I have been working with a realtor. They are acting as a buyers agent. Very professional and done everything I have asked. Never told me no.

I realize they will get paid when I find what I am looking for and complete a purchase. I feel it can happen but that is probably a 50/50 proposition. I have been completely honest with them.

I want to compensate them but wonder if there is some kind of ethical issue with them
accepting a cash payment for their time. We have had no conversations about this. Maybe a gift is more appropriate. Wondering what those in this business can tell me.

This person has been a joy to work with and hope I find what I am looking for with in my budget.

Thanks guys and gals.

Wait until the buy/deal is completed (everyone signs all the documentations), and you are the new homeowner, then gift him/her whatever you want to give. Nothing unethical.

My gf is a realtor. She said there is nothing ethically wrong for giving money for her time. But is probably best to give as a gift. If it’s a “payment” it can have tax consequences. Brokerages also get a cut of commissions. Not sure if they would want a cut of a payment

ok, thanks guys. Q, that is what I planned to do. But if I cannot find the property I am after I will gift them something but would rather it not go through the company, but rather directly to them.

About 5 years ago we were considering downsizing. Looked at probably a dozen places over a couple days.
When it became clear we were not going to buy we shut it down and bought him a gift card to a nice local restaurant for $200.

I once gave a realtor $200 for her time. Great person and a hustler who’d meet us anywhere, anytime. After wasting her time for 6 months and note finding anything, threw her some cash as a gift.

When it became time to look again. We used her and she got Commission on the sale, but man, she worked for it!

My wife is a Realtor. As I understand things, they are not supposed to take any compensation except through the broker.
I don't know if that's a law, Board of Realtor rules, or what and it's probably state specific.
Although you are doing this as a gesture of thanks, these rules are to keep people from doing other unethical or illegal things.

When I was in business I did this twice.

Once I gave her a $200 gift certificate to the nicest restaurant in town and the second time I gave her a weekend at a high end B&B near Charlottesville VA.

Coincidentally it was the same person for both!

For our latest move, we hired an excellent realtor (recommended by a good friend) to help us with our purchase. We could not have done it without her, moving from state to state. Spent a lot of time with us, returned emails and phone calls promptly, well connected, etc. When we closed on our house, we celebrated by taking her out to dinner at a steakhouse and also gave her a Nordstroms gift card. We still keep in touch.

We were very appreciative of our realtor.

But they made out very well after closing.

Thank you guys. That is all very helpful.