This report focuses on the potential consequences of real estate broker fee decoupling on all consumers, especially first-time home buyers. The data suggest that any additional aggregate costs would be modest and relatively short-term while being more than offset by long-term savings and improved service quality. Many experts believe that home sellers will agree to help buyers pay for buyer agent commissions if buyers request this assistance. The paper also suggests that transitional costs would be dwarfed by the long-term benefits of uncoupled commissions accruing to all home buyers and sellers.