In many states, real estate brokers are responsible for ensuring that laws are followed and held accountable by a state government office. This means brokers ta

In many states, real estate brokers are responsible for ensuring that laws are followed and held accountable by a state government office. This means brokers take on risk and liability. Many states require a brokers license in order to sell real property for another for a fee. Yes, brokers are trying to protect their generous income structure. Brokers (and salespeople) are only paid on successfully selling the property. The truth is not many people want to pay someone per hour or per showing to see houses. You can certainly sell or buy a home without a broker. You are bearing the risks in that case. If you buy and sell a home on your own and the deal falls apart, if the contract was not valid or not enforceable you could owe or lose thousands of dollars. Yes, you can have a lawyer draft the contract but a lawyer can't (in many states) show the property (ADD: and a lawyer is going to charge for each and every offer you written up. You pay regardless of if the sell happens or not). With time I see brokers fees approaching a flat fee for facilitation services only (so long as they don't represent the seller or buyer in the transaction). Why do we still have sports agents? Can't players and teams negotiate on their own?