Someone please explain how the _buyer_ agent commission incentivizes that agent in the right direction.
That is really simple.
It doesn't.
Even if the selling agent is contracted as a "buyer's broker", the incentives are all the same. "Make the sale as quickly as possible with the least amount of complications". That is not necessarily wrong, but it is not what is typically presented to buyer or seller.
“Someone please explain how the _buyer_ agent commission incentivizes that agent in the right direction.”
Simple: The buyer’s agent wants the buyer to buy as much as possible to get the biggest commission. That’s not hard to understand; simple greed.
Oh, wait, you mean how does it incentivize the agent to help the buyer pay the least and get the most. Sorry, it doesn’t.
What it does do is it ensures the buyer’s agent presents the properties that are offering the commission. When homes do not give the commission, or a lesser one, the agents tend not to present that property in protest.
You mean does the buyer rep have a vested interest in driving the price higher for a higher commission?
Yes.
You also have the same incentives in most financial transactions; insurance, stocks, investment etc. Do you think your insurance agent, financial advisor doesn’t want to make more money while also providing the best deal possible?