Who Pays Realtor Fees in Texas?

In Texas, who pays real estate fees depends on the agreements involved in the sale. The seller agrees to compensation with the listing broker. A represented buyer agrees to compensation with the buyer’s broker. The seller may also agree to contribute toward the buyer’s brokerage fee, but that contribution is a negotiated part of the transaction.

If you’re planning a move in Dallas, ask two questions early: What have I agreed to pay, and how much of that amount will come from someone else? Getting those answers before you make or accept an offer makes it easier to plan your budget.

Start with the agreements

The listing agreement describes the seller’s arrangement with the listing brokerage. The buyer representation agreement describes the buyer’s arrangement with the brokerage representing them. Read the services, compensation, duration and termination terms together. A fee only tells you part of what you’re agreeing to.

Broker compensation is negotiable and is not set by law. There is no legally required percentage or automatic equal split between two agents. Discuss the fee and the work it covers before signing.

NAR explains what buyers can negotiate in a representation agreement.

Can the seller pay the buyer’s agent fee?

A seller can agree to cover some or all of the buyer’s brokerage compensation. A buyer can request that contribution as part of an offer. Whether the seller accepts is a negotiation; it should not be assumed from the asking price or a previous transaction.

Texas REALTORS’ guidance for the July 2026 resale contract places seller contributions toward buyer brokerage fees in Paragraph 12B(1). Your broker should explain how the current contract and your representation agreement work together.

Read Texas REALTORS’ current explanation of broker compensation and the revised contract.

What if the contribution is less than the agreed fee?

Check your buyer representation agreement for your responsibility for any unpaid amount. Discuss the gap before submitting the offer rather than waiting for the closing statement.

For a hypothetical example, suppose the buyer’s agreed brokerage fee is $10,000 and the seller agrees to contribute $7,000 toward it. If the buyer remains responsible for the balance under the agreement, the buyer would need to account for $3,000. These amounts are illustrations, not a suggested fee or a quote for services.

Ask your broker to explain the available choices and ask your lender how the proposed arrangement affects the cash you need. Don’t assume the difference can be added to your mortgage or covered by a general closing-cost credit.

Why am I being asked to sign before touring?

Since January 1, 2026, Texas law requires a license holder working with a prospective residential buyer to have a written agreement before showing a home, or before presenting an offer if no home will be shown. The agreement can establish representation or, where applicable, a limited showing-only arrangement without representation.

Ask which relationship the document creates. Opening a door and representing you through a purchase are different services. Open-house requirements also depend on who is hosting and whom that person represents.

TREC explains Texas buyer agreements and open-house situations.

Questions to ask before you commit

• What services are included, and how is the brokerage fee calculated?
• When is the fee earned and payable under this agreement?
• What happens if a seller contributes less than the amount I agreed to pay?
• How long does the agreement last, and how can it be changed or ended?
• Where will the contribution and my remaining responsibility be documented?

Plan the fee alongside the rest of your move

For buyers, the useful number is the full amount you need to complete the purchase. For sellers, it’s the amount you expect to keep after the agreed expenses and loan payoff. Put the brokerage agreement beside the offer and the closing estimate so you can see how the pieces fit.

If you’re selling, the companion guide to Dallas home-selling costs walks through the other items to include in that estimate.

What Does It Cost to Sell a Home in Dallas?

Talk through your Dallas move

Have questions about representation or the costs of your next move? Contact Dustin Pitts to discuss the services you need, the proposed fee and the questions to resolve before you sign.