How much can commissions be in real estate?

Answer 1

Sellers have more options today for paring down real-estate commissions or handling the sale themselves. Here are three strategies that can help put more cash in your pocket.Gone are the days when selling your home meant a stark choice between paying a hefty 6% commission to your real estate agent or going it completely alone on the For Sale by Owner route. Today, you have a number of options that fall somewhere in between. They include:

• Negotiating down your agent's cut;

• Paying a la carte for the services you need.

All of the options have this in common: They're designed to keep more money in your pocket.

Commissions have fallen in recent years to an average 5.1% nationwide. And as the market cools, commissions will be under more pressure.