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How Much do Real Estate Brokers Add? A Case Study

Sales commissions for residential real estate brokers historically average nearly six percent of a home's closing price. Do brokers add sufficient value to justify those commissions? We address this question using a unique data set pertaining to sales of faculty and staff homes on the ¹ÏÌïºÚÁÏ campus. We find no evidence that the use of a broker leads to higher average selling prices, or that it significantly alters average initial asking prices. However, those who use brokers sell their houses more quickly.

Author(s)
Douglas Bernheim
Jonathan Meer
Publication Date
July, 2007