Typically in Austin the commission is 6% which is split 50/50 between the listing agent and the buyers/selling agent. Then their Broker gets a portion of that fee usually anywhere from 5-50% of the 3% commission. Some Realtors give discounts and some don't. As a Buyer you don't pay the commission the Seller pays both sides of the fee. Which is why no buyer should enter into a contract without representation. Often if you doing two transactions with one Realtor representing you on both deals, they may offer you an incentive or reduced commission on the second deal. The key is finding a Realtor that you trust and can communicate well with. I would interview a few before you make a decision. If you have more questions, please feel free to contact me any time.
Sincerely,
Betina

Most agents who represent you for sale / purchase of a new home willing to discount their fees. Usually range from 4% to 5%. http://www.lynn911.com http://www.homes-for-sale-dallas.com

Choosing a Realtor by the brokerage fee they charge is like choosing a home improvement contractor that gives you the cheapest bid, you get what you pay for. Most Realtors will do an OK job for you in marketing your home but what you are looking for is the Realtor that can do 2 things for you. 1. Sell your existing home at the highest price possible in the shortest time possible, and 2. find you the home you are looking for and work with you to negotiate the best price possible and make your real estate experience as stress-free as possible. Most importantly, you must feel comfortable with that agent (or agents in the case of a team) and feel that you can trust them.

We offer programs for homeowners who are selling and buying a home and a complete package to market your existing home. My wife, Starr, and I work as a team. I typically work on marketing your existing home while Starr is the expert at finding you the dream home you are looking for.

We love the opportunity to meet with potential clients and show them what we have to offer. They then have the information they need to choose the person or team that will help them with one of the most important decisions they will ever make... buying or selling their home.

Check us out at http://www.FreemanCentury21.com

A house is a commodity; it's value fluctuates with the local market.
A realtor provides a service; the value of that service is priceless; the cost of that service is negotiated on a case by case basis between the realtor and the client.
Yes, when selling a home the Listing Agent receives a commission specified in the Exclusive Right To Sell Contract; when helping a Buyer through the buying process, the Buyer's Agent receives a commission according to the Exclusive Buyer's Agency Agreement.

Yes. Commission is earned on both homes. How that commission is distributed depends on your agreeement, and the consent of all parties.

Many Realtors will work with you on a sales commission provided you agree to purchase a home with them. Sometimes, with a new home, this is called a move-up plan. New homes will typically garner a larger commission than a resale, so this is how they make it work.

If you want the full truth about how Realtors deal with buying and selling for a client, I invite you to contact me through my profile.

Yes, all things related to real estate are negotiable including commission....Yes, you may be looking for ways to save on commission, but what you save is ultimately dependent on the quality of the service.

MOST important is finding an agent with deep knowledge of the market and strong negotiation skills. If the agent is not good at negotiating his/her commission with you, then can you expect that agent to be a strong negotiator for you in selling and buying a home? I imagine you want the most VALUE for your home and then purchase a home at the best VALUE; therefore, you need an agent who is a VALUE added agent. The best agent is one who has a strategic marketing plan which maximizes your the odds of getting up to 5 - 15% more for your home than the traditional agent no matter what the market condition. It is an agent who is willing to be transparent with you in providing a detailed budget of what that agent is willing to put at risk on your behalf to market your home. This transparency is only fair if the agent wants to earn the commission.....On the purchase side and the selling side for that matter, the agent must negotiate from a position of strength through knowledge - knowledge of the market, training in negotiating, and knowing how to handle the emotions on each side of the transaction. The agent must have the skills to find the best house for the best price, negotiate with a combination of competitiveness and collaboration, and provide after the sale service. Both in the sale and the purchase of your home, there should be a strategic marketing plan and a strategic negotiation plan to maximize your most positive net effect.

