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This will sound harsh, but mostly real estate agents are suckers who are actively getting scammed by the brokerage. Brokerages have a virtual monopoly (oligopol

This will sound harsh, but mostly real estate agents are suckers who are actively getting scammed by the brokerage. Brokerages have a virtual monopoly (oligopoly) on listings and comparable sale prices though MLS (I'm in Canada but I think the US is the same) and as such it's in most seller's and buyers interests use them. Agents are getting charged all sorts of scam fees to market themselves in exchange for getting to tap into the MLS. Every ad and stupid video and contract and mailer and whatnot is getting sold to them by the brokerage who is siphoning off all the money they can. The real suckers are the agents, even if they don't really do anything.

poulsbohemian 3y ago
There might be some nuance here between the US and Canada - would love to chat over frosty beverages and learn more and the system up there as eventually I’d like to expand into BC. The MLS fees (I belong to two and will likely join a third and possibly fourth) aren’t terrible and I would say listing services are generally a good thing for both the consumer public and agents. But - as you note - the public has a very limited view of all the ways brokerages and various third-parties try to scam and fleece agents. The overall system is exploitative of agents and that has a role in the cost to consumers for real estate services. And, name brand online services are just another third party looking to make money off agents.