What is a buyer-broker agreement? It's a written contract between you and a real estate brokerage that spells out what your agent will do for you, for how long and how they'll be paid. Since Aug. 17, 2024, agents who use the MLS must have one signed before touring a home with you, in person or virtually, under practice changes from the National Association of REALTORS settlement.
In Arizona, you'll usually see one of two forms: the Buyer-Broker Exclusive Employment Agreement, which hires one brokerage to represent you, or the shorter, non-exclusive Buyer-Broker Agreement to Show Property. Both state that compensation is fully negotiable. Here's what's in them and what to ask before you sign.
Data note: Requirements are from NAR's consumer guide to written buyer agreements and its summary of the settlement's practice changes, and from Arizona REALTORS' July 2024 articles and FAQ on its revised and new buyer-broker forms. Read November 12, 2026. This is general information, not legal advice.
The Rules at a Glance
Under the NAR settlement practice changes (effective Aug. 17, 2024):
- A written agreement is required before touring a home with an MLS agent, in person or live virtual
- It is not required to visit an open house on your own or to ask an agent about their services
- Compensation must be specific and objective, such as $0, a flat fee, a percentage or an hourly rate, not open-ended
- The agent can't receive more than the agreed amount from any source
- The agreement must say that fees are fully negotiable and not set by law
What hasn't changed: you can still ask a seller to pay some or all of your agent's compensation as part of your offer.
Arizona's Two Buyer-Broker Forms
Buyer-Broker Exclusive Employment Agreement
This is the full representation agreement. Arizona REALTORS' FAQ says it creates an exclusive relationship: if you buy in the agreed area during the term, your broker is owed compensation even if another agent writes the offer. The broker, in turn, owes you fiduciary duties and must help you find, negotiate and close.
- Term: no minimum; you and the broker negotiate the length
- Property: can be a general area or a single address
- Compensation: one specific rate or amount, filled in by you and the broker
- Showings: the broker shows homes that fit your criteria regardless of what a seller offers, unless you instruct otherwise in writing
Buyer-Broker Agreement to Show Property
Arizona REALTORS created this non-exclusive form for the settlement. It covers viewing property and related services, has a start and end date, and includes the same bold statement that compensation is negotiable. If you go on to buy with that brokerage during the term, the compensation terms apply.
A third form, the Buyer/Tenant Employment Agreement Addendum, can change or add terms to either agreement later.
How Seller-Paid Compensation Works Now
Your agreement sets the ceiling. Arizona REALTORS' FAQ walks through the math:
- If the seller offers the same amount you agreed to, you owe your broker nothing more
- If the seller offers more, your broker can't keep the extra; with your lender's permission, it's credited to you toward closing costs
- If the seller offers less, you may owe the difference, unless you and your broker agree in writing to change the terms
That's why it pays to talk through compensation before you fall in love with a house. Our guide to closing costs for buyers in Arizona shows how credits fit into the bigger picture.
Five Questions to Ask Before You Sign
- How long is the term, and can we shorten it?
- Is it exclusive or a show-property agreement?
- What area or properties does it cover?
- What exactly will you do for me, from search to closing?
- How do we end it if it isn't working?
One caution from Arizona REALTORS: signing exclusive agreements with two brokers can leave you owing compensation to both.
“I'd rather a buyer read every line of our agreement than sign it in a driveway. When we sit down first, I explain the term, how I'm paid and what happens if a seller covers some of it, and we tailor it to the way you want to search. Clients tell me it makes the rest of the process feel easier, because the expectations are set from day one.”
— Elizabeth Vijan, Tackett Team, eXp Realty
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a buyer-broker agreement?
A written contract setting out your agent's services and pay. Arizona uses an exclusive form and a non-exclusive show-property form.
Do I have to sign a buyer agreement to see a house?
Yes, to tour with an MLS agent. Not for open houses you visit on your own.
How long is a buyer agent agreement in Arizona?
There's no minimum; the term is negotiated.
Is buyer agent compensation negotiable?
Yes. It's not set by law, and the agent can't collect more than the agreed amount.
Starting Your Home Search in Phoenix or Scottsdale?
Let's sit down before the first showing. I'll walk you through the agreement, answer every question and build a search plan around your budget and timeline.
Elizabeth Vijan | Tackett Team, eXp Realty
Phoenix & Scottsdale Real Estate
Talk With Elizabeth · Call or text 602-885-7752
Sources: NAR: Consumer guide to written buyer agreements · NAR: What the settlement means for buyers and sellers · Arizona REALTORS: Buyer-Broker Exclusive Employment Agreement FAQ · Arizona REALTORS: Buyer-Broker Agreement to Show Property
Disclaimer: General information only, not legal advice. Your signed agreement controls; consult an Arizona attorney with legal questions. Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Equal Housing Opportunity.
Tackett Team, eXp Realty · Get in touch