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Buyer's agents fees and costs - How much should you pay (by city)?

February 29, 2024
by
Craig Gibson

Thinking of using a buyer’s agent but want to know how much it could cost you in fees?

If you have never used the services of a buyer’s agent before you are likely to have a lot of questions. In case you’re unsure of what a buyer’s agent is, they’re a professional you hire to help you through the notoriously complex property buying process. They offer property negotiating skills, their relationships with real estate agents, and deep knowledge of the local property market. The best buyer’s agents also have a good idea of the true value of a property, with access to off-market properties before they list.

So how much will it set you back to access all of this? This article will answer all the critical questions you have about buyer’s agent fees and costs. It will also detail all the different pricing models you may encounter, as well as typical fees you can expect in our capital cities.

Let’s start by looking at what a buyer’s agent factors into their pricing and fees. 

What impacts a buyer’s agent cost?

A buyer’s agent takes a range of factors into account when they calculate their fees. The biggest consideration is how much time they will spend working on your property purchase. This is largely dependent on what level of service you require from them. 

Some buyers need a buyer’s agent to do everything, from sourcing properties to negotiating with the vendor, bidding at auction and ensuring all paperwork is appropriately processed. As you can imagine, this ‘full service’ option means they need to do more than if they just help with sale negotiations or bidding at auction. 

The biggest consideration is how much time your buyer's agent will spend working on your property purchase.

It’s important to note that most buyer’s agents charge for affiliated services, like pest and building inspections, separately. So make sure to budget for these accordingly. 

Let’s now look at the most common pricing models buyer’s agents use.

Buying agent fees: 3 pricing models

Buyer’s agents in Australia are likely to quote you a fee structure based on these three pricing models. 

Percentage of property price

In this fee model, you pay for a buyer’s agent’s services based on a percentage of the final purchase price. In Australia, this is generally between 1 per cent and 3 per cent, depending on the level of service provided. 

The table below shows what you would be paying based on this percentage range, here comparing an entry-level home with a larger family home.

Property price 1% 2% 3%
$500,000 $5,000 $10,000 $15,000
$1.2 million $12,000 $24,000 $36,000

The percentage model does have a few drawbacks. The first is that you won’t know how much you owe until negotiations are complete. 

It is also not in the interests of the buyer’s agent to help negotiate a lower purchase price. Some buyer’s agents get around this by charging a higher percentage for securing a lower price, and capping their fee above a certain amount. For example, they may charge a 2 per cent fee if the purchase price is above $600,000, but 2.5 per cent if they negotiate a price below that figure.

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Tiered fixed fee

In this pricing model, a buyer’s agent charges a fixed fee which varies depending on which tier or price bracket the property falls in. This gives you certainty how much you pay, but it could seem expensive if the price ranges of the tiers are large. 

Property price bracket Fixed fee
$500,000 $4,000
$500,000 - $800,000 $6,000
$8000,000+ $10,000+

Let’s now look at buyer’s agent fees across our capital cities. 

Fixed fee

As the name suggests, you pay a flat fee to your buyer’s agent, and it is not tied to the final purchase price of the property. This can be anywhere from a few thousand dollars to tens of thousands for luxury homes. Some agents require you to pay the fixed fee in instalments when you hire them and then a success fee on completion. 

The fixed fee approach means you know what your outlay will be, though if you are buying a relatively affordable home this fee could seem pricey.

Buyer’s agent fees Brisbane

How much do buyer’s agents charge in Brisbane? Brisbane-based buyer’s agents have a variety of fee models, and most will fit into the 1 per cent - 3 per cent percentage fee model. For those who charge a flat fee, expect to pay anywhere from $5,000 - $16,000. For example, Universal Buyer’s Agents, a Brisbane-based property buyer's agency we named one of the best buyer’s agent’s in Brisbane in 2022, works on a flat fee, paid upfront basis. 

Meanwhile, Streamline Property, which we also named one of the best in the city, charges their full service fees in two instalments. The first is an engagement fee payable upfront ($5,000+ GST) and a success fee once the purchase becomes unconditional.

Buyer’s agent fees Sydney

You should expect to pay higher buyer’s agent fees in Sydney, which is the country’s most expensive property market, though they can vary greatly. For agents working on a percentage fee, expect to pay anywhere from 1.5 per cent to 3 per cent of the property purchase price. 

Fixed fee buyers agents in Sydney will charge in the range of $7,000 – $20,000, with an average in the region of $12,000. 

Be aware that most agent’s in Sydney will charge you separately for things like property and pest inspections. They will also have distinct fees for a partial service, like only negotiating or bidding at auction.

Fixed fee buyers agents in Sydney will charge in the range of $7,000 – $20,000.

If you’d like to find out the specifics of how much to expect, reach out directly to some top buyer’s agents in Sydney.

