Understanding Real Estate Agents Commissions: What you need to know Understanding Real Estate Commissions – What You need to Know 1. What are Real Estate Agent Commissions? – Real estate agent commissions are fees paid to real estate agents for their services in helping clients buy or sell a property. – Typically, the commission is a percentage of the final sale price of the property and is paid by the seller. The rate of commission can vary based on the market as well as the agreement between the agent/seller. – In most cases, real estate agents work on a commission-only