Answers
Palm Beach County real estate, answered
Straight answers to the questions Oleg hears most from buyers and sellers, written in plain language with local numbers behind them, updated as the market moves.
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One answer is live today; the rest are on the way.
- How long does it take to sell a house in Palm Beach County?About 84 days from listing to closing, based on 5,369 sales, June 29 – September 26, 2026.
- How much does it cost to sell a house in Palm Beach County?Commission is negotiable. Florida’s deed stamp tax adds $0.70 for every $100 of the sale price.Coming soon
- Do I need flood insurance in Palm Beach County?Lenders require it for federally backed loans on homes in FEMA high-risk zones (A and V).Coming soon
- When do I file for Florida’s homestead exemption?By March 1, for a home you owned and lived in on January 1.Coming soon
- What do condo milestone inspections mean for buyers?Condo buildings three stories or taller need structural inspections once they reach a set age.Coming soon
FAQ
Questions sellers ask right now
Can a seller still pay the buyer’s agent’s commission in Florida after the NAR settlement?
Yes. The NAR settlement did not make it illegal for a seller to pay the buyer’s agent. Since August 17, 2024, sellers just can’t advertise that offer on the MLS. A seller can still offer it directly, agree to it in the purchase contract, or give the buyer a concession or credit toward it.
The change came from a settlement of the Burnett/Sitzer lawsuits against the National Association of Realtors, announced in March 2024, not from a court ruling that banned anything. Two things changed: offers of buyer-agent compensation can no longer appear on the MLS, and a buyer working with an agent signs a written agreement before touring that states what the agent will be paid. That amount is negotiable and can’t be open-ended. The buyer’s agent can be paid by the seller, by the buyer or by both, and no law or NAR rule sets commissions. Some sellers choose to cover it because many buyers can’t pay an agent in cash on top of a down payment, which can widen the pool of buyers. Whether to offer it is a choice to talk through with Oleg.
General information, not legal advice. Current as of September 2026.
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