The Commission Scam That's Still Happening (Even After the Lawsuit)

A listing agent sits across from you and says, "We need to offer buyer agents 2.5-3% upfront, or they won't show your property. This is just how it works."

Stop. Read that again.

An agent hired to represent YOUR interests is negotiating a commission for an agent who:

This is the twisted logic brokerages train their agents to push:

"Pay the person working against you, or your house won't sell."

Before the lawsuit, this wasn't just suggestion. It was mandatory. MLSs required sellers to enter buyer agent commissions. I know because when I tried to list my own property without offering one, the MLS threatened to remove my listing.

Now MLSs have swung completely the other way—agents get fined if they even mention buyer agent compensation in listings. Yet brokerages still train their agents to push the same narrative, and agents continue advertising these commissions in their marketing materials outside the MLS. Why? Because two commissions per transaction means double their profits.

Here's the reality no one talks about: The only interest a buyer agent shares with you is getting your house sold if their buyer makes an offer. So why pay them an inflated 2.5-3% commission when most of their work involves showing your competition?

When you receive an offer that includes "seller to pay buyer agent commission," most sellers just accept it because their traditional agent doesn't know how to counter it effectively.

I've developed a specific counter-strategy for when you do receive offers with buyer agent commissions that's saved sellers thousands while putting your best interests first and still brings deals together.

The solution: It's simple and logical. Pay buyer agents only for work that directly contributes to selling YOUR property—not for showing your competition or general buyer services.

Or here's another approach: Instead of automatically offering 2.5-3% to a buyer agent, put that money to work for you. On a $500,000 house, that's $12,500-$15,000 you could offer as buyer incentives or use to price below competition while netting the same amount. Either way, you're attracting buyers to YOUR property instead of paying inflated commissions for work that doesn't benefit your sale.

Most agents won't share these approaches because their brokerages discourage anything that threatens the traditional commission structure.

Looking for transparent options? Visit PropertyPage.io to explore existing listings, or email [email protected] for personalized guidance on navigating today's market.

I'm Mathew Speer, creator of PropertyPage.io, the first consumer centered, fully transparent real estate listing platform. After 20 years investing and 14 years as an agent, I authored The Consumer's Guide to Buying and Selling Real Estate and write this newsletter to expose industry dysfunction and arm consumers with insider knowledge.

Ever wonder why the agent you hired to sell your house isn't there to show it to interested buyers? Instead, they give out lockbox codes to buyer agents who barely know your property and are simultaneously showing your competition. I'll reveal why being present and transparent beats this lazy approach every time—and how sellers who embrace it are closing faster while saving thousands.