Following the 2024 NAR settlement, buyer agent compensation is fully negotiable and must be agreed to in writing before an agent tours homes with you. In practice many sellers in the TN-GA-AL area still offer to cover the buyer’s agent commission but this is no longer guaranteed and varies by listing.
Jai Williams is a licensed REALTOR® with active licensure in Tennessee, Georgia, and Alabama. She serves buyers, sellers, and relocating families across all three states and provides real estate guidance and referral connections for clients nationwide.
What Changed in August 2024
Prior to August 2024 seller-paid buyer agent compensation was built into the standard transaction structure. The NAR settlement changed two things: sellers are no longer required to offer compensation to buyer’s agents through the MLS, and buyers must sign a written Buyer Representation Agreement specifying compensation before touring homes.
Three Ways Buyer Agent Compensation Can Work
Seller Paid: The seller agrees to cover the buyer’s agent compensation. This remains the most common structure in the Tennessee, Georgia, and Alabama market.
Buyer Paid: The buyer pays their agent’s compensation directly as outlined in the BRA.
Negotiated in Offer: The buyer includes a request for seller-paid compensation as a term of their purchase offer.
What This Means for Buyers
The most important change for buyers is transparency. Before August 2024 compensation was often invisible. Now it is a disclosed, negotiated term. Jai reviews all compensation terms openly before you sign anything and explains exactly how she is paid on every transaction.
See the full resource guide: Buyer Representation