Buyer advocate fees Melbourne

Buyer’s agents are more commonly called buyer’s advocates in Melbourne, so don’t be confused as they’re the same thing. Like Sydney, property prices are higher in the Victorian capital and typical buyer’s agent fees are anywhere from 1.2 per cent to 2.75 per cent of the purchase price. 

To give you an idea of what to expect, consider the following examples. Cate Bakos Property, which is one of the best buyer’s agents in Melbourne, has a fixed fee structure. In contrast, Gardenvale agency James Buy Sell adjust their fees depending on if you source the property and they negotiate (1 per cent + GST), or if they source and close the deal (2 per cent + GST). 

Buyers agent fees in the Sunshine Coast 

Like elsewhere, buyer’s agents on the Sunshine Coast will charge for their services in a variety of ways, such as a flat fixed fee, or a flat search fee plus 1 per cent of the purchase price of the property (plus GST). 

Sunshine Coast Buyers Agency quotes the following fee structure for their services, including:

  • Complete service, initial search fee ($1,100.00 + GST), with a success fee (1.1 per cent of purchase price + GST)
  • Auction + settlement, auction fee ($1,100.00 + GST), with a success fee (1.1 per cent of purchase price + GST)

Buyer’s agent fees in Adelaide

You can expect buyer’s agents in Adelaide to charge anywhere from 1.5 per cent to 2.5 per cent of the purchase price, or a fixed fee in the region of $10,000.

Buyer’s agent cost in Perth

In terms of buyer’s agent costs in Perth, those located in the WA capital tend to charge anywhere from 1.5 per cent to 2.5 per cent of the purchase price, or a fixed fee in the region of $9,000.

If you’re a property investor, you will also need to know if buyer’s agent fees are tax deductible.

Are buyer’s agent fees tax deductible? 

If you use a buyer's agent to help purchase an investment property, their fee is tax deductible. This can help offset the overall cost of holding your investment when it comes time tax time. If you’re unfamiliar with your tax status as a property investor, we recommend getting professional advice or getting in touch with the Australian Tax Office (ATO). If you’re an owner-occupier their fee is not tax deductible.

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Do buyers agents save you money?

Using a buyer’s agent to help in your property purchase can help you save money. If time is money, and you are time-poor, then they can take care of the search and shortlisting phase. 

Their local knowledge and insights can also help locate properties with high growth potential, which are skills that could also help prevent you from paying too much for a property. 

Well-connected buyer’s agents will also have access to off-market properties, which you could bid on before others get a chance. 

If you’re looking for some numbers, Sydney-based agents Cohen Handler claim they aim to, “save our clients 7%-13% of the purchase on average.”

You should now have a clear idea of what buyer’s agents charge where you live, and know what to expect when it comes to negotiating their fee. We also have other useful resources on Doorsteps, like the latest property price predictions, financial advice for buying a house, and our detailed home buying guide.

Blogs are written expressly for education purposes and content is based on the opinions of the authors or as otherwise cited. All information is current as at publication release and we take no responsibility for any factors that may change thereafter. Doorsteps Finance Pty Ltd and Doorsteps Solutions Pty Ltd do not accept any liability or responsibility whatsoever to any error or omission or any loss or damage of any kind sustained by a person or entity arising from the use of this information. It does not constitute legal, tax or financial advice and you should always seek professional advice in relation to your individual circumstances.

Doorsteps Finance Pty Ltd ACN 648 541 879 (Doorsteps Finance) is a credit representative of Australian Finance Group Ltd ABN 11 066 385 822, the holder of Australian Credit Licence 389087. Doorsteps Finance is authorised under credit representative number 531036.

‍Doorsteps Solutions Pty Ltd ABN 60 654 334 246 and Australian Credit Licence 537369 (Doorsteps Solutions).

Doorsteps Finance and Doorsteps Solutions are wholly owned by SBDO PM Holdings Pty Ltd ABN 96 610 330 240.

Disclaimer: Property reports contain property estimate data and information provided by RP Data Pty Ltd trading as CoreLogic Asia Pacific ABN 57 087 759 171 (CoreLogic) and OpenAgent Pty Ltd, which is general in nature. It is not a professional property valuation or advice to be relied upon. The actual market value of the subject property may differ. We and CoreLogic do not warrant the accuracy, currency or completeness of the data and information to the full extent permitted by law, each excludes all loss or damage howsoever arising (including through negligence) in connection with the information. You rely on the property estimate at your own risk.

Disclaimer: Doorsteps Finance Pty Ltd ACN 648 541 879 (credit representative no.531036) is authorised under Doorsteps Solutions Pty Ltd ACN 654 334 246, Australian Credit Licence 537369. Any credit application made through Doorsteps Finance Pty Ltd is subject to approval, terms and conditions, fees and charges.

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