CNN

August 17, 2024, 3:00 AM

(CNN) — On Saturday, a new set of rules governing how most real estate professionals do business in the U.S. officially take effect — and the changes could potentially upend how Americans buy and sell homes.

The rules were agreed to by the National Association of Realtors, the powerful trade association that counts 1.5 million members, as part of a $418 million settlement into antitrust claims. The rules are designed to transform the way Realtors get paid and who pays them. It’s the largest change to the organization’s rules in at least a generation.

In a statement, Kevin Sears, NAR’s president, said that the changes “help to further empower consumers with clarity and choice when buying and selling a home.”

“I am confident in our members’ abilities to prepare for and embrace this evolution of our industry and help to guide consumers in the new landscape,” he said.

Here’s what you need to know:

Two key changes

Historically, buyers were not expected to pay their real estate broker directly. That’s because Realtor commission fees — to both the buyers’ agent and the sellers’ agent — were paid by a home seller.

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