Conejo Valley Guy Michael Rice

Mortgage Rates Stuck in the 6s, But Prices Aren’t Budging | Market Update August 2025

Michael Rice — Fri, 01 Aug 2025 21:34:40 +0000

Market Update | August 2025

Westlake Village, Agoura Hills, Oak Park, Thousand Oaks and Newbury Park

By: Michael Rice | August 1, 2025

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Whose Market Is It: Buyers or Sellers? | Market Update July 2025

Michael Rice — Wed, 02 Jul 2025 23:57:58 +0000

Market Update | July 2025

Westlake Village, Agoura Hills, Oak Park, Thousand Oaks and Newbury Park

By: Michael Rice | July 2, 2025

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The post Whose Market Is It: Buyers or Sellers? | Market Update July 2025 appeared first on Conejo Valley Guy Michael Rice.

Real Estate Market Shift Gains Steam | Market Update June 2025

Michael Rice — Wed, 04 Jun 2025 20:14:24 +0000

Market Update | June 2025

Westlake Village, Agoura Hills, Oak Park, Thousand Oaks and Newbury Park

By: Michael Rice | June 4, 2025

The post Real Estate Market Shift Gains Steam | Market Update June 2025 appeared first on Conejo Valley Guy Michael Rice.

Where Did All the Buyers Go This Spring? | Market Update May 2025

Michael Rice — Sat, 03 May 2025 01:48:22 +0000

Market Update | May 2025

Westlake Village, Agoura Hills, Oak Park, Thousand Oaks and Newbury Park

By: Michael Rice | May 2, 2025

The post Where Did All the Buyers Go This Spring? | Market Update May 2025 appeared first on Conejo Valley Guy Michael Rice.

4 Key Trends Shaping Conejo Valley Real Estate This Spring | Market Update April 2025

Michael Rice — Tue, 01 Apr 2025 20:15:07 +0000

Market Update | April 2025

Westlake Village, Agoura Hills, Oak Park, Thousand Oaks and Newbury Park

By: Michael Rice | April 1, 2025

The post 4 Key Trends Shaping Conejo Valley Real Estate This Spring | Market Update April 2025 appeared first on Conejo Valley Guy Michael Rice.

Market Update March 2025 | More Homes Are Hitting the Market – But Are Buyers Ready?

Michael Rice — Mon, 03 Mar 2025 00:01:13 +0000

Market Update | March 2025

Westlake Village, Agoura Hills, Oak Park, Thousand Oaks and Newbury Park

By: Michael Rice | March 2, 2025

The post Market Update March 2025 | More Homes Are Hitting the Market – But Are Buyers Ready? appeared first on Conejo Valley Guy Michael Rice.

The New Rules for Agent Compensation

Michael Rice — Thu, 13 Feb 2025 03:18:52 +0000

New NAR Compensation Rules: What Buyers & Sellers Need to Know

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) has introduced new rules (effective Aug 2024) to bring more transparency and fairness to real estate transactions. While agent compensation has always been negotiable, these updates clarify how commissions are handled.

What’s Changed?

1) Buyer Agent Compensation Is No Longer Advertised in the MLS

Sellers can still offer compensation to the buyer’s agent, but it won’t be displayed in the MLS.

2) Buyers Must Now Sign a Buyer Representation Agreement

This is a legal contract outlining:
- The agent’s services & responsibilities
- The buyer’s obligations
- How much the buyer’s agent will be compensated.

How This Affects Buyers

Previously, buyers worked with their agents based on a handshake agreement. Now, a signed Buyer Representation Agreement is required.
Sellers traditionally cover the buyer’s agent’s fee, and this is still the norm in most cases.

When Sellers Don’t Offer Full Buyer Agent Compensation

If a seller offers less compensation than what’s stated in the Buyer Representation Agreement, buyers would cover the difference—often by adjusting their offer price.

Example:

Home price: $1,000,000
Buyer-Agent Agreement: 2.5% commission
Seller offers 2.0% commission
The buyer could adjust their offer to $995,000 to make up the 0.5% difference.

Why Sellers Should Still Offer Buyer Agent Compensation

Over 80% of buyers work with an agent—offering compensation helps attract more buyers and streamlines the sale.

Top Benefits for Sellers:

More Buyer Interest – Buyers are more likely to view and consider your home.
Easier for Buyers to Afford – Including agent compensation in the sale price means buyers don’t have to pay out-of-pocket.
Fewer Unqualified Showings – If buyers must pay their agent separately, they may overestimate their budget.

Seller Advantage:

Offering buyer agent compensation upfront helps attract serious, qualified buyers and gives you a clearer picture of your net proceeds from the sale.

Bottom Line

These new NAR rules change how commissions are handled, but sellers can still offer buyer agent compensation—and it remains a strong strategy to attract buyers.