Real Estate Reference Reinventing real estate, Part 2
Friday 19 April
Land in Belen Milwaukee Bankruptcy Assistance Home · Login · Site Map  

Real Estate Terms
Real Estate Terms Full List
Search Real Estate Terms
Real Estate Articles
Search Real Estate Articles
Login
     
  by Charles Warnock

print article · comment on article

 
  previous page 2 of 6 next  
     
  e going to do their own home-shopping online, they expect to save some money, just as they would for using the self-service lane. That's why they are susceptible to online discount brokers and the new affinity companies that are promoting lower commissions if only the consumers will use their agents. These business models promote the idea to consumers that they ought to be paying less money in commissions.”

Realty Times Columnist Blanche Evans

Traditional real estate commissions, typically around six percent of a home’s selling price, are facing downward pressure from consumers and competition. Some consumers claim traditional real estate commissions don’t reflect:

Today’s home prices. Years ago, when median-priced homes sold for $25,000, real estate commissions were typically five percent, or $1,250. Today, with South Florida median home prices around $300,000, the cost of a six percent full-service real estate commission becomes $18,000. Some brokers even charge additional fees to cover administrative costs. When you consider that today’s average homeowner sells a home every five to seven years, real estate commissions can dramatically impact your personal savings and net worth.

Owner equity. When selling properties, most homeowners calculate the cost of selling as a portion of sales price, though the commissions are paid out of owner equity. (Equity is the difference between the value of your property and amount of mortgages owed.) Consider this example: You decide to sell a property for $250,000 in which you hold 10 percent equity, or $25,000. After paying a six percent commission of $15,000, you are left with $10,000 before any applicable closing costs. In this example, the $15,000 commission is six percent of the selling price, but 60 percent of the $25,000 equity.


Services performed. Un
 
     
  previous 1·2·3·4·5·6 next  
 
FSBO Website Design copyright ©2004 - 2024 David B. Zwiefelhofer. Copyright of articles held by their authors unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved.