Sacramento real estate commissions average about 5.08% of the final sale price, according to Clever Real Estate’s October 2026 survey, and escrow pays them at closing. On Redfin’s $508,258 September 2026 median, that is about $25,820. You agree on your own agent’s fee in writing before you tour, and you can ask the seller to cover it in your offer.
Average total commission in Sacramento
5.08%
of the final sale price, or $25,820 on the $508,258 median sale.
Listing agent
2.57%About $13,062 on a median-priced home
Buyer's agent
2.51%About $12,757 on a median-priced home
Rates: Clever Real Estate agent survey, October 2026. Median sale price: Redfin, September 2026. Clever's Sacramento rates match its California statewide average, so read them as a California benchmark that local agents may price above or below.
How Much Is the Real Estate Commission in Sacramento?
Clever Real Estate’s agent survey, updated October 1, 2026, puts the average total commission in Sacramento at 5.08%. That breaks down to 2.57% for the listing agent and 2.51% for the buyer’s agent, below Clever’s national average of 5.46%. Clever reports the same 5.08% total for California as a whole, so the Sacramento figure works as a statewide benchmark.
For a city-specific read, HomeLight reports a 5.18% average for Sacramento. Each source below measures something slightly different, so check the label on each row:
Redfin’s MLS study tracked the buyer side. In the four weeks ending July 14, 2024, the average buyer’s agent commission offered in the Sacramento metro was 2.39%, down from 2.41% in January 2024 (Redfin).
No rate is fixed. The California DRE warns that any agent who claims there is a “standard” commission rate is misrepresenting the law (DRE consumer alert).
What Commission Costs at Sacramento Prices
Redfin reported a $508,258 median sale price in Sacramento in September 2026, up 3.3% from a year earlier. At Clever’s 5.08% average, total commission on that home is about $25,820. The buyer-agent side alone, at 2.5%, is about $12,706.
Redfin rates Sacramento as “very competitive,” with a Compete Score of 78 out of 100. It measured these conditions for September 2026 (Redfin):
A median of 25 days on market, down from 28 a year earlier
An average sale-to-list ratio of 99.9%
41.5% of homes sold above list price
35.3% of homes had a price drop
Neighborhood prices spread out on both sides of the citywide figure. Redfin’s September 2026 medians put Meadowview at $464,870 and East Sacramento at $798,776:
Swipe to see all columns
Commission in dollars at Sacramento price points
Home price
Buyer side at 2.5%
TurboHome flat fee
TurboHome rebate
$464,870Meadowview median (Redfin), September 2026Total commission at 5.08%: $23,615
$11,622
$5,000
$6,622
$508,258Citywide median (Redfin), September 2026Total commission at 5.08%: $25,820
$12,706
$10,000
$2,706
$798,776East Sacramento median (Redfin), September 2026Total commission at 5.08%: $40,578
$19,969
$10,000
$9,969
Buyer side uses a 2.5% planning assumption. Actual compensation is set in your buyer agreement and offer. The rebate is the buyer-agent compensation received minus TurboHome's flat fee, credited at closing with lender approval.
Why the $500,000 Line Matters in Sacramento
Sacramento’s citywide median sits $8,258 above $500,000. That line matters for any fee schedule with price tiers, including TurboHome’s:
At $500,000 or below, the TurboHome flat fee is $5,000. On a $500,000 home with 2.5% buyer-agent compensation, the TurboHome rebate is $7,500.
From $500,001 to $1,000,000, the fee is $10,000. On a $510,000 home with the same 2.5%, the TurboHome rebate is $2,750.
Meadowview’s $464,870 median falls in the $5,000 tier, and the citywide median falls just inside the $10,000 tier. If your budget sits near $500,000, run both sides of the line through the commission rebate calculator before you set a maximum offer.
Commission for Bay Area Movers
Many Sacramento buyers are arriving from the Bay Area. Redfin’s migration report for the second quarter of 2026 ranked the Sacramento metro fifth nationally by net inflow of house hunters, at 5,227, with San Jose as the top origin. Sacramento was also the top destination for people looking to leave San Jose (Redfin, September 2026). In the fourth quarter of 2025, Sacramento ranked first, with San Francisco as the top origin (Redfin, March 2026).
The rate stays about the same after the move, and the dollar amount drops. A 2.5% buyer-agent fee on San Jose’s $1,349,357 September 2026 median is about $33,734 (Redfin). The same rate on Sacramento’s $508,258 median is about $12,706.
Commission and Down Payment Assistance
Sacramento’s price range puts more buyers within reach of California’s state assistance programs. Two from the California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA) are common:
MyHome Assistance Program. A deferred-payment junior loan of up to 3.5% of the purchase price or appraised value, whichever is less, with a CalHFA FHA first mortgage (CalHFA).
Dream For All Shared Appreciation Loan. Up to 20% of the purchase price for down payment and closing costs, repaid along with a share of the home’s appreciation (CalHFA handbook).
Your agent’s fee sits outside these programs. It is set in your buyer agreement and paid by you, the seller, or both. The programs do control what reaches you at closing. CalHFA’s MyHome handbook says borrowers may not receive any cash back from the MyHome loan (CalHFA MyHome handbook). If you plan to use assistance along with a seller credit or a TurboHome rebate, ask your CalHFA-approved lender how each credit will be applied before you write an offer.
Transfer Taxes in Sacramento
Transfer taxes are a separate closing cost from commission. For a sale inside Sacramento city limits, two apply:
City of Sacramento real property transfer tax. $2.75 per $1,000 of the full purchase price, collected by the County Clerk-Recorder when the deed is recorded (City of Sacramento; Sacramento County Clerk-Recorder).
