Daniel Houston

As the American Real Estate Association announces new partnerships with some of the nation’s biggest brokerage brands, new survey results suggest its chief competitor may have more to lose than this upstart has to gain. Agents are far more likely to say they’d drop all association memberships rather than join the ARA if it were totally up to them, according to an analysis of the latest Inman Intel Index survey results.

Before a group suing Compass Florida over its $475 transaction fee withdrew their lawsuit in August, hundreds of real estate agents and brokerage leaders shared their experiences with — and opinions on — similar fees. Charged to the client at closing in addition to the standard commission, these flat fees were found to be broadly unpopular with agents, who said they introduce friction into the client relationship and sometimes come out of the agent’s own pocket.

Brokerage companies that charge their clients a flat transaction fee at closing have met resistance not just from outside lawsuits, but from their own agents as well, a new survey suggests. The Inman Intel Index survey in July surfaced broad disapproval of these fees among real estate agents — including those whose brokerages charge such a fee.