Dorene is right, however, she didn't answer about Buyers. If you are represented by a realtor on the buying side of the table, you don't pay for that service directly - the commission for both comes out of the Seller's proceeds. As a mortgage broker, I make it my job to know the numbers of each transaction I do. On the final settlement statement, the commission is split between the Seller's and Buyer's Agency, respectively. The earnest money you put down as a Buyer is deducted as part of the held commission to the Seller's Agency. With the old (current until October 3, 2023. rules, this was at the top of Page 2 on the Settlement Statement. Usually it is an overlooked line item. Because the CFPB thought it would be great to change the rules again due to the overwhelming response from the public's opinion about the real estate commission (another day, another topic), this line item is now going to be on the bottom of the last page of the Settlement Statement because nobody really cared what the commissions of each Agency were. They were thankful their home had sold to a deserving buyer. Bottom line, an Agent will give his/her value ebased on how quickly they can sell your home. Their commission is well deserved and well earned. So is mine as a Loan Officer - but buyers don't pay for that, either! (Most of the time anyway)...