“The standard 6 percent went out the window a long time ago.”
Here’s a bigger snippet from a NY Times story with a headline that says it all: “You Don’t Have to Pay It.” In this case, “it” is a 6% commission:
Nationwide, the average commission in 2009 was 5.36 percent, according to data collected by Real Trends, a real estate research firm, indicating that there is room for negotiation. “The standard 6 percent went out the window a long time ago,” said Steve Murray, the editor of Real Trends. The New York City market is no different from the national one, he said.
MORE:
Study: No Reason to Pay Realtor Commissions When Selling a House