So, yes...normally the best agent will receive a commission on both homes. What that commission is depends upon the value you place on two of the biggest transactions you will probably make in a LONG time. It's all negotiable. :-)

Hope that helps! I wish you the best! If I can be of assistance to you, then please give me a call.

Donna Ciccarelli -
GRI, ABR, CPS, CNE, EcoBroker
Lee Properties
512-736-3124 Cell, after 6:30 pm family time (thanks!) http://www.donnaciccarelli.com

Hi Sylvia,

If you go with Josh's first suggestion you better get a Realtor quick, because Thanksgiving is just around the corner. I imagine they may weigh a few more pounds after eating all that turkey, stuffing, and pie.

Seriously though, I first recommend figuring out what your personal real estate goals are and then negotiate accordingly. No Realtor will satisfy your goals if you don't first understand them. You won't pay any commission if it doesn't sell, so what would be the point unless these goals are first established. For instance, most sellers want to sell in a short amount of time for the most amount of money.

One thing to remember in real estate is that everything is negotiable. One thing to remember in life is that you get what you negotiate and what you pay for. I recommend paying a reasonable rate for a qualified professional, hopefully with some certifications, like GRI, to get the job done smoothly and help you negotiate. As with any service, you will get the best service by working with your professional instead of trying to cut them out, think about it.

I specialize specifically in Round Rock, based out of the La Fronterra office of Coldwell Banker. Coldwell Banker is a national firm providing worldwide exposure for your property and we too offer flexible rates. Every situation and goal is different. Contact me for a free evaluation and an honest opinion.

Happy Thanksgiving,

Greg

Hi Sylvia,

What is the going rate for realtors these days? --hmm.. almost sounds like you are looking to trade them on the black market? If that's the case then I would say due to market conditions and the high quality of the good agents that can still stick around in this market... you're probably looking around something like $45 to $50 per pound!

ha ha

Ok, to seriously answer your question. The true answer is that it is all up to you and your Realtor. There are no SET fees or STANDARD commission anywhere in this business. Yes, the 6% gets thrown around an awful lot and for most that may be the rate, but it's ALWAYS up to you and your Realtor. (unless that Realtor is working under a Broker that refuses to have their Realtors work for less then their standard rate).
In my personal experience, when I've had clients selling their home and then turning right around and purchasing another one through my company; we have them sign listing agreements AND buyer rep agreements at the same time and then work out an incentive program that gives both parties a WIN-WIN. After all, that's all it's about, right?

Have a very Happy Thanksgiving!

God Bless,
Josh

Sylvia:

In my market if an agent is representing the same party for both selling and buying, they typically reduce the commission from 6% to 5% on the selling side and keep the 3% when representing your purchase.

When buying and selling a home you should definately use the same person to represent you, in most cases they will give you a better commission on the selling of your house if you are buying a house through them. On the purchase of a new home the agent wil work as a buyer agent on your behalf and will not cost you anything out pocket. They get paid from the listing agent at closing through the fee offered to them in MLS and paid at closing. this way you have someone looking out for you. if you do not know any agents in your area, i can always refer one to you. I hope this helps and Good luck with the sale and purchase of a new home Sylvia.

Sylvia,

Yes the good ones normally earn a fee on both homes.

I have a "Move-Up Plan" where I rebate back 3% of the commission on the sale of your present home if you purchase a new home through me. Saving you thousands of dollars in Realtor fees. I would love to discuss my program with you. You can visit my website (below) or give me a call at 512-659-7579.

Hi, That is usually how it works, one thing people have to remember is to market the home properly takes money, running ads, etc. will depend on your area, pricing etc. for ads in the paper, on internet sites, the flyers, costs of signs in the yard , open houses, etc. not every agent does the same. If the agent is helping you locate another home this too can be either a week process or months and I have had even years with my clients looking for that perfect home, Research involved in the process, pricing etc that goes into making the decision and heading into contract mode. all is work! you will soon see when you begin the process, good luck and hope you find that special home and have a good experience!
Patty