NBC News: How Bernie Sanders Avoided Disclosing His Personal Finances

[Hassin Bin Sober]

77. Then you got screwed.

Seller lists with the listing broker/agent and negotiates a commissioner produce a buyer ready willing and able to purchase based on the seller's terms (or negotiated terms). Usually around 6% ish. The listing agent/broker places the property in the MLS with the terms payable to any potential cooperating brokers. Typically split but it can be more or less and/or can include a bonus.

A buyers agent brings a buyer to the table and thereby becomes a cooperating broker/agent when the buyer's offer is accepted. The cooperating broker agent is paid from the seller's broker cut.

A tricky but more well known ( as of late) issue in the business is the fact the seller is paying the commission to a cooperating broker and therefore doesn't necessarily owe YOU a fiduciary duty. In other words, absent additional buyer broker agreements, YOUR OWN agent can legally conspire against you (within ethical bounds).

This is BECAUSE the seller is paying the commissions.

This is how it's worked in the hundreds of transactions I've been involved in.