Homebuyers and sellers in Sweden and the U.K. typically pay a mere 1.5% to agents, but in the U.S. the number hovers around 5% to 6%, a new ranking shows
By Stefanos Chen | The Wall Street Journal
When it comes to negotiating fees with real-estate agents, the Swedes succeed.
Swedish real-estate agents last year took some of the lowest commissions in the developed world—an average 1.5% of the home-sale price, according to a recent survey of brokerages in 32 nations. They join the U.K., Singapore and the Netherlands as the most affordable markets to negotiate with residential brokers.
Meanwhile, the U.S. remains one of the more expensive nations to sell a home, with an average sale commission of 5% to 6% going to brokers last year, the survey showed. The most expensive country was Mexico, with an average 7.5% commission.
