I just love it when people remember getting their hand slapped. I love it even more when they answer one another when I’m not around and say “ARDELL’s going to slap your hand for that when she gets back”

I totally agree that generic discussions are permitted. But given our policy here on RCG of not editing or deleting comments unless there is no other option, it is best to have a general understanding of what is and isn’t crossing the line.

It’s an important topic and it probably deserves its own post. I’ll look forward to reading more of what you have to say on the issue.

re/your response to Doug’s comment, and for my clarification, where in the Sherman Act or license law does it say we can’t even discuss commissions in a forum like this? I know we can’t collude to fix pricing (e.g. “our fee is set at X”), but it seems like a general or even specific dialogue on the topic doesn’t create any antitrust issues.

I feel like I’m hi-jacking Gordon’s first ever RCG post, so if you don’t mind, I’ll start a new post on full transparency about real estate commissions.

Since I’m obviously in the wrong, If I’m the Seller what are the “traditional” percentages?

Where are you getting that percentage? Why does everyone think everyone pays that? Clearly, they do not. Of course it depends on what the seller wants. If they want to overprice the house and they want $500 a pop big color glossy ads in a fancy magazine every month for a year, that will affect what they need to pay.

Most of my clients believe in the internet and the mls as a primary source of finding a buyer. If people would stop making agents do things that are largely ineffective to make them feel better when the house isn’t selling, it would affect commissions significantly, particularly in the higher price ranges.

So the seller has to pay 6% (3% to seller agent and 3% to buyer agent)?

On a $1MM house that would be $30K each. Or put differently >60% of the median annual salary in WA for each side!? That’s a hefty fee!