Just over a year ago, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) reached a landmark settlement on buyer broker compensation, introducing what many believed would be seismic changes to the real estate industry. Now that the dust has begun to settle, has the impact on corporate relocation policies truly taken hold?

At Altair Global, we’ve been tracking the NAR settlement since the initial lawsuits emerged in late 2023, sharing our first deep dive into possible mobility concerns in December 2023. In March 2024, Altair released the white paper, “Impact of National Association of REALTORS (NAR) Settlement on Buyer Broker Compensation and Mobility Programs,” outlining early predictions and guidance for mobility program leaders navigating the shifting landscape.

We’ve been following along closely on this journey since its beginning, and we have no plans of stopping just yet. And what a difference a year makes… or does it? Take a look at what’s changed—and what hasn’t—in the past year.

• Stronger Training and Support: Altair’s Customer Experience (CX) Consultants have been extensively trained to support our client partners and relocating employees during this transition. We’ve created employee-facing materials to help explain the changes and integrate them into mobility policies.

• Mandatory Representation Agreements: Buyer broker representation agreements are now required in most states. These can also include tenancy arrangements for renters and outline scenarios where the relocating employee may owe compensation to their broker. Terms vary based on services provided and remain negotiable.

• Fee Exception Trends: While the number of exceptions to the buyer broker fees remains relatively low (when the employee is the buyer), we’ve seen a slight uptick in the first quarter of 2025. Currently, 76% of these exceptions are approved by clients, who typically pay the difference between the seller’s offer and the broker’s compensation agreement.

• Greater Broker Network Utilization: More clients are mandating the use of Altair’s broker network. Policy language is evolving from “strongly recommended” to “required or benefits are impacted,” helping ensure consistency and better negotiation leverage.

• Policy Language Refresh: Many clients are reevaluating policy language surrounding:
  • Listing agreement guidance (when the employee is the seller)
  • Buy/sell-side broker compensation allocation
  • Buyer broker representation agreement implications (when the employee is the buyer)
  • Buyer broker fee inclusion as a customary closing costs

Despite the shifts, many long-standing practices remain:

• Broker Compensation Still Offered: Most sellers (75-95%) continue offering buyer broker compensation to attract competitive bids.

• Rental Support Persists: Clients continue to cover rental finder’s fees in applicable metro markets for relocating employees who prefer to rent.

• Broker Fees Still a Buyer Consideration: If not covered by the seller, relocating employees who are buying may be responsible for their broker’s fee, especially if it is not negotiated as part of the offer to purchase agreement.

• Financing Limitations: Buyer broker compensation is not considered a customary closing cost covered by the client’s relocation policy (unless an exception is made) and is not financeable under current lending guidelines.

• Clients Take a Cautious Approach: Most organizations prefer to take a “wait and see” approach in the short term to see what happens in the industry before deciding on whether to cover buyer broker compensation as a matter of practice.

Altair remains proactive in helping our client partners navigate these changes to their corporate relocation policies:

• Our Supplier Partner Experience (SPX) team continues to ensure Altair’s broker network is up to speed and compliant with NAR-related process changes.

• We’re tracking client policy changes related to buyer broker compensation inclusion in home purchase benefits.

• We’re closely monitoring shifts in any percentage changes in broker compensation on both sides of transactions.

• Our newly created Real Estate Services group monitors ongoing industry changes nationwide to guide our client partners, Consultants, and relocating employees.

The NAR settlement may not have caused an overnight revolution, but its ripple effects are beginning to reshape how mobility programs approach home purchase support. As the market continues to evolve, Altair will be here to guide you and your teams with thoughtful strategy, data-backed insights, and a people-first mindset. Contact your Client Partner Experience representative for any questions or personalized support.