Real estate commissions have long been a mystery—agents typically charge a fixed percentage, whether or not the price justifies the work involved. I believe that’s outdated.
My pricing model is built on fairness, transparency, and performance—meaning you only pay for what’s actually earned.
Traditional agents charge a fixed 5-6% commission, no matter how much (or how little) effort they put in. That’s not how I operate.
I structure my commission based on performance—so you only pay more when I earn you more.
💡 With traditional agents, there’s little incentive to get you the absolute highest price.
As Freakonomics explains, in a traditional 3% commission model:
✅ My model changes that. Since my commission scales based on the sale price, I have a direct financial incentive to negotiate for every last dollar—because it actually matters to my paycheck just as much as it does to yours.
✅ It’s a win-win. The higher I sell your home, the more you make, and the more I make. We’re fully aligned in the same goal.
Most agents charge a 3% commission on the purchase price, meaning the more expensive your home, the more they get paid—even though their work doesn’t actually change.
Let’s say you’re buying a home:
❌ The work required for each price point is nearly identical. I still negotiate, schedule inspections, review contracts, and guide you through closing.
❌ Traditional agents have a financial incentive to steer you toward a more expensive home. Even if a $350,000 home is perfect for you, they might nudge you toward a $400,000 home because it boosts their commission.
I offer two pricing options—whichever saves you more money:
✔ Flat Fee: $10,000 – If you’re buying a high-priced home, this caps what you pay.
✔ 3% Commission – If you’re buying a lower-priced home, this keeps your costs down.
Example Savings:
🎯 Bonus: In most cases, I negotiate for the seller to cover my fee—so you may pay nothing at all out-of-pocket.
Recent NAR settlement changes mean:
✅ Buyers now negotiate agent fees upfront. You decide how to compensate your agent rather than relying on seller-offered commissions.
✅ Sellers can’t advertise buyer agent commissions on the MLS anymore. They can still offer to cover the fee, but it must be done outside the MLS.
✅ Buyers may need to pay their agent directly. If the seller doesn’t cover it, you must pay out-of-pocket—making it more important than ever to choose the right fee structure.
Many traditional agents are still charging 3% without adjusting to this new reality. My model ensures you always get the best deal possible.
| Traditional Agent | Steve Bargdill’s Model |
|---|---|
| Charges 3% for buyers, no matter what. | Offers flat fee or 3%, whichever saves you more. |
| Commissions built into home price (until NAR changes). | Transparent pricing, you know exactly what you pay. |
| No incentive to negotiate aggressively on price. | Direct incentive to fight for every dollar. |
| Fixed 5-6% commission for sellers, even if they do a bad job. | Lower base commission (2%) with rewards for top performance. |
| Steers buyers to higher-priced homes to earn more commission. | No reason to push higher-priced homes—your needs come first. |
| Relies on outdated commission structures. | Designed for the new real estate landscape. |
🔹 For buyers: You get a fair pricing model that saves you money and eliminates incentives for me to push higher-priced homes.
🔹 For sellers: You only pay higher commissions when I actually earn you more money.
🔹 For both: You get complete transparency—no hidden fees, no outdated commission structures, and no BS.
The real estate industry is changing, but most agents haven’t caught up yet. I built my model to be ahead of the curve, ensuring that whether you’re buying or selling, you’re getting the best deal possible.