I almost always get paid by the seller or leasor, which is the owner of the property being leased. That means, if I am your agent and you are a buyer or leasee, there is no direct cost to you. I also don’t get paid until you sign a lease or close on a property you are buying or selling. I make almost all my pay through commission.
A commission is usually a percentage of the property’s selling price, but it can be a flat fee. The percentage or the flat fee can vary depending on the deal. The rate of the broker’s commission is negotiable every time.
The commission, however, is not paid directly to me. It is paid to my broker. I work under the umbrella of my broker, Coldwell Banker NRT. I must split this commission with my broker. After that, sometimes a lead source who connected us takes another percentage. Sometimes that lead source was paid up front by me out of pocket.