Guides / Buyer-Agent Agreements / Louisiana

Buyer-Agent Agreements in Louisiana

Yes — Louisiana is one of the minority of states that passed its own statute on this topic, separate from (and predating in legislative process) the NAR settlement's practice-change deadline. Act 690 amended La. R.S. 37:1431 and enacted new La. R.S. 37:1448.4, requiring Louisiana real estate brokers to execute a written "buyer agreement" with buyers of "homes" (1-4 unit residential dwellings). Verified directly from the official enrolled bill text (legis.la.gov, Act No. 690, HB 366). Note: Act 690 is narrower than NAR's national rule — it does NOT require the agreement to be signed before touring a home (unlike NAR MLS Policy 8.13), it does not mandate specific negotiability/anti-open-ended-compensation language, and it exempts leases and non-'home' property purchases. Louisiana licensees must comply with both Act 690 (state law, enforced by the Louisiana Real Estate Commission/LREC) and the stricter NAR/MLS settlement rules if they are Realtors or MLS participants — the LREC also mandated a revised statewide 'Residential Agreement to Buy or Sell' form effective January 1, 2026, adding a dedicated buyer's-broker-compensation section reflecting these changes.

Louisiana Act No. 690 (2024 Regular Session, House Bill 366, sponsored by Rep. Davis) — codified as La. R.S. 37:1448.4 ("Buyer Agreements; requirements; authorization; exceptions"), with related definitions added to La. R.S. 37:1431(35) — effective August 19, 2024 (Section 1 of Act 690, which enacts R.S. 37:1431 and 37:1448.4, was expressly made effective August 19, 2024; the remainder of the Act took effect upon the Governor's signature/passage into law in June 2024)

Requirements

A written 'buyer agreement' must be executed and signed by the broker and the buyer (R.S. 37:1448.4(A)(1)) before/in connection with the licensee assisting the buyer in purchasing or offering to purchase a 'home' (defined as residential property with 1-4 dwelling units intended for single-family occupancy)
The buyer agreement must state the amount of compensation payable to the broker, or the manner/method by which that compensation amount will be calculated (R.S. 37:1448.4(A)(2))
The agreement may specify that broker compensation can come from the buyer, the seller, the listing agent, or any combination thereof (R.S. 37:1448.4(A)(3)) — no restriction on funding source, unlike some other states
No statutory timing requirement: unlike NAR's national MLS rule (Policy Statement 8.13), Act 690 does NOT require the buyer agreement to be signed before the buyer tours/views a home — it only requires one to be executed at some point when the licensee is assisting the buyer
Statutory exceptions: the buyer-agreement requirement does NOT apply to (1) leasing or seeking to lease a home, or (2) leasing or purchasing (or seeking to lease/purchase) property other than a 'home' as defined (e.g., commercial, land, 5+ unit buildings)
Louisiana licensees who are also NAR members/MLS participants must still separately comply with the stricter national NAR settlement terms (signed before touring, specific non-open-ended compensation language, statement that commissions are negotiable) since Act 690 compliance alone does not guarantee NAR-rule compliance; LREC also mandated a revised standard 'Residential Agreement to Buy or Sell' form, effective January 1, 2026, with a dedicated buyer's-broker-compensation disclosure section

Facts on this page reflect research current as of 2026-07-05. Programs, rates, and laws change — confirm current figures with the relevant state agency before relying on them.

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