Wednesday, February 10, 2010

In Texas, how does the real estate commission work? Is there a set commission that the agents must split?

For example, if the Seller uses an agent and pays that agent 6% commission, but the Buyer does not use an agent, then the Sellers agent clearly gets the whole %. However, if the Buyer uses an agent, then does the Sellers agent have to split the 6% commission, or would the Buyers agent get an additional commission on top of the Sellers agent?In Texas, how does the real estate commission work? Is there a set commission that the agents must split?
Real estate commissions are entirely negotiable. Each company sets their rates. Personally, I charge 6%. I pay 3% to the agent representing the buyer. But it is not regulated across the board with specific requirements.





If the buyer does not have an agent and I write the offer for the buyer I often decrease the commission to 5%.





A buyers representative has a contract with the buyer. Normally there is a minimum percentage or amount the agent will accept. If the percentage being paid by the sellers agent doesn't cover it then the buyer pays it.





All commissions are paid to the firm the agents work with. The firms take whatever their split is then the agent split is paid.In Texas, how does the real estate commission work? Is there a set commission that the agents must split?
If Agent A worked for one company and agent A had originally listed the property with the seller, and Agent A sells the property, agent A receives 3 % of the comission and the broker receives 3%. This may vary a little with some brokers getting 40% or 60%.





If a buyer goes through a different broker with Agent B, and B sells the property, then agent A receives 3% and Agent B recieves 3 %.





Agent A pays half the comission to the broker and agent B pays half to their broker.





Again, this may vary as above.





Even if agent A and agent B work for the same broker, the comission is handled the same.





The broker/owner wins, wins. Of course, the broker furnishes the office and equipment as well as advertising, etc.





Agents pay all their own expenses.
If you are a SELLER, then look at your realestate agreement. (as a seller, this split is not your concern) If you are an AGENT, then look over your MLS listing service contract. None of this is done without a specific contract. You can try to negotiate a different deal, but... (good luck with that)
Yes, my father told me something about that. He said that selling houses was a big deal and that the seller got some of the money and the real estate agent got some money. Then, he said, George Bush and Dick Chaney got all the rest. He said tht helped them relax I think.
General practice is to split the 6%
Real estate commissions are generally split four ways. The listing agent and the listing broker get 1.5% each and the selling agent and the selling broker get 1.5% each. If the listing agent also sells the house then he or she gets a 3% commission and the listing broker also gets a 3% commission. This is customary and there is no rule that says it has to be that way. Sometimes there are selling bonuses put into listings to encourage selling agents to show a particular house. Sometimes the commission is less than 6%. The market and the parties decide how the transaction is to be handled but the above represents the standard formula that is used in most cases.

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