Buyer's agent fees in Australia (2026)

Most Australian buyer's agents charge either a percentage of the purchase price, commonly 1% to 3%, or a fixed fee that runs from a few thousand dollars to about $15,000 for most homes. The industry body REBAA puts the average at 2% to 3% plus GST, and most agencies also ask for an engagement fee of $1,000 to $5,000 at signing that comes off the final bill. Every figure on this page is linked to its source, and none of it is a quote.

Last reviewed 1 September 2026. Amounts are in Australian dollars.

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Quick answer

Percentage fee
1% to 3% of the price
REBAA puts the industry average at 2% to 3% plus GST. Finder
Fixed fee, full service
A few thousand to about $15,000
For most homes; higher for premium properties. Finder
Engagement fee
$1,000 to $5,000
Paid at signing and deducted from the final fee. REBAA, Jun 2026

How buyer's agents charge

Fees are not set by law in any state, so every agency prices its own way and you can negotiate (Consumer Affairs Victoria). Almost every agreement is built from the same four parts.

Percentage of the purchase price

A share of what you pay, usually invoiced at settlement. Finder puts the range at 1% to 3% (Finder, Apr 2025), and REBAA describes the industry average as "somewhere between 2% and 3% of the purchase price, plus GST and an engagement fee" (REBAA FAQs). Savings.com.au likewise reports 1% to 3%, with many agencies charging about 2% plus GST (Savings.com.au, Dec 2025). The obvious tension is that the fee grows with the price you pay, so ask whether the agency will cap it at your budget.

Fixed fee

One agreed price whatever you end up buying. Finder reports flat fees "from a few thousand dollars up to $15,000 for most homes", and higher for premium properties (Finder). As a published example, OwnHome charges a flat $12,000 plus GST for a full search, split into a $3,000 retainer and a $9,000 success fee (OwnHome, Feb 2026). REBAA notes plenty of agencies in Western Australia charge a fixed fee instead of a percentage (REBAA WA).

Engagement fee, then a success fee

Most agencies charge a retainer at signing, then the balance only when the contract goes unconditional or at settlement. REBAA says "a typical engagement fee in our industry is usually between $1,000 and $5,000" (REBAA, Jun 2026); Aussie quotes $1,000 to $3,000 (Aussie, Jun 2025), and OwnHome says retainers commonly run to 20% to 50% of the total fee. Whether it is refundable if you never buy is set by the agreement, not by law.

Tiered by how much of the job they do

A full search costs the most. Where you have already found the property, negotiation or auction bidding alone is priced well below a full engagement: Finder calls it "much more affordable", and OwnHome publishes about 0.9% plus GST, or a fixed fee, for appraisal and negotiation and $500 plus GST to attend an auction with a $1,000 plus GST success fee. The table below sets the tiers side by side.

Typical fees by service

ServiceWhat is publishedSource
Full search, appraise and negotiateThe agent finds, inspects, appraises and secures the property.1% to 3% of the purchase price (industry average 2% to 3% plus GST), or a fixed fee from a few thousand dollars to about $15,000 for most homes.Finder, REBAA FAQs
Auction bidding onlyYou found the property; the agent bids for you on the day.Priced well below a full search. One published example: $500 plus GST to attend, plus a $1,000 plus GST success fee.Finder, OwnHome, Feb 2026
Negotiation onlyYou found the property; the agent appraises it and negotiates the price."Much more affordable" than a full search. One published example: about 0.9% plus GST, or a fixed fee.Finder, OwnHome, Feb 2026
Due diligence or appraisal onlyAn opinion on value and the risks of a property you are already considering.Priced case by case. We have not found a verified published range, so ask for a fixed quote.None verified

These are published figures from the sources named, not PropertyGo averages. We have not found a verified industry range for due-diligence-only work, so none is given.

Do fees differ by state or city?

Less than the price of the property does. The same 2% costs twice as much in a $1.6 million Sydney suburb as in an $800,000 one, which is why fixed fees are more common at the top of the market. REBAA's state chapters publish only a few local figures:

  • NSWREBAA says the industry average for Sydney-based buyer's agents is "somewhere between 2% and 3% of the purchase price, plus GST and an engagement fee". (REBAA NSW)
  • WAREBAA says most buyer's agents charge "roughly around 2% plus GST", with plenty charging a fixed fee instead. (REBAA WA)
  • TASREBAA says "most buyer's agents will charge 2% plus GST". (REBAA TAS)

REBAA's Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and ACT pages give no figure, and we have not found another verified state-by-state series, so this page does not publish one. For a local answer, compare the agencies based in your city and ask each for a written quote.

