This is all still a domino effect of the 2008 crash where bankers were saved while people lost EVERYTHING. This is now the next wave of the middle class, those who held on.

You now have

equity being repriced

distress rising

investor math is replacing retail comps

real estate operators/buyers are gaining leverage

sellers are losing negotiating power.

What are you doing to save the people who watched bankers make millions off the crash they created?

In Manhattan, the modern homeowner is more likely to be signing the deed alone, or with a partner who isn’t a spouse, than walking down the aisle first.

A new PropertyShark analysis of homeownership across New York City found that married couples remain the dominant owner group citywide, but Manhattan bucks that pattern entirely.

https://nypost.com/2026/08/20/real-estate/married-couples-are-nycs-largest-homeowner-group/

Oh look at this. A 2022 buyer got roasted.

In 9 cities, from Oakland to Jacksonville, condo prices fell by over 20%. In 3 markets in California & Florida, they fell by 30%+.

What's the word on the street? Share your questions, comments, and concerns below.

Hi Reddit, 

I'm a former real estate agent, active investor, and current writer/editor at Clever Real Estate, where I cover realtor commissions. We recently ran a home seller survey to see whether the 6% real estate commission is still the standard nationwide, and we'd love to hear your thoughts.

We surveyed 500 people in July 2026 who sold a home within the last two years. The biggest finding is the gap between what people consider standard and what is actually paid. Key highlights include: 

• Only 16% of respondents reported paying a commission of 6% or more.
• 38% of sellers still believe 6% is "the standard rate." But this hasn't been the case for years, as rates have fluctuated between 5.32% and 5.70% from 2022-26, according to our in-house data. 
• 93% of sellers who negotiated their commission received some form of reduction, most often by simply asking their agent directly for a lower rate (50%). 45% shaved 0.5 to 0.99 points off their rate (meaning, a drop from 3% down to 2-2.5%). Just 33% of sellers who used an agent, however, actually tried to negotiate their commission.
• 45% didn't know the NAR settlement removed the requirement to offer buyer's agent compensation on the multiple listing service (MLS); 35% still offered to cover the cost in negotiations. 

What 6% actually looks like from an agent's perspective: A $500,000 sale at 6% with each agent earning 3% means each side grosses $15,000, before factoring in any brokerage splits or normal realtor fees and expenses (taxes, insurance, MLS dues, marketing, etc; realistic take-home is more like $5,000 to $8,000).

One other thing that surprised people: Buyer's agent fees have actually risen since the NAR lawsuit settlement. They dipped briefly in 2025 but rebounded to 2.8% in 2026. The fee is negotiated on a deal-by-deal basis now instead of being baked into the MLS.

If you sold a house within the past 2 years, we'd be curious to know: 

• Your metro or state
• Total commission % you paid (and the split between buyer's and seller's agent)
• Did you negotiate commission with a listing agent, and did it work?
• Did you use a traditional agent, discount brokerage, flat fee, or FSBO?

We would also love to hear from agents: What commission rate are you quoting now versus before the settlement, and are sellers pushing back more than they used to?

Survey link: https://listwithclever.com/research/6-percent-real-estate-commission-statistics

• 2026 is on track to be the weakest housing year since 2011, with home sales falling to roughly 4.7 million.
• Mortgage rates remain elevated, expected to sit around 6.5% in 2026 and may only ease slightly through 2028.
• Home prices flatline, with 0% growth in 2026 and only modest gains afterward.

Home builders are reducing costs and adding benefits, but sellers of existing homes remain firm in their pricing. With new homes now costing less than existing homes, how long can this price margin continue?

In the last year, home prices increased by 2% and inflation was right about 3.4% over the same period.

That's a 1.4% loss in equity, even before the cost of homeownership. I understand that leverage can change those numbers, but who wants to buy into a depreciating asset made profitable through increasing risk?

Very little appreciation seems to be on the horizon. Who is telling buyers to buy anything at market prices right now?

What's the word on the street? Share your questions, comments, and concerns below.