the old default and put every number back on the negotiating table.

Why 'Negotiable' Doesn't Mean 'Lower'

Commission rates were always technically negotiable in Florida, long before 2024. What changed is who negotiates and when. A seller now negotiates directly with their own listing agent for that agent's fee, and separately decides whether to offer any compensation toward a buyer's agent. Early data on this has surprised a lot of people. Total average commission nationally sat near 5.70% in 2026, split roughly 2.88% for the listing side and 2.82% for the buyer side, according to a 2026 agent survey by Clever Real Estate. That's close to where commissions sat before the settlement. Negotiable does not automatically mean cheaper. It means the seller has to actually do the negotiating instead of assuming a number.

Cash Flow Deals' Process for a Net Price Without Commission Guesswork

Cash Flow Deals' process gives you a choice: 1. Request your written offers and tell Cash Flow Deals about your property as it sits. 2. Review the Fast Cash Offer, where we buy your house as-is and close, alongside the Premium Cash Offer, where a pre-approved FHA or conventional buyer we already have, ready to go, pays more and buys directly from you. The number is agreed before any work starts, and it changes only if you agree. The one exception: if something structural surfaces that was not visible or disclosed before we signed — foundation issues, hidden moisture, old wiring, cast-iron drain failure — we re-cost it and bring the number back to you. You decide. You can walk away. We disclose what we know at offer time so this almost never happens. 3. Compare what you would take home with each offer against what a traditional listing would net after commission, days on market, and repair credits. 4. Choose the path that leaves you with the amount and timing that work for you. We cover repair costs, and we figure out a way, so nothing comes out of your pocket. With Premium, only what the buyer's lender requires gets fixed; we arrange coverage before closing, and repair costs are settled from the sale proceeds, from our share rather than your agreed number. With Fast Cash, you sell as-is without making repairs. Cash Flow Deals is a Florida real estate investor, not a brokerage. On Premium, your home may be listed through Silver Door Realty, a licensed Florida brokerage, with a licensed agent and scheduled showings. Your buyer signs a new contract directly with you, title transfers directly to that buyer, and their lender funds the purchase. Cash Flow Deals is paid as a separate line item on the closing statement.

What This Means If You're Comparing Options Right Now

When you weigh a traditional listing against Cash Flow Deals, ask the same three questions: what will you have in hand after every fee, how long will the process take from signature to closing, and what happens if something changes along the way? The 2024 NAR settlement made the commission conversation with your listing agent more explicit: discuss compensation and put the agreed terms in writing rather than assuming a standard rate. With Cash Flow Deals, you choose between the Fast Cash Offer, where we buy your house as-is and close, and the Premium Cash Offer, where a pre-approved FHA or conventional buyer we already have, ready to go, pays more and buys directly from you. On Premium, we are paid as a separate line item on the closing statement, after amounts owed are settled and you receive your agreed number. The number is agreed before any work starts, and it changes only if you agree. The one exception: if something structural surfaces that was not visible or disclosed before we signed — foundation issues, hidden moisture, old wiring, cast-iron drain failure — we re-cost it and bring the number back to you. You decide. You can walk away. We disclose what we know at offer time so this almost never happens. If your Premium buyer's loan falls through, that is our problem, not yours, and you can still take the Fast Cash Offer at its own number. You can compare both offers by what you take home, the terms, and the timing.

How to Verify These Rules for Your Own Listing Agreement

Commission terms live inside the listing agreement itself, not inside the MLS. Before signing anything, read the compensation section line by line and ask the agent to state the exact percentage or flat number in writing. NAR's own August 2024 settlement FAQ confirms brokers can no longer state a 'typical' local rate, which means a seller has to ask directly instead of assuming a market norm. For anything involving a specific legal right or contract deadline tied to a commission dispute, a licensed Florida real estate attorney is the right person to confirm the exact language, not a general guide like this one.

Common questions

Did the NAR settlement lower commission rates in Florida?

Not automatically. The settlement made commission fully negotiable and stopped buyer-agent pay from being published on the MLS, but it didn't set any new rate. National averages tracked by Clever Real Estate in 2026 sat near 5.70% total, close to pre-settlement levels.

Do I still have to pay a buyer's agent if I list traditionally?

That's now a direct negotiation between the seller and the seller's own listing agent, decided case by case. Nothing is automatic through the MLS anymore. Confirm the exact terms in writing before signing a listing agreement.

Does Cash Flow Deals charge a commission like a traditional listing?

No. On the Premium Cash Offer, Cash Flow Deals is paid as a separate line item on the closing statement, and that fee is set before the property's repairs are scoped. On the Fast Cash Offer there is no listing commission to Cash Flow Deals.

When exactly did the NAR settlement rules take effect?

August 17, 2024. That's the date MLS participants had to stop publishing buyer-agent compensation offers and start requiring signed buyer agreements before showings.