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What the fee covers, and what it does not

Normally included in a full service

  • Defining your brief and shortlisting suburbs
  • Searching listings and, where they have access, off-market stock
  • Inspecting and appraising properties on your behalf
  • Comparable-sales analysis to set a fair price
  • Negotiating with the selling agent, or bidding at auction
  • Coordinating the contract through to settlement

Usually paid separately

  • Building and pest inspections
  • Conveyancing and legal fees
  • Strata or body corporate report fees
  • Independent valuations
  • Stamp duty and government charges
  • GST, where the quote is given without it

Inclusions vary by agency. The agreement should list them; if it does not, ask for them in writing before you sign.

GST on buyer's agent fees

GST is 10% (ATO), and the industry-average figures REBAA quotes are "plus GST", so a 2% fee on a $900,000 purchase is $18,000 plus $1,800 GST, $19,800 all up. Finder notes that quotes to consumers "typically include GST unless the agent clearly states that GST will be an additional expense" (Finder), and the ACCC requires a business to display the total price of a service to consumers as a single figure that includes taxes (ACCC). Practice still varies, so compare agencies on the total including GST and get that total in writing. An agency that charges no GST at all may simply be below the $75,000 registration threshold (ATO).

Are buyer's agent fees tax deductible?

For your own home: no. The fee is a private expense, and because a main residence is generally exempt from capital gains tax (ATO), it has no tax effect later either.

For an investment property: not against your rental income. The ATO's Rental properties 2025 guide lists "fees of a buyer's agent you engage to find you a suitable rental property to purchase" among the expenses you cannot claim, and says these costs "may form part of the cost base of the property for CGT purposes" (ATO, Rental expenses). The ATO's cost base guidance lists incidental costs of acquiring the asset, including "remuneration for the services of a surveyor, valuer, auctioneer, accountant, broker, agent, consultant, or legal adviser", as the second element of the cost base (ATO, Cost base of asset). In plain terms, the fee does not reduce your taxable income in the year you pay it, but it can reduce your capital gain when you sell.

This is general information, not tax advice. Your position depends on your circumstances, so confirm it with a registered tax agent or the ATO.

Red flags, and questions to ask before you sign

Red flags

  • A large upfront fee. REBAA says a typical engagement fee is $1,000 to $5,000, most of the fee should be payable only when the contract goes unconditional or at settlement, and asking for "tens of thousands of dollars before they've done any work" is a red flag. The collapsed agency Dashdot had charged engagement fees of about $15,000. (REBAA, Jun 2026)
  • No licence. In Victoria a buyer's advocate must be a licensed estate agent; check the public register before you pay anything. (Consumer Affairs Victoria)
  • Undisclosed rebates or commissions from developers, sellers or other services. Consumer Affairs Victoria says to ask, and NSW agency agreements must disclose all rebates, discounts and commissions the agent may receive. (NSW Government)
  • Acting for other buyers with the same brief at the same time, or no professional indemnity insurance. Both are on Consumer Affairs Victoria's list of things to ask. (Consumer Affairs Victoria)

Questions to ask

  1. What is the total cost in writing, including the engagement fee and GST?
  2. Is the fee a percentage or fixed, and will you cap it at my budget?
  3. What happens to the engagement fee if I do not end up buying?
  4. When is the balance payable: at exchange, when the contract goes unconditional, or at settlement?
  5. How many properties did you buy in my target suburbs in the last twelve months?
  6. Do you act only for buyers, or do you also sell property?
  7. What is your licence number, and do you hold professional indemnity insurance?
  8. Do you receive any commission, referral fee or rebate from developers, sellers or other services?

A worked example, and your own numbers

Say you buy for $900,000 with an agency charging 2% plus GST and a $3,000 engagement fee. The fee is $18,000, or $19,800 including GST. You pay $3,300 (the engagement fee plus GST) at signing and the remaining $16,500 at settlement. A $12,000 fixed fee on the same purchase would be $13,200 including GST, $6,600 less; at 2% that fixed fee breaks even at $600,000, so the percentage is cheaper below that price and the fixed fee above it. The calculator starts from these numbers. Change them to match the quotes you have.

