As a result of a national antitrust settlement, buyer agent compensation can no longer be mandated through the MLS by the listing side. Buyers must now sign a written buyer representation agreement before touring homes that outlines how their agent will be compensated. That compensation can come from the seller as part of the negotiation, from the buyer directly, or a combination. The basic dynamic hasn’t changed much in practice in San Francisco, but the requirement for written agreements and explicit compensation disclosure has. I walk buyers through this clearly before we start working together.
