In this do-it-yourself digital age, home sellers and buyers alike might wonder if they really need real estate agents — or, more precisely, if they need to pay agent fees. Just how crucial are these ...

Real estate agents earn a commission when a transaction closes, typically ranging from 2.5 to 3 percent of the home’s sale price. Each agent’s rate — and who pays it, buyer or seller — is negotiated ...

Brai is the founder of SW4 Insights, a public policy advisory firm based in Washington D.C. He has over a decade of experience as a journalist and consultant covering finance and economic policy, with ...