Final answer:
Real estate agents get paid through a commission-based system, earning a percentage of the sale price of a property when they facilitate a transaction between a buyer and a seller. The commission is split between the buyer's agent and the seller's agent, and then divided between the agent and their brokerage.
Step-by-step explanation:
Most real estate agents get paid through a commission-based system. They earn a percentage of the sale price of a property when they successfully facilitate a transaction between a buyer and a seller. This means that their income is directly tied to the value of the properties they help sell.
For example, if an agent has a commission rate of 5% and sells a home for $300,000, they would earn $15,000 in commission.
It's important to note that the commission is typically split between the buyer's agent and the seller's agent, and then further divided between the agent and their brokerage.