Has it become common practice now that all buyers are expected to pay their agent the 3% commission?

I'm in the Richmond, VA area and looking to possibly buy a house in the next 6 months. I am currently saving money towards my down payment and I will probably be in the market for a house around $400k. From what I've read online (published before the changes last year), I could expect to pay around $10-12k for closing costs. Now if I have to pay my buyer agent 3% of sale, that's another $12k. Are these estimates correct? If so, I may be saving for longer than expected.

Edit: just to be clear...I'm not suggesting buyers' agents aren't necessary or shouldn't be paid. I'm just trying to understand the current landscape given the recent changes and make sure I can afford to buy a house. I have a very clear idea of how much I want to spend monthly and I don't want there to be any surprises that I regret later. I have a couple of agents to choose from and I just want to understand what their expectations will be before I even engage them. Thanks!