Gary Kent Real Estate

  • Contact Us
  • 858-457-5368
  • Search Homes
  • Communities
    • Central San Diego County
      • City Heights
      • College Grove
      • Del Cerro
      • Downtown
      • Encanto
      • Golden Hill
      • Hillcrest
      • Kensington
      • Linda Vista
      • Logan Heights
      • Mission Hills
      • Mission Valley
      • Normal Heights
      • North Park
      • Old Town
      • San Carlos
      • Serra Mesa
      • Tierrasanta
      • University Heights
    • San Diego Coastal
      • Bay Ho
      • Bay Park
      • Clairemont
      • Coronado
      • La Jolla
        • Beach-Barber Tract
        • Bird Rock
        • Country Club
        • Hidden Valley
        • La Jolla Alta
        • La Jolla Farms
        • La Jolla Heights
        • La Jolla Mesa
        • La Jolla Shores
        • La Jolla Village
        • Lower Hermosa
        • Muirlands
        • Muirlands West
        • Soledad Mountain
        • UCSD
        • Upper Hermosa
        • Village of La Jolla
      • Mission Beach
      • Ocean Beach
      • Pacific Beach
        • Pacifica
      • Point Loma
      • Sorrento Valley
      • University City
    • North County Coastal
      • Cardiff by the Sea
      • Carlsbad
      • Carmel Valley
      • Del Mar
      • Encinitas
      • Oceanside
      • Rancho Santa Fe
      • Solana Beach
    • North County Inland
      • Bonsall
      • Carmel Mountain
      • Escondido
      • Fallbrook
      • Mira Mesa
      • Poway
      • Ramona
      • Rancho Bernardo
      • Rancho Penasquitos
      • San Marcos
      • Scripps Ranch
      • Valley Center
      • Vista
    • East San Diego County
      • El Cajon
      • Lakeside
      • La Mesa
      • Santee
      • Spring Valley
    • South San Diego County
      • Bonita
      • Chula Vista
      • Imperial Beach
      • National City
      • Otay Mesa
      • Paradise Hills
      • San Ysidro
  • Selling
  • Buying
  • Investing
  • Seminars
    • Past Seminars
  • Blog
    • Home Buying
    • Home Financing
    • Home Selling
    • Q&A – Home Buying Questions
    • Q&A – Home Financing Questions
    • Q&A – Home Investing Questions
    • Q&A – Home Selling Questions
    • Real Estate Videos
      • Home Seller Mistake Videos
      • Pricing Blunder Videos
      • Selling Your Home Videos
  • About
  • Contact
SEARCHHOMES

How much do I pay the agent who is showing us homes?

by Gary Kent / Friday, 21 June 2019 / Published in Q&A - Home Buying Questions

Question:

We are starting to look for a home but are not sure about using an agent. How much would we have to pay them?

Answer:

Great question! The answer most of the time is…

Zero!

Of course, real estate agents don’t work for free. In practice, the seller almost always pays both agents.

There can be exceptions. Many agents work using a “Buyer-Broker Agreement,” which says that if you buy a home and the seller doesn’t pay the fee, you will pay it.

Why would you ever agree to that?

For a few reasons:

  1. It allows your agent to show you homes that are not on the market and listed for sale.
  2. By committing to your agent, they will devote more time to helping you. Agents often spend hours advising clients and showing them homes, only to have them buy with another agent. If your agent knows they’ll be paid if you buy a home, they’ll work harder for you.
  3. Many very good agents will only work using such an agreement.
  4. If your agent is working hard for you, shouldn’t they be paid for their time and service? You can always offer the seller less to reflect that.
  5. It’s extremely rare that this would ever happen anyway.

One downside is that it will lock you in with that agent for a certain time period, often 90–180 days. So be sure you’ve found a great agent.

Should you sign a buyer-broker agreement?

That’s your call.

By the way, we offer our clients the option to work with us under a buyer-broker agreement. But ours comes with a number of bonuses and benefits. If you’d like to know more, call me at 858-457-KENT.

  • Tweet
Tagged under: ask gary kent, real estate agents, san diego home buying

About Gary Kent

Licensed since 1984, San Diego real estate broker Gary Kent is a recognized authority on real estate. In addition to selling over 5,500 homes for clients, he has been an expert court witness, trainer of other agents, and he does seminars on home buying, home selling, and investing. Gary has sold homes for The Salvation Army, dozens of major banks, and Fannie Mae, amongst others. You can find Gary on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

What you can read next

Can the Acceptance Date Be a Weekend or Holiday?
What home repairs are the most expensive?
Who’s Buying San Diego Homes?

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Search Our Site

Real Estate Resources

Buyers Button
Sellers Button
Investors Button

Real Estate Videos

  • Real Estate Videos
  • Home Seller Mistake Videos
  • Pricing Blunder Videos
  • Selling Your Home Videos

Helpful Real Estate Articles

  • Crazy Buildings
  • Credit Score
  • FAQs
  • Home Buying
  • Home Financing
  • Home Selling
  • Q&A – Home Buying Questions
  • Q&A – Home Financing Questions
  • Q&A – Home Investing Questions
  • Q&A – Home Selling Questions
  • Real Estate Investment
  • Real Estate Resources
  • Real Estate Tips
  • Real Estate Videos
    • Home Seller Mistake Videos
    • Market Update
    • Open Houses
    • Pricing Blunder Videos
    • Selling Your Home Videos
    • Story Time With Gary
  • San Diego
  • San Diego Activities
  • Short Sale
  • Uncategorized

Recent Blog Posts

  • How To Find The Right Realtor To Sell Your Home

    How To Find The Right Realtor To Sell Your Home

    Do you know, the number one error that home sel...
  • about those "I want to buy your home" letter gary kent realtor san diego

    About Those “I Want To Buy Your Home” Letters

    I don’t want to burst anyone’s bubb...
  • save taxes webinar thank you gary kent realtor san diego

    Thank You!

    Click here to download the guide Ken Rowles&#x6...
  • story time with Gary Kent, San Diego Realtor

    Story Time with Gary

    Funny, zany, shocking, R-rated, true stories! I...
  • Has COVID-19 Raised Your Property Value?

    How has COVID-19 affected the value of your dup...

Featured Communities

  • La Jolla Homes for Sale
  • Pacific Beach Homes for Sale
  • Clairemont Homes for Sale
  • Carmel Valley Homes for Sale
  • Downtown San Diego Homes for Sale
  • University City Homes for Sale
  • Rancho Penasquitos Homes for Sale
  • Mission Hills Homes for Sale
  • Carlsbad Homes for Sale
  • Del Mar Homes for Sale

Gary Kent Team Real Estate

This site is backed by real estate professionals who strive to make your home sales process as effortless as possible. Please feel free to browse and contact us with any questions.

Tel: 858-457-5368 (KENT)
Email: team@garykent.com

Keller Williams Realty La Jolla
8813 Villa La Jolla Dr.
Suite 2001
La Jolla, CA 92037
Contact Us

CA BRE #01932411

  • GET SOCIAL
Gary Kent Real Estate

Copyright • San Diego Web Design by MITO Studios

TOP