What Virginia sellers and buyers actually pay in real estate commissions, what the 2024 settlement changed, and the dollar math on typical Virginia home prices.
There is no official commission rate in Virginia, because commissions are not set by law and are fully negotiable. But surveys give a reliable picture: a 2026 survey of 533 agents by Clever Real Estate put the national average total commission at 5.70% of the sale price, typically split between the listing side and the buyer side. Virginia rates generally track close to national norms.
Here is what that means in dollars, what changed in 2024, and how to pay less.
Using the traditional range of up to 6% total commission against typical median prices in Virginia markets:
| Market | Median price | Total commission at up to 6% |
|---|---|---|
| Norfolk | $285,000 | up to ~$17,100 |
| Richmond | $320,000 | up to ~$19,200 |
| Virginia Beach | $340,000 | up to ~$20,400 |
| Fredericksburg | $375,000 | up to ~$22,500 |
| Alexandria | $625,000 | up to ~$37,500 |
Two things stand out. First, the commission is almost always the largest single cost of selling. Second, because it is a percentage, the dollar amount scales with the price even though the work involved often does not.
The NAR settlement did not abolish commissions or set new rates. It changed the mechanics:
The result is more pricing models competing in the open: traditional full service, discount brokerages, flat-fee MLS listings, and technology platforms.
Negotiate. Even full-service agents negotiate rates, particularly on higher-priced homes.
Unbundle. Flat-fee MLS services list your home for a few hundred dollars if you are prepared to do everything else yourself.
Use a platform model. VroomBrick replaces the commission on whichever side it supports with a flat 1% technology fee. A seller on the median Virginia Beach home pays $3,400 for the listing side instead of roughly $10,200 at a traditional ~3%. A buyer whose seller pays the 1% fee instead of a traditional ~3% buyer-side commission can see the roughly 2% difference become a closing cost credit, subject to lender approval. Licensed professionals, a closing attorney, showing agents, and lenders, still handle the licensed work.
See how the model works in how the 1% technology fee actually works, or compare every lower-cost option in flat-fee home selling in Hampton Roads.
The fastest way to make this concrete is your own home price: the savings calculator shows the exact difference between a traditional commission and a flat 1% technology fee at any value.
Sources: Clever Real Estate, 2026 commission survey of 533 agents (national average 5.70%); median prices from VroomBrick market data for Virginia cities.
About VroomBrick: VroomBrick is a real estate technology platform, not a licensed real estate brokerage. VroomBrick does not provide brokerage services, represent buyers or sellers, or hold real estate licenses. The 1% technology fee covers platform access; closing attorneys, showing agents, and lender partners are independent licensed professionals. Commissions are not set by law and are fully negotiable. Savings examples are illustrative; actual savings vary by transaction.
About the Author
VroomBrick Contributor
VroomBrick Team writes for VroomBrick on real estate, homeownership, and how to buy or sell with a 1% technology fee instead of a 3% commission.
Read More
Back to all articles →Try our free calculators or start your transaction with VroomBrick today.