[Vision]

No way is the work done by the average Realtor worth the 3 to 6% of the value of the house they demand. It is a racket

You may have strong feelings about it but at least get your facts right. The average Realtor only gets 3-2.5%, the other half going to the buyers agent. Most brokerages get 40% of a Realtors 3-2.5%. The rule of thumb on that final amount is 10% spent for marketing on a listing/or gas for buyers(I had a buyer once I showed 80 homes to). This if before taxes, malpractice insurance, and all the fee's Realtors pay.

I think the problem is it only takes $300, a class, and a high school degree to become a Realtor. You get a lot of riff raff handling major moves in peoples lives.

Selling/buying a home is complex, labor intensive and requires a lot of work. I've don't many jobs, including real estate, and the most stressful by far is real estate.

[metesky]

Our agent showed us over 80 houses when we moved to Maine nine years ago. Patient, witty and humorous, she is now a social friend. She has sold one of our friends some investment property and is in the process now of doing the same for another.

Now this good experience is counter-balanced by the filthy sharks that make up the Cape Cod (and Massachusetts) Realtors.

All in all, I'd say that real estate is just like any business in that it takes all kinds, good, bad and indifferent.

Caveat emptor still applies.

[Slip18]

I always wondered when real estate agents took vacations? When they are in escrows, who's to take their place?

BTW, the last two homes in So. Cal. I used the broker, not an agent. One was 2-1/2 percent and the other 3 percent.

You just can't give your money to a real estate agent "friend."

[jaydubya2]

"The average Realtor only gets 3-2.5%, the other half going to the buyers agent. Most brokerages get 40% of a Realtors 3-2.5%."

My last Realtor gave me this sob story also about how he only gets 3% and has to share it with his broker. I told him I don't realy care, I'm still paying 6% to sell my house! No offense to you , sir. I know there are Realtors that are worth the 6%.

[Osage Orange]

You may have strong feelings about it but at least get your facts right. The average Realtor only gets 3-2.5%, the other half going to the buyers agent. Most brokerages get 40% of a Realtors 3-2.5%. The rule of thumb on that final amount is 10% spent for marketing on a listing/or gas for buyers(I had a buyer once I showed 80 homes to). This if before taxes, malpractice insurance, and all the fee's Realtors pay.

Well actually here in OK....one realtor can do both sides of the deal. And surprisingly it happens alot.

[RinaseaofDs]

Avg. Home price in Western Washington: $400K

At 3% commision: $12,000 not including what the mortgage people are going to do to you and fees.

On the other hand, being in sales, working with people trying to make a rational purchase decision is worse than handling livestock in my opinion.

[calljack]

There are over 500,000 real estate agents in california.
Thats 1 for every 55 people.

[DB]

Some Realtors end up representing both the seller and buyer. Hence the top 6% number.

Many houses around here sell in days. No way did the Realtor "earn" his/her 3ish percent. The median house price here is $500k plus. So that's $15k to sell the house. No way were the expenses to the Realtor on a typical house sold here anywhere near that. With the Intenet actual costs have to have gone down.

The entire Real Estate business is ripe for change.