There's really only two seating sections. The one's paying the outrageous commissions or the one's receiving them.
> But I’ve come to see the 3% on each side as an almost market clearing price. It’s really hard work, with low barriers to entry, and significant upfront costs.
The vast majority of the upfront costs are a moat dug by the established players. Everything from mandatory trainings, registration to insurance requirements.
> In a tight market, being a buyers agent can be a blessing or a curse. She’s been working with one client for nearly a year, submitting over 20 offers and going all over the metroplex with nothing to show for it. On the other hand, she’s had buyers who found something within a month. It works out to a decent standard of living, but it takes a long time to develop a pipeline. Most agents quit within a year.
That's the natural pros and cons of sales working on commission. When you're making money it's great. When you're not, it's not. There's nothing special about real estate.