The Daily Money: Real estate rules are changing. What does it mean for buyers, sellers?

Good afternoon! It’s Bailey Schulz here to help you kick off your week with The Daily Money. 

Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris recently revealed some economic plans for the country. Experts are mixed on how much some of these plans would help everyday Americans. 

Harris said she wants to ease rent increases, cap prescription drug prices, boost first-time home buyers, end grocery price gouging and bolster the child tax credit. While the plans resonate with voters who have struggled with inflation, some experts are wary of what they call “price controls” to fight high prices and how Harris intends to pay for some of her proposals. 

USA TODAY reporter Medora Lee’s piece takes a deeper look at what experts liked and questioned about each proposal. 

What does the new real estate agent rule mean for buyers and sellers?  

New rules went into effect over the weekend that change the way residential real estate agents get paid. That could lead to "a bit of confusion” for home buyers and sellers, according to my colleague Andrea Riquier.

Traditionally, home sellers paid a 5% to 6% commission that was split between their agent and the buyer’s agent. Now, it's up to the sellers to decide whether, and how much, to pay a buyer’s broker, and that information can no longer be included in the official real estate data service used by local realtor associations. Buyers, meanwhile, will need to sign an agreement on compensation with their broker before they start viewing homes.  

Some worry that first-time buyers may have trouble coming up with the money for an agent commission. Others say buyers and sellers are unlikely to notice any shifts in the near-term but can expect bigger changes down the road. 

“For consumers, things are not going to change much in the immediate future,” Stephen Brobeck, a senior fellow with the Consumer Federation of America told USA TODAY. "But it’s like a dam that’s springing a leak. I’m fairly confident that within five years the industry will look quite different.”  

"The way I’ve always looked at it is if there’s fewer agents, it helps the industry," added Aaron Farmer, owner of Texas Discount Realty in Austin. "You could drop commission rates that way and do more volume."

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The fast food value meal wars are far from over. 

As the cost of eating out continues to increase – rising 4.1% in July, compared to July 2023, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics – more fast-food and restaurant chains have added value menus to woo customers leery of rising prices. Check out the roundup of value meals here.  

About The Daily Money

Each weekday, The Daily Money delivers the best consumer news from USA TODAY. We break down financial news and provide the TLDR version: how decisions by the Federal Reserve, government and companies impact you. 

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