For you short sale agents out there, I have been submitting at 8% and getting cut down to 5-6%. I know that is coming so I am comfortable with that. My challenge is that I am getting knocked down on document control fees (which I have to pay our broker on top of a commission split).

My question to this fine community is if you have any success doing things differently? How about a broker service fee? Any ideas are surely appreciated!

That has to do with your broker and how they derive profit from their business. It has NOTHING to do with what a bank will agree to pay in commissions.

8 percent?? What planet are you on?

Most banks will pay 6 percent to 5 percent for 2 agents involved and 2.5 to 3 for one agent involved. This is why in co-op in mls you always put commission split 50/50 with bank approval. If you just put 3 co-op and the bank agrees to 5 only you just made 2 before broker split and junk fees.

I look at it like selling a car, you can always come down, but you cant go higher. My experience has been at 5-6% total commission as well. I always list agents to split 50/50, so I agree with you there. I have had most REO deals pay the document control fee, but not all. I have had discussions with other agents having success adding a broker service fee for doing a short sale, as the time involved is typically 6 months and that still doesnt guarantee a successful coe.

I was just looking to see if anyone else was doing something similar or if everyone is just sitting back taking reduced income?

I always offer 2.5% dual variable co-broke on the mls. I know the least I will get is 5% so I wil be able to pay the co broke, but if I end up with 6% I will be able to keep 3.5%. Also I've been instituting a .5% transaction management fee and in 90% of cases am getting that paid also.

A quick way to a short career unless you have figured out a way to sell real estate without co-operating brokers.

How so? I am offering 2.5% which is the going rate on basically all sales, by the way. I always pay exactly what I offer on the mls.
If I can get 6, you better believe I will keep the extra. In fact if I could get them to pay 7%, I would still keep it.
The buyers agent doesnt have to spend 2-6 months of their life negotiating the short with the bank. My buyers agents get a quick no hassle sale because I bust my a$$ to get things done smoothly for everyone. Most of my sellers are already long gone and mentally detached, and guess who picks up the slack on things to make sure it closes? Guess who's splitting the cost of surprise liens or taking a cut to make the hud work? Me and the attorney. Not the buyers agent.
I do a lot of things no "regular" listing agent has to do.
I have no problem paying myself for that.

The buyer's agent gets the pleasure of helping is folks find a "real estate steal". Then he gets to submit low-ball offers on x number of properties. And don't forget lovely family members who will also "help" the buyer's agent with his clients.

Once his buyer is educated on value, the inspection period hits. Then the buyer's agent has to keep is folks from walking away over some trival repairs.

Now let's talk funding...Ever dealt with one of those loan companies from Lahore? You know, the only loan company on the planet that would consider your client.

And if they are doing a VA loan even more fun ensues!

As most of the agents on this forum, I work with both buyers and sellers. Buyers agents earn their commission!

havent had a chance to post in quite some time though i really wanted to post. i have been so darn busy and posting was something that i could cut out of my day. i still read the forums ALL THE TIME.

this is the first post in particular that made me really feel the need to log in!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


how many times do you sell a listing with a buyer agent that you have done a deal with in the past?

inventory is high, its easy to find a better home somewhere else. with all of the choices it makes it easy to be selective and find a better home. i dont want my listings to get passed by for a better home.


i make a very good living selling real estate and the funny thing is that i have only had the "pleasure" of doing 1 deal with any agent who keeps more on the listing side! i have never had the opportunity to do multiple deals with the few agents who practice a higher list side percentage.

i work with listings more than buyers and if there were a "hit" to the commission, i take it! as a listing agent, i would never ever want my name to be knows as a guy who walks with a higher % at settlement. either 50/50 or less on my side.....

and no, i dont discount! 6% listings

I am referring to short sales only here. With a regular sale if I have it at 6% I am co broking 3%. On a SHORT SALE I do not know what I am making until days before closing. If I end up with 4% I will still pay the 2.5% I offered. If I get 6% I will still pay the 2.5% I offered. If I don't know what I am making up front I will certainly not offer 3%. If I offer 3 and end with 5 then I am cutting myself short from the get go. There's nothing I hate more than seeing an offer of commission at $1 on the mls with a note saying the bb will get 50%. Id much rather see a solid number.

Exactly. Word of mouth amongst peers can get you a reputation that you will never be able to get rid of.

If you are in this for the long haul you want to make sure it is a good reputation.