Sale of condominium via homeowners association or real estate agent

To be honest, I also don't understand why property should be treated differently. If the owner hires a broker, then they are the client. So why should the buyer pay the commission alone? I find the 50/50 solution fairer.

I just thought (and that's why I wrote the post) that as a seller you "actually" have no problem hiring a broker - since you can, at least if your apartment is in demand, delegate the commission entirely to the buyer. It's always a tricky matter, of course the seller would "factor in" the commission somewhere if they pay it - but then it's part of the purchase price. Otherwise, it's acquisition costs that you have to have in cash...

I just thought (and that's why I wrote the post) that as a seller you "actually" have no problem commissioning a broker - because you can, at least if your apartment is in demand, completely delegate the commission to the buyer.

But you only thought that. Why should one pay a commission just because the seller is too slow to market the property themselves? - the commission only makes it more expensive, but not more valuable. I would only accept that with a very, very unique property.

The buyer would certainly also be happy if he does not have to pay either his 3.57% or an injected 3.57% from the seller. And the seller would have the same net result, basically a win-double-win situation (from the seller-buyer perspective).

I was expected to pay the full broker fee as a buyer, in my case 5.95% of the purchase price... even though the seller had commissioned the broker. I don't know it any other way... when renting, nowadays the client (landlord) has to pay the broker, but in sales it still seems to stick to the buyer. Oh, it would have been great if the amount had at least been shared!

That's exactly how it is, since 2015 landlords are responsible for paying the broker's commission if they have commissioned one for the rental. Unfortunately, it is not so clearly regulated in sales. It varies from state to state, both in terms of the amount and how it is divided. You probably live in Bremen or Hesse? In most federal states, broker commissions in sales are shared between buyer and seller, but in some the buyer bears it alone, and in precisely these two states 5.95% is "market standard."

You probably live in Bremen or Hesse? In most federal states, the broker commission on the sale is shared between buyer and seller, but in some the buyer bears it alone, and in exactly those two federal states 5.95% is "market standard".

No, I live in Thuringia. I have never seen a "split" of the commission here. The range is from 3.57% to 7.14%. So... lucky me, it could have been worse...

But you just thought that. Why should one pay a commission just because the seller is too slow to market the property themselves? - the commission only makes it more expensive, but not worth more. I would only accept that for a very, very unique property.

Well, dear Elefant, you are of course completely right. Unfortunately, I live in a big city where real estate is very hard to get, most properties are snapped up quickly, and buyers just have to figure out how to manage everything. The sellers can just sit back and let the agent do the work. It is what it is, I could have also decided not to buy. So all good.