Do I have to sign before seeing a house with an agent?
Yes, if the agent participates in the MLS: a written agreement is required before touring, in person or by live virtual tour.
Buying
Buyer agreements after the 2024 NAR settlement, in plain language
Since August 17, 2024, agents who use the MLS must have a written agreement with a buyer before touring a home, in person or by live virtual tour. The agreement states the agent’s compensation as a specific, objectively ascertainable amount or rate, and the agent cannot be paid more than that from any source.
Last updated: October 2026 · General information, not legal advice — your attorney confirms the details for your contract.What the agreement must say
It must disclose, clearly and specifically, the amount or rate the agent will be paid, or exactly how that will be determined. The amount has to be objectively ascertainable — not open-ended — and the agent cannot receive more than it from any source.
Compensation is negotiable
Compensation is not set by law. It can be paid by you, requested from the seller as part of your offer, or a combination. Offers of compensation to buyers’ agents are no longer shown on the MLS, so we discuss how to handle it in each offer.
What counts as a tour
A written agreement is needed before an agent shows you a home in person or by live virtual tour. Visiting an open house on your own, or watching a listing’s marketing video, does not require one.
Before you sign
Check the term, the area or properties it covers, how it can end, and how compensation is handled if the seller contributes. I will go through each line with you in English, Arabic or Spanish before you sign.
Frequently asked
Can the seller still pay my agent?
Yes, if it is negotiated. You can ask the seller to cover some or all of your agent’s compensation in your offer; your agent still cannot receive more than your agreement states.
Are the agreement’s terms negotiable?
Yes. Compensation, duration and scope are negotiable, so read them carefully and ask questions before signing.