What Buyer’s Agent Commission Costs in Birmingham
By Caroline McMeans · October 8, 2026
A traditional 3% buyer-side commission on the median Birmingham resale home, at $308,500, is $9,255. Homepoint's buyer fee starts at $5,000, which leaves about $4,255 of buying power for price or closing costs.
Commission at common price points
| Purchase price | 3% buyer-side commission | Difference vs. the $5,000 fee |
|---|---|---|
| $250,000 | $7,500 | $2,500 |
| $308,500 Birmingham median resale | $9,255 | $4,255 |
| $369,096 Birmingham median new construction | $11,073 | $6,073 |
| $500,000 | $15,000 | $10,000 |
| $750,000 | $22,500 | $17,500 |
Real Homepoint clients in Alabama have saved up to $20,500 versus a traditional 3% commission.
New construction vs. resale
New construction was about 16% of Birmingham home sales over the past year. The two segments behave differently:
| New construction | Resale | |
|---|---|---|
| Median sale price | $369,096 | $308,500 |
| Median price per sq ft | $194 | $178 |
| Median days on market | 141 days | 55 days |
| Sale price vs. original list price | 100.0% | 97.8% |
Resale homes sold for 97.8% of their original list price, so there was room to negotiate. New construction sold at 100.0%, so there was less. New builds also took 141 days to sell against 55 for resale.
What to ask before you sign
- Is the fee fixed, or tied to the home price?
- Can I see the fee in writing before I make an offer?
- How much of my budget stays available for price or closing costs?
- Am I buying new construction or resale? The market context differs.
Frequently asked questions
How do new construction and resale compare in Birmingham?
New construction sold for a median $369,096, or $194 per square foot. Resale sold for a median $308,500, or $178 per square foot.
What does sale price vs. original list price tell me?
It shows how far the final price landed from the first asking price. Birmingham resale closed at 97.8% of original list price; new construction closed at 100.0%.
How long do Birmingham homes take to sell?
New construction took a median 141 days. Resale took 55 days.