The Globe and Mail reports in its Saturday edition that U.S. homeowners could see a significant drop in the cost of selling their homes after a real estate trade group agreed to a landmark deal that will eliminate the 6-per-cent sales commission. A New York Times dispatch to The Globe says that the National Association of Realtors, a powerful organization that has set the guidelines for home sales for decades, has agreed to settle a series of lawsuits by paying $418-million (U.S.) in damages and by eliminating its rules on commissions. The deal, still needs Federal Court approval, would end a multitude of legal claims from home sellers who argued that the rules forced them to pay excessive fees. Housing experts said the deal could trigger one of the most significant jolts in the U.S. housing market in 100 years. "This will blow up the market and would force a new business model," said Norm Miller, a professor emeritus of real estate at the University of San Diego. Americans pay $100-billion (U.S.) in real estate commissions annually, and U.S. real estate agents have some of the highest standard commissions in the world. Berkshire Hathaway, has not settled, but others, including Re/Max, have settled in separate cases.