The seller usually pays the commission

A licensed agent is the best way to help you buy or sell your home. These agents are experts in their respective markets and have excellent negotiation skills. They can make selling and buying a home much easier. Real estate agents are paid a commission in exchange for their knowledge. 

How real estate commissions work and who pays them.

  • Although real estate commissions can be negotiable, they are usually between 4% to 6%.
  • The commission is often split by two agents working on a real estate transaction, one for the buyer and the other for the seller.
  • Real estate brokers take a cut of the commission to pay for advertising and office space.

Real estate commissions

Brokers and real estate agents typically do not charge sellers and buyers by the hour. Instead, they take a commission on the sale price.

The contracts between buyers and sellers determine agent commissions. Although the real estate fee is usually split equally between buyers and sellers agents, a contract may stipulate that one agent will receive more commission.

Although the terms broker, real estate agent, or Realtor are often interchangeable, they have different meanings. The National Association of Realtors offers different licensing levels for agents and brokers. However, the fee does not go directly to real estate agents.

How Much Is a Real Estate Commission?

Real estate commissions are always negotiable–otherwise, agents would violate state and federal antitrust laws–so they vary. Although 6% was traditionally considered the standard fee for real estate agents, today’s commissions are typically 4% to 5%. According to RealTrends, the average real estate commission for 2020 was 4.9%.

Remember that the commission is a percentage of the home’s sale price. The exact fee will not be known until the offer has been accepted and the house sold.

Who pays the Real Estate Commission?

This is where things get tricky. The seller usually pays the fee. The seller will usually include the fee in the sale price. So the buyer ends up paying the fee even though it is indirect.

Let’s take, for instance, a buyer and a seller, each with a real estate agent, to make a deal for a home worth $200,000. The real estate commission would be 5%. This would mean that the fee would be $10,000 (or $200,000 x 0.05). The fee is deducted from the purchase price of the property. The seller would get $190,000. However, the buyer would have to pay $200,000 for the home. (This example is simplified because closing costs, as well as other fees, would apply.

Are Real Estate Commissions Worth It?

Real estate fees are often criticized for being too high or not worth the value of the services they provide.

A seller’s agent can make a good amount for very little work, such as taking photos and setting a listing price. On the other hand, selling a home can take weeks, months, or even years, depending on how unique or costly it is.

This can lead to a lot of time spent by the agent marketing the house, holding open homes, making phone calls, and keeping up with other sales and listings in the area. The agent will also be responsible for the ongoing costs of maintaining the house on the market. This includes advertising fees and signage. It is unlikely that many sellers will want to pay an hourly fee for a real agent.

It is the same for buyers. While some buyers will be able to find a house right away, others may take time to look at several homes over weeks or months before settling on one. Again, buyers would feel pressured to decide if they had to pay an agent per hour.

Flat-Fee Real Estate

Some agents charge a flat fee, such as $100 or $500. These agents can be a cost-savings tool for sellers and buyers. However, they may not offer the best representation.

Traditional real estate agents will serve as your partners throughout the home buying and selling process. An agent for sellers will assist you in staging your house, taking professional photographs, listing your property on an MLS, and scheduling open houses. They will also negotiate on your behalf.

Buyer’s agents can also help you identify your must-haves and find the right property. Then, they will take you to showings and negotiate offers.

Although flat-fee brokerages or discount brokerages might be less expensive, you may end up paying more. On the other hand, full-service agents can still work for a flat fee or a lower commission. To ensure that you get the best possible service, you should research what services they offer before deciding.

The bottom line

Agents are the most common way buyers and sellers interact with one another. Agents receive a commission in exchange for their services. Although the seller is typically responsible for the commission, the buyer often pays the bill. However, the cost of the commission is usually included in the home’s listing price. This way, the buyer pays the real estate fees.

Remember that commissions can be negotiated.

 If you are concerned about high commissions, you have two options: a flat-fee broker or discount broker, or a for-sale-by-owner. The top real estate websites may also be a good option. This will allow potential buyers to look for homes without speaking with an agent.