What HomeLight and UpNest Take From Your Home Sale

HomeLight and UpNest are free for sellers. The agents on both sides of your transaction may not be.

Both platforms charge referral fees at closing. HomeLight typically takes 25 to 33 percent of the agent's commission. UpNest charges 30 percent of the gross commission, calculated before the broker split. (Source: listwithclever.com) That applies to listing agents. It can also apply to buyer's agents.

Here is why that matters to you as a seller.

On a $400,000 home in Niceville, Shalimar, or Fort Walton Beach, sellers are now routinely asked to offer buyer agent compensation as part of the transaction. If the buyer's agent also came through a referral platform, a portion of that compensation you agreed to offer is going straight to HomeLight or UpNest. Not to the agent working your buyer. Not toward closing. To the platform that made the introduction.

On your listing side, it is the same math. UpNest takes $3,600 off a $12,000 listing commission before your agent pays a single business expense. That number does not appear on your closing statement.

Neither fee does.

This is not an argument against using referral platforms. It is information sellers in Niceville, Shalimar, and Fort Walton Beach deserve before they decide what to offer, who to hire, and what to sign.

All commissions are negotiable. Uber Realty charges 1 percent to list. Buyer agent compensation is negotiable and varies by transaction. No guaranteed savings are implied.

The question worth asking before you sign anything: how many referral agreements are attached to this transaction?

Uber Realty is a 1% listing brokerage in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. Serving Niceville, Shalimar, Fort Walton Beach, and Okaloosa County. Listing fee is 1%. Buyer agent compensation is negotiable. Total commission often around 3% depending on the transaction. All commissions are negotiable. Same MLS. Same buyers. Keep more equity. Call or text Jim Whatley. 850.499.2940. I answer. I always do.