I am an Accredited Buyers Agent (ABR) and when a listing is placed with a licensed real estate agent, the seller agrees to pay for both the listing agent and sellers agent commissions.

Normally, there are no real estate fees paid by the buyer unless your Realtor finds a home for sale by owner, that you absolutely love, and the owner refuses to pay the buyers agent fee. Then the buyer can decide if it's valuable to them to have representation. Most 4 sale by owners love to use realtors and happy to pay their commission because of all the critical work involved in selling a house.

Additionally, the advantage of using a buyers agent is that they represent YOU, not the seller. As Linda discussed earlier about the Law of Real Estate Agency. Would you consider going into a court of law having the same attorney representing both sides? A sellers agent has legal responsibility to represent the seller and to get the best price for the home. A buyers agent provides you with a "cone of silence and confidentiality!"

Please don't hesitate to contact me if you need further assistance.
Best regards,
Elaine Gibney,
Keller Williams Realty Olympia
360-923-1114

Commissions are always negotiable. That said, the Buyer's agent is paid for by the Seller in Washington State.

Any agent who shows you a home or gives you specific advice or information must, by Washington State Law, show you and explain to you a Blue booklet called "The Law of Real Estate Agency." For a Buyer the agent will turn to that page and explain the obligations and duties that are owed to you.

Serious agents will also show you a Buyer's Agency Agreement, which guarantees a professional level of service from the agent, to the Buyer. It also guarantees the Agent will get paid the commission for finding, negotiating, and successfully closing a suitable home for the Buyer.

If you start working with an agent who doesn't present the Law of Real Estate Agency to you, consider calling their broker, or finding an agent who is commited to following the legal procedures that protect you.

Hello Hedda,

If you are a buyer, there is (usually) no cost to you to use a Buyer's agent. Real Estate commissions are typically paid by the Seller, and the standard/typical commission on a home is 6%. Half of that is paid to the listing broker and the other half is paid to the selling broker. In the past few years, commissions have been 'discounted, but now with the market being slow, and homes staying on the market longer, commissions are going back up to the 'standard' of 6%. I hope this answers your question.

Christine Baker,
Windermere

Hi Hedda
Fees are negotiable, and there is a great variation out there. Always remember to a great extent you should get what you pay for. Shop around if you are a seller. As a buyer, normally, no cost, except time and commitment. However in a for sale by owner situation you may (possible) need to pay the buyers agent commission yourself and should be worth every penny. Look for an experienced agent an ABR designation may help. A CRS would be good. Be prepared to sign a Buyer agency agreement. If you do insist on 100% effort from you agent. Make the commitment expect that commitment returned.

Hi Hedda,
This says you are a home buyer. Don't worry about commissions at this point. You are fortunate to be in a buyer representative state, without cost to the buyer (a few excptions to that, but not the norm.) Get a good agent and let them help you through the process. Do it now! When it comes time to sell, then decide what service level and marketing you want, and pay the commission!
Good luck finding your home, there is a big selection.

Fees are not set in stone and will vary slightly depending upon the customary fee of each brokerage. The average tends to be about 6% in Spokane. 3% or usually half of that fee goes to a cooperating broker to compensate the selling agent.
Typically, you get what you pay for...if you opt to go with a discount broker for a lesser fee it is most likely you will receive limited services in the marketing of your home. Make sure you are using a company and Realtor that has the same goals in mind as yourself for the marketing and selling of your home.
Very best of luck to you.

Always negotiable, in Washington right now, real estate fees average around 5-6%. Commission percentages have increased lately however, because Sellers want to see their listings stand out to perspective agents showing their property.

Real estate commissions are negotiable. The standard tends to be about 6%.

Hi Hedda - They typical fee is 5 to 6% of the sales price.

Good luck!