T
exas' real estate market appears to be bucking the national trend when it comes to commission rates. Despite the National Association of Realtors' regulations taking effect this summer, Texas agents saw a slight increase in commissions, averaging 5.76% this year compared to last year's 5.73%. This translates to an additional $120 for buyers on a median-priced home in the Dallas area.

    In contrast, the national average commission rate dropped from 5.57% earlier this year to 5.32%. The difference between Texas and the rest of the country can be attributed to the state's ongoing real estate boom, which has been unaffected by NAR's rule changes.

    A survey of 734 agents found that nearly all reported no drastic commission changes as a result of the new guidelines, which added responsibilities such as buyer representation agreements. However, some agents noted that they may need to work harder to convince sellers to offer concessions equal to the buyer's agent commission.

    The Texas market has been driven by rapid job growth and high residential demand, with cities like San Antonio leading the nation in homebuilding and Dallas-Fort Worth ranked as the top real estate market to watch. While it's unclear whether agents in Texas are truly standing out or simply benefiting from hotter markets, one thing is certain: the state's real estate industry continues to thrive despite NAR's regulations.