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Who pays whom when you find an agent through a directory, and what you should expect to see in writing.
Real estate agents are generally paid a commission when a transaction closes, set by agreement and paid through the transaction. Rules about who pays and how it is disclosed continue to change, so ask for the specifics in writing.
When a directory or another agent introduces a client who then closes, the receiving agent may pay a fee out of their commission. It is a business arrangement between professionals, and it is regulated. On GayMoves, the fee is a published percentage of the commission the agent actually receives after their brokerage split, with a per-deal cap and a limited tail.
Fee structures like this should be reviewed against federal and state rules, and ours is under legal review.
Agents paying very high fees to a directory may feel pressure to recover costs. Transparent and modest fees leave more room for the agent to focus on you. Ask the agent how they were introduced and whether anything about their pay affects your price.
Representation agreements set how long the relationship lasts, what happens if you change your mind and what commission applies. Read them carefully and ask about termination terms.
On GayMoves, no fee is charged to consumers. Fees between agents and the directory are paid from the agent's commission.
Commission is negotiable between you and the agent. Ask and get the final terms in writing.