Why do people become real estate brokers if not for the incredible opportunity to make a lot of money in a single transaction? Of course there are other reasons too; it can offer a flexible schedule, some live for the thrill of the sell, and, particularly in New York, some may enjoy the chance to network with celebrities and the socialites Yet, few would argue that money is the draw, and the ability to keep more of what they sell is always alluring.
Most brokers only see a small percentage of their commission, and few are aware that they can actually keep 100 percent of it if they knew the secret.
Under the traditional real estate broker commission model, broker’s commissions are generally preset, and once a real estate transaction is completed, the commission paid by the seller is divided between the broker and the brokerage, and the broker’s portion is further divided by various fees and expenses tied into the brokerage’s agreement, such as advertising, office space and supplies and even other associate’s fees. The broker does 100% of the legwork, but the broker generally gets less than 50% of the commission.
Why split your commission? After all of the time invested in training courses and licensing exams and finding the right market to work in, wouldn’t a broker rather keep virtually 100% of the commission they’ve worked so hard for? There is a method where Smart Brokers simply pay a set monthly fee of $99 and a small fee (never more than $2000) based on the value of the transaction, leaving them just about 100% of the commission.
It’s really very simple. The broker does the work, and the broker keeps the money.
Corporate PR & Corporate Communications
By Editorial Team4 min read
Charles Rutenberg New York On The Benefit of Getting the Entire Commission
By Editorial Team4 min read
Why do people become real estate brokers if not for the incredible opportunity to make a lot of money in a single transaction? Of course there are other reasons too; it can offer a flexible schedule, some live for the thrill of the sell, and, particularly in New York, some may enjoy the chance to network with celebrities and the socialites Yet, few would argue that money is the draw, and the ability to keep more of what they sell is always alluring.
Most brokers only see a small percentage of their commission, and few are aware that they can actually keep 100 percent of it if they knew the secret.
Under the traditional real estate broker commission model, broker’s commissions are generally preset, and once a real estate transaction is completed, the commission paid by the seller is divided between the broker and the brokerage, and the broker’s portion is further divided by various fees and expenses tied into the brokerage’s agreement, such as advertising, office space and supplies and even other associate’s fees. The broker does 100% of the legwork, but the broker generally gets less than 50% of the commission.
Why split your commission? After all of the time invested in training courses and licensing exams and finding the right market to work in, wouldn’t a broker rather keep virtually 100% of the commission they’ve worked so hard for? There is a method where Smart Brokers simply pay a set monthly fee of $99 and a small fee (never more than $2000) based on the value of the transaction, leaving them just about 100% of the commission.
It’s really very simple. The broker does the work, and the broker keeps the money.
Written by
Editorial Team
The Everything-PR Editorial Team produces reporting, research, and analysis across thirty verticals — communications, reputation, AI visibility, public affairs, media systems, and digital discovery in the answer-engine era. Publishing since 2009.
Other news
See all
Michael Heller · 05/20/2026
The Casting Call Now Starts With a Machine. Here's What Talent Should Do About It.
AI is now the first step in casting calls, generating ranked lists of potential campaign faces. A new study, the "AI Casting Index," reveals that AI recommends documented talent due to a "Structure Premium." This means actors and athletes dominate recommendations, while many creators are overlooked because their careers primarily exist within feeds, not documented public records. To adapt, creators must build a verifiable public footprint beyond their content. Brands must also understand the limitations of AI-driven casting.
Seth Semilof · 05/20/2026
The AI Engines Are the New Shelf. Most Luxury Brands Aren't on It Yet.
By Seth Semilof — Co-Founder, Haute Media Group; Partner, Haute Jets Twenty years ago we launched Haute Living into the last viable print luxury market in America. Since then I have watched the discovery layer break four times — digital killed print, social killed digital-first,…
Ronn Torossian · 05/20/2026
AI Doesn't Recommend the Market Leader. It Recommends the Most-Cited Brand.
New 5W research across 125 brands and five industries shows the leaderboard inside ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, Gemini, and Google AI Overviews doesn't match the market. Citation share is the new market share — and the gap is wider than most executives realize.
Never Miss a Headline
Daily PR headlines, weekly long-form analysis, and our proprietary research drops — straight to your inbox.