Good post. I live in a retirement area in Central Texas. There are many 2 to 5 million dollar estates around here. Realtors are my client base. One sale of this kind of property in a year is good for some realtors. They spend anywhere from 3 to 10 thousand dollars per month promoting the sale of these properties. However most of the sales are for 125,000 to 250,000 homes but they are getting harder to find. 6% is the standard i've seen in this area.
Right now in Phoenix, houses are selling faster than they can advertise them...If I were to put our house up for sale right now, I would seriously do a "for sale by owner" and get my own advertising out...6% of 350,000 is alot of money to just hand out!
Hubby is seriously thinking of leaving and finding a different job. He's tired of the people accusing him of being a crook when the sellers/buyers are trying to scam others.
Example, hubby presented a full-price offer to a seller, with the only contingent was based on the house passing inspection. Buyers put down $1000 earnest money. House failed inspection, but the seller insisted that he should get the earnest money ... HUH ? Called my husband a crook because he wouldn't turn the check over to this guy.. Hubby walked away from the sale and the listing (lost $2000 invested, but he was happier)
Sorry --- just ranting here.