Paying Buyer’s Agen

You're right in thinking it would appear to be a conflict of interest if a buyer's broker, legally obligated to help negotiate the lowest purchase price, is paid by a percentage of that price. That's how it's often done, though. And in what also seems like a conflict, the buyer's broker is frequently paid by the seller. There is, of course, no reason why a buyer's broker can't work for a flat fee or by the hour, and sometimes that’s the arrangement. And there's certainly nothing to prevent the buyer from paying his or herown agent, and again, sometimes it is done that way. But usually the seller and the seller's agent have already offered to share the commission with any other broker who brings the buyer. And often they agree to pay that amount to a buyer's agent, even one who is duty-bound to put the buyer's interests first. Yes, it isn't all that logical, but it gets the house sold. The procedure is rationalized by those who say the buyer's broker is simply paid "out of the proceeds of the sale" and that the buyer is really providing all the money anyhow. Buyer’s agents, by the way, do a lot more than just helping negotiate purchase price.