Do Closing Costs Include Realtor Fees?
Published by Cash Flow Deals · Last updated 2026-08-04 · Published and reviewed for compliance by Camilo Palacio, a Florida Licensed Realtor
Commission is technically a separate charge from closing costs, but both come out of your check at the closing table, so you may count them as one number. Closing costs alone run 1% to 3% of the sale price. Add commission and the total climbs to 8% to 10%. 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, our payment appears as a separate line item on your closing statement.
| Factor | Traditional Route | Cash Flow Deals |
|---|---|---|
| What counts as your total cost | Closing costs alone run 1% to 3%, commission stacks on another 5% to 6%, total lands around 8% to 10% | Cash Flow Deals' fee shows as one disclosed line item on the closing statement |
| When you find out the real number | Estimated up front, finalized on the Closing Disclosure about 3 days before closing | With your Fast Cash Offer or 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. |
| Who sets buyer agent pay | Negotiated directly since the August 2024 settlement, no longer posted on the MLS | The buyer's own lender funds the purchase, separate from the seller's net |
What Actually Counts as a Closing Cost
Closing costs are the fees both sides pay to finalize a sale: title insurance, escrow or attorney fees, recording fees, prorated property taxes, and any HOA payoff. On their own, before commission gets added, these run about 1% to 3% of the sale price nationally, close to a 1.8% average. That's the number most people picture when they hear "closing costs." It's not the whole picture.
Where Realtor Commission Actually Fits
Commission is technically a separate line item from closing costs. It's a service fee, not a government charge or a settlement fee. In practice almost nobody treats it that way, because it comes out of the same seller proceeds at the same closing table. Once commission gets added, total seller costs jump to roughly 8% to 10% of the sale price. The Sitzer/Burnett settlement, effective August 17, 2024, changed how that commission piece works: offers of buyer agent compensation can no longer be posted on the MLS, and buyer's agents now need a signed written agreement spelling out their pay before they show a house. Commission is negotiable and averages around 5.7% combined nationally as of 2026, split roughly 2.9% to the listing agent and 2.8% to the buyer's agent, though that range moves by market and deal.
Why the Number Isn't Final Until Days Before Closing
An early estimate you receive is not the final closing statement. Prorated taxes shift with your exact closing date, and negotiated repair credits and concessions affect your proceeds. The Closing Disclosure, which typically lands about three days before the actual closing date, details the final loan terms and closing costs. With our Fast Cash Offer and 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.
How Cash Flow Deals Handles the Fee Differently
With Cash Flow Deals, you choose the Fast Cash Offer, where we buy your house as-is and close, or 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 using their own mortgage. We cover repair costs, and we figure out a way, so nothing comes out of your pocket. On Premium, only what the buyer's lender requires gets fixed, with costs settled from the sale proceeds out of our share. On Fast Cash, you make no repairs. 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. On Premium, Cash Flow Deals gets paid as its own separate line item on your closing statement. If your buyer's loan falls through, that is our problem, not yours, and you can still take the Fast Cash Offer at its own number instead of the Premium Cash Offer. Cash Flow Deals helps you compare what you would receive under each offer.
Common questions
Is realtor commission technically part of closing costs?
Not technically. Commission is a service fee for the agents involved, closing costs are things like title insurance, transfer taxes, and escrow fees. Both get paid out of the same seller proceeds at the same closing, which is why most people lump them together in conversation.
What's a normal total for seller costs including commission?
Closing costs alone run about 1% to 3% of the sale price. Add a typical commission and the seller's total cost usually lands between 8% and 10% of the sale price.
Did the 2024 NAR settlement lower closing costs?
It changed how buyer agent commission gets set, not the closing costs themselves. Since the Sitzer/Burnett settlement took effect on August 17, 2024, buyer agent pay is negotiated directly and disclosed in writing instead of posted on the MLS. Average combined commission has ticked down slightly since, but it isn't fixed at any number.
Can I negotiate who pays which closing costs?
Yes. Sellers and buyers can negotiate who covers which fees as part of the offer, including seller concessions toward the buyer's costs. It's a normal part of contract negotiation, not a fixed rule.
Keep reading
Related reading
- Closing Costs When You Sell a House: The Full Breakdown ›
- What Closing Costs Do Florida Sellers Still Owe? ›
- Flat Fee vs. Realtor Commission: What You Actually Keep at Closing ›
- Florida Flood Insurance Costs 2026 - What Lake County Sellers Need to Know ›
- Florida Flood Insurance Costs 2026 - What Lee County Sellers Need to Know ›
- Florida Condo Prices Fall as HOA Fees Surge - What Lake County Sellers Need to Know ›
What this means for your options
A value estimate is a starting point, not a guaranteed number.
Wait and see
Keep the property as-is and hope conditions improve. The mortgage, insurance, and upkeep keep costing money while you wait, with no set date for things to turn around.
List with a traditional agent
Standard MLS listing, typically 5-6% in commission, and a financed buyer whose deal depends on appraisal, inspection, and lender approval — any of which can fall through after weeks on market.
Sell to Cash Flow Deals
Two offers for your house, Fast Cash or Premium Cash, and you choose. Cash: Cash Flow Deals buys the house as-is and closes. Premium: More money. A pre-approved FHA or conventional buyer we already have buys directly from you.
See your selling options before you decide anything.