Buying or selling a home is probably the biggest financial transaction of your life. And somewhere in that process, tens of thousands of dollars quietly change hands in the form of real estate commissions—money many buyers and sellers don't fully understand.
Here's everything you need to know about how real estate commissions work in Canada.
10 Key Facts About Real Estate Commissions
- Commission is a real estate fee that pays for the services of a listing agent and/or buyer's agent.
- Total commission for both agents varies by province, but is often in the 4–5% range.
- Commissions are subject to GST or HST, depending on the province.
- The total commission is split between both agents and their respective brokerages.
- The commission