The recent settlements involving the National Association of Realtors (NAR) and other key real estate participants have brought about important changes in our industry. These settlements, stemming from antitrust lawsuits initiated by sellers nationwide, underscore a significant shift in our business landscape.

At William Raveis, we've always been ahead of the curve. The changes brought by these settlements align perfectly with our longstanding policies, allowing us to continue representing our clients with the same level of excellence and effectiveness you've come to expect from us.

Paying a buyer broker’s commission has always been the seller's choice, and we believe many sellers will continue to see the value in offering such commissions. As has always been the case, buyer agent commissions are not mandatory, and listing agents cannot require sellers to offer them. Buyer agent commissions should always be negotiated to fit the needs of both parties. Agents must disclose that commissions are fully negotiable and communicate the buyer broker commission upfront. At William Raveis, we’re committed to ensuring clarity and fairness for all our clients.

Going forward, buy-side commissions will no longer be displayed on any MLS. However, agents can still list buy-side commissions on other platforms, including brokerage websites like Raveis.com.

Buyers' agents will now be required to use a buyer brokerage agreement. This change benefits both agents and buyers by solidifying the relationship and ensuring greater transparency regarding compensation.