At the $508,258 median, the two taxes add up to about $1,957. Commission at 5.08% on the same home is about $25,820.
The city says its tax can be charged to either the buyer or the seller by mutual agreement in escrow. If escrow leaves it unpaid, the city’s policy puts it on the buyer (City of Sacramento). Check who pays in your purchase agreement.
Who Pays the Commission in Sacramento?
The seller pays the listing agent from the sale proceeds at closing. The California DRE’s homebuyer guide says commissions are usually paid by the seller at closing, and that the cost is generally factored into the home’s price (DRE).
Your buyer’s agent is paid under the agreement you sign with them. You can ask the seller to cover some or all of that fee as part of your offer. California agents usually make that request in the purchase agreement and on the C.A.R. Seller Payment to Buyer’s Broker form (C.A.R. guidance).
With 35.3% of Sacramento homes taking a price drop in September 2026, some sellers may be open to that request. On a home with several offers, it becomes one more term the seller compares.
What Changed for Sacramento Buyers in 2024 and 2025
Two sets of rules now govern how you pay a buyer’s agent in Sacramento.
The NAR settlement, August 17, 2024
For agents who use the MLS, the national rules require the following (NAR):
A written buyer agreement before you tour a home in person or by live virtual tour
A specific, objective fee in that agreement, such as a flat amount, a percentage, or an hourly rate
A cap, so your agent cannot receive more than the agreed amount from any source
No offers of buyer-agent compensation on the MLS, though sellers can still offer it elsewhere
California AB 2992, January 1, 2025
State law goes further. The DRE explains that every buyer’s agent in California must sign a representation agreement with the buyer as soon as practicable, and no later than the buyer’s offer (DRE licensee advisory). Under Civil Code 1670.50, that agreement cannot last longer than three months and cannot renew automatically. Agreements for one to four residential units must also state that commission is not fixed by law (AB 2992).
Where the Commission Goes After Closing
In Northern California, a title insurance company usually handles escrow, according to the DRE (DRE). At closing, escrow pays each commission to the agent’s brokerage.
The brokerage then pays its agent under their own contract. HomeLight reports that California agents commonly pass 30% to 50% of their commission to their broker, depending on experience, market size, and the brokerage agreement (HomeLight).
How to Negotiate Commission in Sacramento
Your buyer agreement is where you set your agent’s pay, so negotiate it before your first tour:
Compare fees in writing. Ask each agent for a flat amount or a percentage, and a list of what the fee covers.
Run the numbers at your price. On a $508,258 home, each 0.25% of the price is about $1,271.
Check the tier lines. If an agent’s fee has price tiers, see where your likely final price falls.
Use the market’s pace. For a listing with a price cut or a long time on market, ask the seller to cover more of your agent’s fee.
Ask about a rebate. The DRE’s homebuyer guide says a homebuyer’s rebate is allowed in California. Your lender must approve how any credit is applied at closing.
How TurboHome Handles Commission in Sacramento
TurboHome is a flat-fee buyer’s brokerage. You pay a set fee based on the purchase price, and eligible buyer-agent compensation above that fee comes back to you as a TurboHome rebate at closing, subject to lender approval. The fee is $5,000 for homes up to $500,000, $10,000 from $500,001 to $1,000,000, and $15,000 from $1,000,001 to $2,000,000.
Your agent is an employed, licensed local Realtor. The service includes unlimited private tours (with seller or listing-agent permission), offer strategy, negotiation, and escrow and closing support.
TurboHome’s public closed-deal records include these Sacramento purchases:
What is the average real estate commission in Sacramento?
Clever Real Estate's survey, updated October 1, 2026, puts the average total at 5.08% of the sale price, with 2.57% to the listing agent and 2.51% to the buyer's agent. Clever reports the same figures for California as a whole. HomeLight reports 5.18% for Sacramento, and every rate is negotiable.
How much commission is paid on a median-priced Sacramento home?
Redfin reported a $508,258 median sale price in Sacramento in September 2026. At Clever's 5.08% average, total commission on that home is about $25,820, and a 2.5% buyer-agent fee is about $12,706.
Can I use CalHFA down payment assistance and still negotiate my agent's fee?
Yes. CalHFA programs such as MyHome help with the down payment and closing costs, and your agent's fee is set separately in your buyer agreement. CalHFA's MyHome handbook says borrowers may not receive cash back from the MyHome loan, so ask your CalHFA-approved lender early how any credit or TurboHome rebate will be applied.
Does the City of Sacramento charge a transfer tax?
Yes. Inside city limits, the City of Sacramento charges $2.75 per $1,000 of the purchase price, in addition to Sacramento County's $0.55 per $500. The city says either party can pay by agreement in escrow, and the tax falls to the buyer if escrow leaves it unpaid.
When do I have to sign a buyer agreement in California?
For agents who use the MLS, before your first in-person or live virtual tour, under rules in effect since August 17, 2024. Since January 1, 2025, California law also requires a signed agreement no later than your offer, and it cannot last longer than three months.
Can I get a commission rebate in Sacramento?
Yes. The California Department of Real Estate's homebuyer guide says a homebuyer's rebate is allowed in California. Your lender must approve how a rebate is applied at closing.
Keep more of the commission on your Sacramento home
TurboHome charges a flat fee and credits eligible buyer-agent compensation above it back to you at closing. Talk with a licensed local agent about your price range.
Vinura Abeysundara is a real estate and growth professional with experience scaling homebuying platforms across Canada and the United States. Formerly Head of Growth at Zown, he now works with TurboHome and writes about homebuyer savings, flat-fee real estate, commissions, and technology in real estate.
