Questions People Ask About Calgary Alberta Realtor® Fees and Commissions

Q: Can I sell my house in Calgary on MLS® and pay no Realtor® fees?

A: No. There are always some fees to pay.

Q: How are Realtor® fees calculated in Alberta?

A: The most common structure is 7% on the first $100,000 and 3% on the balance of the sale price.

Q: Does the buyer pay a Realtor® commission in Alberta?

A: Indirectly, yes. Commissions are usually built into the sale price.

Q: Who pays the Realtor® fee — the home buyer or the home seller?

A: The seller pays the Realtor® fees out of the sale proceeds.

Q: Why are Calgary real estate commissions so high?

A: Real estate is a business. No business works for free.

Q: Are 1% and 2% realty companies legit?

A: Yes — but “legit” doesn’t always mean “better.” The quality depends on the Realtor®, not the brand.

Q: Which Calgary real estate company has the lowest commissions?

A: None of them set commissions. Individual Realtors® negotiate their own fees.

Q: Are CIR Realty and eXp Realty discount brokerages?

A: Both have Realtors® who offer discounts and others who don’t. It depends on the individual agent.

Q: Are RE/MAX commissions worth it?

A: RE/MAX doesn’t set commissions — Realtors® do.

Q: How are Realtor® commissions calculated?

A: They can be a flat rate, a percentage of the sale price, or a mix of both. Commissions are always negotiable.

Q: Can you negotiate your Realtor®’s commission?

A: Absolutely.

Q: How much are closing costs in Alberta?

A: Set aside around $1,800 plus GST for legal fees and you should be fine.

Q: Is there GST on Realtor® fees in Alberta?

A: Yes, GST applies to the fees — but not to the price of a resale home.

Q: Does the buyer pay Realtor® fees in Canada?

A: Yes — indirectly, because fees are included in the selling price.

Q: How much are lawyer fees when buying a Calgary home?

A: They vary, but usually involve a flat fee plus disbursements.

Q: What percentage do most Realtors® charge?

A: Commissions are negotiable. In Calgary, 7% and 3% is the most common structure.

Q: Are commissions paid on the gross or net sale price?

A: Gross sale price.

Q: How are commission disputes solved?

A: Usually between the Realtor® and their brokerage.

Q: How do Calgary Realtor® commissions work?

A: Very well, in my experience.

Q: Do Realtors® keep 100% of their commissions?

A: No. They split commissions with their brokerage, and also pay fees, taxes, and expenses.

Q: Is it against the law to have fixed Realtor® fees and commissions in Calgary?

A: Yes. Fees are always negotiable between Calgary home sellers, buyers, and Realtors®.

The Truth About Realtor® Fees in Calgary

Every home listed on the Alberta MLS® System includes Realtor® commissions plus GST — whether it’s 1%, 2%, 7% and 3%, or any other arrangement.

There’s no standard rate in Calgary or anywhere in Alberta.
Brands like RE/MAX, Century 21, Royal LePage, CIR Realty, eXp Realty, Sotheby’s, and 1% or 2% Realty are prohibited by law from fixing commission rates.

Each Realtor® negotiates their own deal.
Some are flexible, others aren’t. Some follow scripts from pricey coaching programs that teach them how to “protect commissions.” You’ll hear the same lines about “If I don’t defend my commission, I won’t defend your price.”

Here’s the bottom line:
✅ All Realtor® commissions in Calgary are negotiable.
✅ The brand means nothing — results and relationships mean everything.
✅ Calgary home prices drive the market, not slogans or percentages.

Talk to Someone Who Tells It Like It Is

If you want the truth about Calgary Realtor® fees and commissions, I’m your guy.

Jerry Charlton
📞 403-831-0842
📧 Jerry@JerryCharlton.com
Calgary Realtor® – eXp Realty

The Top 5 Places To Find Cheap Calgary Homes

1. Bank Foreclosures and Court Ordered Sales

2. Vacant and Abandoned Calgary Properties

3. Tenant Occupied Landlord Home Sales

4. Estate and Probate Home Sales

5. Divorcing Home Owners Who Want To Sell Fast

Bank Foreclosures and Court Ordered Sales are at the top of the list. People have visions of banks sitting on tons of properties that they are willing to sell cheap. It’s a myth in Canada that banks sell homes cheap. Let’s clear this one up right away. Banks do not sell homes cheap in Canada. If you hear a story of someone buying a home cheap because it was a foreclosure, the real story is it was cheap because that was all it was worth in the condition it was in. Chasing foreclosure deals is like chasing ghosts. Good Luck with that.

Vacant and Abandoned Calgary Properties should be high on the list. Why is the home vacant? Who’s paying the taxes, utilities, insurance and maybe a mortgage while the home sits empty. We know it’s not a bank with deep pockets that can wait forever. Vacant properties have a story. Finding out what the story is can lead to an opportunity to make money when you buy those types of homes. Put vacant properties high on your list.

Tenant Occupied Landlord Home Sales should not be overlooked. Why is the landlord selling? What’s the story? Is it a bad tenant? Is it a retiring landlord? Is it a couple of owners going in different directions? Finding out why these landlords are selling can present some amazing opportunities. Few landlords have any emotional attachment to these homes. They have usually made lots of money already, so aren’t trying to squeeze every last dime out of it. Overlooking Tenant Occupied Properties in your search for Calgary Real Estate Deals is not a good idea.

Estate and Probate Home Sales happen because the owner has died. Sometimes they have died of natural causes in the home, most times they have not. Someone or a bunch of people have inherited the property. If it’s on the market it’s because they want the money, not the house. It’s very common for battling siblings to inherit a property and just want it sold quickly. Time is more important than money to some. Estate Sales can be great opportunities to snag a good deal.

Divorcing Home Owners Who Want To Sell Fast is by far the number 1 opportunity to make money buying a home. Money is always an issue, but so is just getting things wrapped up so both parties can move on with their lives. Ask any seasoned Realtor where the best deals are, it’s always divorces.