How Much Does a Realtor Charge in North Vancouver?

این صفحه را به فارسی بخوانید (Farsi)

If you are asking how much a realtor charges in North Vancouver, the honest answer is that there is no set price. In British Columbia there is no standard commission. The regulator, the BC Financial Services Authority (BCFSA), puts it plainly: “Any commission amount can be negotiated between you, your real estate professional and brokerage.” So instead of quoting you a number, this page explains how the fee works, who pays it, what has to be disclosed to you, and the questions to ask before you sign anything.

How a realtor is paid in BC

• It is negotiated, not fixed. No board, brokerage or regulator sets a rate. You agree the fee with the brokerage before it starts working for you, and neither side has to accept a fee it does not want.
• It is written into your contract. For a seller, that is the listing agreement. It says what you will pay, when it is payable, and how much of it goes to the brokerage that brings the buyer.
• It is usually tied to the sale price. BCFSA notes that commission is typically calculated on the price, so the more the home sells for, the more the brokerage earns.
• It is paid to the brokerage, not the individual agent. In BC the brokerage holds the contract with you and pays its licensees.
• GST applies to it. A real estate commission is a taxable service, so budget for GST on top of whatever you agree.

Who pays when you sell, and who pays when you buy

When you sell, the commission comes out of the sale proceeds on completion day. Your lawyer or notary pays it from the money held in trust, along with your mortgage payout, before the balance comes to you. You do not write a separate cheque.

When you buy, the brokerage representing you is usually paid out of the seller’s commission, under the terms of the listing. BCFSA’s guide confirms that for buyers, commission typically comes from the seller. If you sign a buyer agency agreement, read what it says about payment: some agreements set out what happens if the amount offered on a particular listing is different from what you agreed with your own brokerage.

What has to be disclosed to you

• The dollar amount, once there is an offer. BCFSA explains that when an offer arrives, you receive a disclosure of remuneration that turns the agreed terms into actual dollar figures, so you can see exactly what is being paid.
• Any money from a third party. Your realtor must disclose in writing any remuneration they earn from someone else in connection with your transaction, including referral fees.
• No pricing games. A realtor cannot charge you based on the difference between the list price and the final sale price. BCFSA says this rule protects you from the perception that your realtor would recommend listing below market value.

Can you change it, or get out of it?

Commission can be renegotiated during a contract if the services change or both sides agree, but the other side does not have to agree. If you end a listing early, your contract decides whether any commission is still payable, for example if someone who saw the home during the listing buys it later. Read the cancellation and holdover terms before you sign, not after.

What to ask any realtor before you sign

1. What is your total fee, in writing, and how much of it is offered to the buyer’s brokerage?
2. Exactly which services does that fee include: photography, floor plans, staging advice, advertising, open houses, strata document review?
3. Who will actually show the home, take the calls and negotiate the offers: you, or someone on a team?
4. How long is the listing agreement, and what happens if I want to end it early?
5. Is there a holdover clause, and how long does it last?
6. Will you earn anything from anyone else in connection with my sale, such as a referral fee?
7. When an offer comes in, will you show me the disclosure of remuneration in dollars before I accept?

Compare the answers, not just the price. Two fees that look similar can buy very different amounts of work, and a lower fee is not a saving if the home sells for less or sits on the market through a slow autumn.

The other costs of selling in North Vancouver

Commission is only part of what it costs to sell. You will also pay for legal or notary work, any strata documents a buyer asks for, any mortgage prepayment penalty, moving, and preparing the home. The full list, with what each one typically involves, is on my page on the cost of selling a house in North Vancouver, and for condos on the cost of selling a condo.

How I handle it

I am Tom Jahed, a REALTOR® with Vanak Realty in North Vancouver. I have worked on the North Shore for 10 years, on more than 400 transactions. Before you sign anything with me, you get my fee and what it covers in writing, and I will answer every question on the list above. If you are interviewing other realtors too, ask them the same questions. That is the fairest way to compare.

Before you rely on any of this: this page is general information, not legal or tax advice, and the rules are subject to change. For the current rules, see BCFSA’s consumer guide to remuneration or call BCFSA, and have your lawyer or notary review any contract before you sign. Reviewed 5 October 2026.

Read next

• What it actually costs to sell a house in North Vancouver
• How to sell a house in North Vancouver