There’s no question the real estate industry is in the middle of a shift, and not a subtle one. The recent report from the Consumer Policy Center on low-fee brokers makes it even clearer: change is here, and it’s accelerating. The traditional 5-6% commission structure, long defended and protected by entrenched interests, is finally being questioned not just by regulators and plaintiffs in class-action suits, but more importantly, by consumers themselves. And for good reason.
For decades, the industry has relied on a model where the seller typically pays both sides of the commission, regardless of the quality or actual involvement of the agents on either side. That made sense when MLS access and market knowledge were tightly held by agents, but in 2025, information is no longer a gatekept asset. Buyers and sellers come to the table with more data and resources than ever before, and naturally, they’re beginning to question whether the services provided justify the cost.