MarketWatch
Lower mortgage rates mean many people could be looking for a new home, especially those who might have put those plans on hold with higher mortgage rates. If you're thinking about house hunting, you might want to enlist the help of a real estate agent.
You don't necessarily need a real estate agent to purchase or sell a home, but they are some of the most helpful people in executing the process. Most agents handle home sales affiliated with the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) — the largest trade association in the country.
"Compensation has been and will continue to be negotiable between agents and their clients," says Jennifer Stevenson, 2024 NAR Regional Vice President, Region 2. "Those fees can take many forms, such as fixed commissions paid directly by clients, fee for service, concessions from a seller or a portion of a listing broker's fee."