I spoke you our in house Realtor, my step daughter who works for Coldwell Banker, and their rate is indeed 10%.
Rates are negotiable. Some small property transactions (sales), like for smaller condos bellow 30 or 40 thousand USD will commend a higher percentage rate, as the effective payout is small and the leg work may be quite comparable to selling a 150 thousand USD home.
Keep in mind, that now a LOT of people are trying to sell, however qualified prospect buyers are few currently. That can translate in agencies trying to raise rates in hopes to survive on fewer sales.
Some sellers hope to "accelerate" the sale by offering a higher commission. I recommend that if one considers doing so, to settle for a low base rate (6% max on above 50K homes) and offer a good BONUS for a quick sale above a minimum amount withing a fixed time frame (usually not longer than 3 months) in order to try to get agents to try to plug your property more "actively". If the agent is not successful or seems to not give your property some kind of priority, after the "bonus" time has run out, try an other agent with a similar offer.
Also keep in mind that buyer's agent here generally don't feel that they have a fiduciary duty towards the buyer. They will plug to the buyer what ever is juicy to them (the agent) first. They too live off commissions (which when share, tend to fall out kind'a "thin") and the outlook on a bonus may help grease the wheels to turn your way.
In other words, like with most things in this country, NEGOTIATE hard (there is NO standard) and be CREATIVE and seek to offer INCENTIVES which may enthuse the parties involved to help YOU. Spread the word about your current "bonus" offer, so that everybody in the industry knows your deal is good to them (trying to keep the price close to you asking and keeping your "on the market" time as low as possible).
... J-D.
