Conversational question: How are the new National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) rules changing real estate in San Diego?
Concise answer: The new rules shift how commissions and agency agreements work—so when you’re selling or buying a home in San Diego’s real estate market, you need a clear strategy and a trusted partner like Peraza Real Estate to navigate these changes.
What’s Changing and Why It Matters
The landscape for home sellers in San Diego is evolving because of a major settlement involving NAR. DreamWell Homes+4National Association of REALTORS®+4The Comiskey Group+4
Key changes to know
Listing services such as the local MLS (the Sandicor MLS in San Diego) can no longer advertise a specified buyer-agent compensation rate. Compass San Diego Housing Market+1
Buyers will often have to sign a -written agreement with their buyer agent outlining compensation and services before touring homes. Living The San Diego Life+1
Home sellers now have more flexibility regarding whether they pay the buyer’s agent fee, rather than it being built into the listing by default. 1% Listings+1
Why it matters for San Diego home sellers
If you’re preparing to sell a home in San Diego, you’ll want to revisit your listing strategy with these new conditions in mind.
The ability to advertise compensation to buyers’ agents in the MLS is gone, so standing out requires thoughtful marketing and agent expertise.
Your choice of agent and your listing agreement become even more critical—working with a team like Peraza Real Estate helps you stay ahead of changes and ensure you’re making informed decisions.
What This Means for You, the Home Seller in San Diego
Here’s how the changes may affect your home sale and how to respond proactively.
1. Review Your Listing Agreement with Peraza Real Estate
With the new rules, you’ll want to ask questions such as:
“What is the fee I’m paying you, the listing agent, and what will the buyer’s agent fee be (if any)?”
“How will you market my home to stand out without relying on the MLS compensation field?”
The Peraza Real Estate team — with over two decades of experience in San Diego real estate and 550+ transactions completed — is equipped to guide you through these questions. perazarealestate.com+1
2. Decide if You Want to Offer Buyer-Agent Compensation
In the past, many sellers automatically offered a buyer’s-agent commission to encourage offers. Now, you can choose whether to offer it. Offering may help attract more showings, but it’s no longer a given. Living The San Diego Life
If you choose to not offer it, work with Peraza Real Estate to ensure your marketing, pricing and presentation are strong enough to compensate.
3. Focus on How You Stand Out
Since compensation can’t be advertised via MLS, other factors grow in importance. Consider:
High-quality property photos and video tours
Targeted online and local marketing (neighbourhood outreach, social media)
Pricing your home competitively in the current San Diego market
Ensuring your listing agent (like Peraza Real Estate) has strong negotiation skills to bring in qualified offers
4. Understand Buyer Behavior Changes
Because buyers may now have to pay their own agent’s fee (or negotiate it), some buyers may:
Submit offers without agent representation
Negotiate more aggressively on price or terms
From a seller’s perspective, working with a proactive agent like Peraza Real Estate ensures you’re prepared for a wider variety of offers and scenarios.
San Diego Market Snapshot: Tips Specific to This Region
Here are some local insights to keep in mind as you sell your San Diego property with Peraza Real Estate’s help:
The changes took full effect in San Diego County via the SDMLS on August 17, 2024. Compass San Diego Housing Market+1
While commissions are still negotiable, sellers should anticipate slightly lower standard seller-paid commission rates given the increased transparency. 1% Listings
The most competitive neighbourhoods—such as North Park, Mission Hills,and Chula Vista’s Eastlake—require an agent deeply familiar with local market dynamics. Peraza Real Estate covers these areas and more, bringing tailored marketing and local insight. Zillow
How the Peraza Real Estate Team Supports You
Choosing a strong listing agent is more important than ever under these new rules. The Peraza Real Estate team offers:
20+ years of experience helping San Diego homeowners. Zillow+1
A strategic 14-day marketing plan to maximize exposure quickly. perazarealestate.com
Transparent communication to ensure you understand fees, negotiation strategies, and how they’ll position your home in today’s evolving landscape.
Ethical and Legal Considerations
As you move forward, be mindful of the following:
Avoid discriminatory language or practices that violate the Fair Housing Act.
Ensure all contracts and agent agreements comply with your state’s Real Estate Commission policies and the NAR Code of Ethics.
Realize that while the new rules affect how compensation is handled, they don’t replace the need for strong agent performance.
Consult legal, tax or accounting professionals for specialized advice beyond typical real-estate expertise.
Next Steps for You
Schedule a consultation with Peraza Real Estate to talk about your home-selling goals and how the new rules impact your listing.
Review and update your listing agreement to reflect your strategy on buyer-agent compensation, marketing plans, and net-proceeds expectations.
Prepare your home for listing—focus on presentation, pricing, and timing in the current San Diego market.
Stay informed—the market continues to evolve with these regulatory changes, and your agent should help you adapt in real time.
Conclusion and Call to Action
Selling a home in San Diego today means navigating not just the market but a shifting regulatory environment. The new NAR-related rules around agent compensation and buyer representation matter for your bottom line and sale-process strategy. When you work with an experienced local team like Peraza Real Estate, you gain the advantage of market-savvy negotiation, tailored marketing, and strategic guidance.
Ready to explore your options and discuss how these changes impact your home sale in San Diego? Contact Peraza Real Estate today for a personalized consultation.