Buyer's Agent Fee Calculator

Estimate what a buyer's agent will cost on your purchase, and compare a percentage fee against a fixed fee before you sign an agreement.

How is the agent charging?
%

Australian buyer's agents commonly quote 1% to 3% of the purchase price; REBAA puts the industry average at 2% to 3% plus GST.

Many agencies charge a retainer at signing that is deducted from the final fee. REBAA says a typical engagement fee is $1,000 to $5,000.

Your estimate

Estimated total fee

$18,000

excluding GST

Effective rate

2.00%

of the purchase price

Payable at signing

$3,000

balance on settlement

What the common percentage rates would cost on $900,000

RateFeeCompared to your estimate
1.50%$13,500$4,500 less than your estimate
2.00%$18,000same as your estimate
2.50%$22,500$4,500 more than your estimate

This is an estimate based on the numbers you enter, not a quote. Fees vary by agency, city and service level, and some agreements add search costs, inspection fees or a success bonus. Always ask for the total cost in writing before you sign.

Open the calculator on its own page

Fees published by buyer's agents on PropertyGo

Agencies listed on PropertyGo can publish their fee structure on their profile. This table shows exactly what they entered, with nothing added by us.

AgencyFee modelPublished feeEngagement fee
SelectWise Property GroupMildura, VICFixed fee$10,000 to $15,000$4,500

Published fees are entered by each agency and shown as given. Amounts exclude GST unless the agency's profile says otherwise. Always confirm the total in writing.

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Buyer's agent fees: common questions

How much does a buyer's agent cost in Australia?
Most charge either a percentage of the purchase price, commonly 1% to 3% (Finder), with the industry body REBAA putting the average at 2% to 3% plus GST, or a fixed fee that runs from a few thousand dollars to about $15,000 for most homes and more for premium properties. Most agencies also charge an engagement fee at signing, typically $1,000 to $5,000 according to REBAA, which is deducted from the final fee.
Is a fixed fee cheaper than a percentage?
It depends on your price bracket. At a 2% rate, a $15,000 fixed fee breaks even on a $750,000 purchase: below that price the percentage is usually cheaper, above it the fixed fee is. A fixed fee also removes the incentive for the agent to let you pay more, which is why it is more common at the top of the market.
Do buyer's agent fees include GST?
Not always. GST is 10%, and the industry averages REBAA quotes are plus GST, so an $18,000 fee becomes $19,800. Finder notes quotes to consumers typically include GST unless the agent says otherwise, and the ACCC requires businesses to show consumers a single total price including taxes, but practice varies. Ask for the total including GST in writing before you compare agencies.
Are buyer's agent fees tax deductible?
Not against your income. The ATO's Rental properties 2025 guide lists buyer's agent fees among the expenses you cannot claim as a rental deduction, and says they may form part of the property's cost base for capital gains tax, which can reduce your capital gain when you sell. For a home you live in there is no deduction and, because a main residence is generally exempt from CGT, no later tax effect. This is general information, not tax advice.
What is an engagement fee, and do I get it back if I do not buy?
It is a retainer paid at signing to start the search, deducted from the final fee. REBAA says a typical engagement fee is $1,000 to $5,000 and that most of the fee should only be payable when the contract goes unconditional or at settlement. Whether it is refundable if you never buy is set by the agreement, not by law: some agencies advertise a refundable retainer, others treat it as payment for search work already done. Get the terms in writing.
Who pays the buyer's agent, me or the seller?
You do. A buyer's agent, or buyer's advocate, is a licensed agent who acts for the buyer for a fee, which is what separates them from the selling agent, whose commission comes from the vendor. Be cautious of any buyer's agent who is also paid by a seller or developer, and ask them to disclose any rebates or commissions; in NSW the agency agreement must list them.
Are buyer's agent fees regulated or negotiable?
They are negotiable. Consumer Affairs Victoria says commissions and fees are not set by law and can be negotiated, and Finder notes fees are not regulated in any state. What the law does regulate is who can act as an agent, which is why checking the licence matters more than the rate card.
Do buyer's agents charge less for auction bidding or negotiation only?
Yes. Where you have already found the property, agencies charge much less than for a full search. As one published example, OwnHome charges $500 plus GST to attend an auction with a $1,000 plus GST success fee, and about 0.9% plus GST, or a fixed fee, for appraisal and negotiation. Ask for a fixed quote for the exact scope you need.

Sources

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