Wow! 7%? That seems high! In the PNW it can be as low as 3% or 4% and that
is with a REA not a fsbo aided place.

We're paying 7% in NJ on the house we're buying.

You do know that's negociable, though, if you're selling, right? It's not set in stone--you can request a lower commission when you're signing your agreement to list your home. Some agents may be agreeable, some may not. But you've got nothing to lose by asking the question, right?

Is this the post you are referring to from dirtdigging101?

many here in nc are doing 3% on a 200,000 dollar hme that is enough. i multiple listed mine for 400 dollars and stated in the listing 3% to any agent who brought me a buyer.

If so I'm taking the multiple listed as it was put in the MLS (Multiple Listing Service) with a 3% to a buyers agent. I'm guessing it is a FSBO that is listed.

I think if you did FSBO and paid the flat fee to list in MLS and offered a higher comission like that if a realtor had a buyer in your price range that they would at least try to show it or mention it. However I still think it is up to the buyer if they want to see it.

azzalea - you're a buyer and paying 7% commission?

Well, technically, no--that comes out of the seller's profit, of course, but where are those $$$ coming from? But it's in the paperwork that the 2 agents (theirs and ours) are splitting the 7% commission. As far as I'm concerned, it's a pretty fine point as to whose share it's coming out of, since we're the only ones bringing actual cash to the settlement table.

Northern NJ is 5%

With this slower market, is seems that making a bit less would be better than nothing or aren't they at the point of being "hungry agents" yet?

Phoggie it has nothing to do with hungry agents. The reason the commissions go up is to entice the agents to bring their buyers to your home. When the inventory is high, there is a lot to choose from. Obviously homes offering a competitive or better than competitve commission will get more attention. Commissions tend to be higher in a buyers market and lower in a sellers market. (For many reasons)

We are listed with a 5% commission. We were quoted it by 2 agents from different companies here in the PNW

Six to seven percent here is typical in S.E. Ohio. Split between the buyer's and seller's agent. It comes out of the seller's profits. I paid six on my last sale.

In Western Mass. it is ususally 5-6%.

In central Ohio it typically is around 6%. I negotiate to 5.5% on the my house for sale.

Just got a post card in the mail from a local realtor, "Manchester Realty", offering 2.5% Things are tough in this area.

A lot of agents will list a home for 5 (2 on the sell side and 3 on the buy side). It is wise to keep the buy-side commission equal to or higher than your comps. I am in the middle of a house sale and our realtor is selling our house and is the buyer's (my) agent on the buy side. This give a little room for negotiation.

East Tennesse, 6% for homes, 10% for land. Both are negotible, of course. The 10% is a real ripoff. Half the agents listing land just take a few pics, stick it in the MLS, and wait for it to sell. Some don't even take any pictures.

NYC - 6% is standard but most brokers will go to 5%. Some of the small independent firms will go as low as 3% on a house but you (as a seller) are getting a lot less as far as advertising, web presence, name recognition of agency by buyers, etc. IMHO.

In the North Dallas area it seems to be 6 %.

Here in Indiana, it's typically 7%, though I think that more and more, people are trying to negotiate a smaller percentage. Our market is pretty stable - we did not have the crazy appreciation that other areas did, but I don't think it's much slower now than before.

It is possible to get cheaper listings. I have a good friend that works full time as an appraiser but is a licensed real estate broker and works in North Dallas. She lists homes on MLS for $500.00. For a little more she provides a sign, lock box, showing service, and multiple pictures on MLS. She will even show the house but expects 3% if she sells it.

So cheaper rates are out there if you look.

In northern chicagoland 6% is the norm, and I just listed paying 7% (with 4% going to the buyer's agent) to generate more interest.

DC area:

6% standard, but 5% can generally be negotiated (although perhaps in a difficult market that's less likely).

Long & Foster the big realtor here has a 'standard" rate of 7%, but I'm pretty sure almost no one agrees to that.

how about 10% the first week and 9% the 2nd week etc contract upin 7 weeks

5% standard, usually can get 4% in Southern California.