UnReal

In a recent response to Chris Fitzsimon, the NC Association of Realtors' Tim Kent claimed that Realtor commissions averaged 5.1%. Actually that is a national average compiled by "REAL Trends" an industry group that collects voluntary self-reported information from real estate companies. In North Carolina that average is approximately 5.6%. Only a few metro areas actually report but the average in the Triangle is 5.4%, with Charlotte at 5.8%. Various factors supress the reporting of the typical 6% commission including new home sales, back-to-back sales and negotiated fees where a Realtor is buying and selling for the same client.

Even at the claimed 5.1% Realtors' take from a typical home sale has been increasing faster that the rate of inflation as home values have risen. Home owners are giving more money to Realtors in adjusted dollars even as the electronic age has Realtors doing less of the leg work.