There is a real estate firm town (not the one the Charlotte House Hunter Group works with) that, as a policy, pays its' agents more per transaction if they sell one of the firms own transactions. In some cases, the agent may receive twice as much if they sell one of the firm's listings than if they were to sell one of a Keller Williams agent as an example. As a buyer, this should concern you as it does me.
As a buyer, I would be concerned the agent I just hired may only show the listings that benefit them financially the most instead of the best options to fit my needs. Maybe they are showing all the listings but being more persuasive towards the ones that pay more over others.
I am of the belief that no one can persuaded into buying a home. During the home search phase of the buying process, the agent's role is to provide perspective and information to assist the buyer in making their own decision. However, I am not naive enough to believe that an agent, facing the prospect of a larger commission, may do what they can to tilt things in their favor.
As a home buyer looking to hire a real estate agent, ask them directly if they there are properties that they are being incentivised to show and sell you. They may share with you or they may not. According to the North Carolina Real Estate Commission, real estate agent bonuses are a matter for disclosure, not commissions and pay broker-agent pay structures. However, it won't be too much longer before that changes.
What do you think?
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