Who pays the buyer's agent commission when you buy a home in 2026?

Who pays a buyer's agent in 2026 is spelled out in a written buyer agreement signed before touring homes, and that arrangement is negotiated between the buyer and the agent rather than fixed by any industry-wide rule. Compensation can come from the seller through the transaction, from the buyer directly, or some combination of both. Joel Boss reviews those options with every buyer before they sign anything.