Someone asked me recently — not a buyer or seller, just someone curious — "How do you guys actually get paid?" It's a good question and one I'm happy to answer plainly.

We Pay the Brokerage — Not the Other Way Around

Here's the part that surprises most people: the brokerage doesn't pay us. We pay the brokerage.

Every real estate agent who hangs their license with a brokerage — whether it's Windermere, Compass, John L Scott, eXp, or any independent firm — pays that brokerage for the right to operate under their name and systems. The structure varies by company. Some charge a flat monthly fee, some take a percentage split of each transaction, some do a combination. Limited-service discount brokerages often charge differently than full-service firms.

What you're paying for when you align with a brokerage: the brand, the tools, the transaction systems, the legal backing, the training, and the relationships that come with that platform. For us, Windermere's W Collection and the market credibility that comes with it is part of what we bring to every transaction.

How We Get Paid by Clients

On the client side, real estate agent compensation is paid through the transaction — either by the seller, the buyer, or split between both, depending on how the deal is structured. The specific arrangements changed with the 2024 NAR settlement, and the conversations are more explicit now than they used to be.

When we take on a new client, we have a clear conversation about compensation before anything else. There are no surprises.

Why This Matters to You

Understanding this structure matters because it explains what you're actually getting when you hire a full-service team. We're not collecting a paycheck from the brokerage. We are small business owners who invest in tools, marketing, staff, and overhead to serve our clients at a high level. The fee structure reflects that.

If you have specific questions about how compensation works in your transaction — buying, selling, or both — we're happy to walk through it. It should be a transparent conversation from the start.

Watch the original video: https://youtube.com/shorts/qrFZwpypGrc