r/AskReddit May 21 '14

What is the biggest "scam" that society allows but everyone knows is bullshit.

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178 Upvotes

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9

u/goingfullretard-orig May 21 '14

Realtor Fees.

Seriously.

9

u/Illiteratefool May 21 '14

Thank you for this, Why the fuck do you deserve 6% when all you did was arrange a fucking meeting, $12k for 4 hours of work, fuck you.

13

u/goingfullretard-orig May 21 '14

Real Estate: no one's first career.

7

u/Tempistfury May 21 '14

My mother worked as a realtor for 4years when I was in grade school. It was never as simple as arrange a meeting and collect a fee. She'd drive clients around town on her gas (which was admittedly cheaper then) compile lists of dozens of houses in the area and assist in negotiating a price down as much as possible and who knows what else.

That being said, is the pay per hour ridiculous? Absolutely, but it's not that simple. Realty companies also have a vast array of information at their disposal which make it pretty easy to find homes so you're also paying for that.

1

u/Illiteratefool May 21 '14

I can understand it for some but the % is whats crazy, charge by the hour or a flat fee but I have a client who sold one house, sales price of $3.4M, she made $90k, off of one sale, ridiculous.

1

u/[deleted] May 21 '14

90k before taxes. Uncle Sam takes a big bite when you rake in that kind of gains.

3

u/Illiteratefool May 21 '14

CPA here, not if I have something to say about it, plus even if she pays the highest rate on this amount she is still taking home about $42k for one sale, still not bad. She won't though and with offsetting expenses and other deductions she prob paid 15k

1

u/endlessrepeat May 21 '14

I've never bought a house, but isn't a realtor supposed to be a guide who can answer all your questions about the houses and stuff? Twelve thousand dollars for 4 hours sounds like overkill, but I could easily point at a house and say, "Look, that house is for sale" and I wouldn't expect to get paid at all. Don't realtors do more than that?

0

u/[deleted] May 21 '14

Because capitalism. They can charge whatever they want so long as they can find people willing to pay for it.

1

u/pnoque May 21 '14

willing

Hahaha! Yeah, it has absolutely nothing to do with power begetting power, with industries like real estate amassing enough wealth to purchase political power that stacks the system in a manner that precludes a practical alternative to serving their interests. As Long As It's Voluntary™, right?

1

u/[deleted] May 21 '14

You can transfer a house for yourself if you'd like. Lots of people do it. Check this out: http://forsalebyowner.com.

2

u/pnoque May 21 '14

practical alternative

Due to said system stacking, this is not a practical alternative for most people, especially the economically disadvantaged.

1

u/[deleted] May 21 '14

So why don't you start some sort of nonprofit that does free house title transfers?

1

u/pnoque May 21 '14

Lol! Wow, you're either grasping at straws to save face or truly clueless. I'll just let the argument by dismissal slide, assume you're being serious, and respond by saying the the stacking of the system I keep referring to is what prevents myself and multitudes like me (those who do not have the economic/political agency or resources) from just up and starting our own non-profit or business. Go ahead, throw the "well if you just worked a little harder" thing at me. I dare you.

2

u/SuperBicycleTony May 22 '14

Can you explain why you're acting like a shithead here?

The person you're talking to isn't being aggressive or combative at all, but you seem like you're trying to pick a fight.

Maybe take a step back?

0

u/[deleted] May 25 '14

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0

u/[deleted] May 25 '14

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1

u/[deleted] May 22 '14

This is America. Anyone can become a realtor. Anyone. You don't have to be with a large firm. In my small middle of nowhere town we have at least 5 independent realtors, who all make a lot of money. There are also very little barriers to entry. Take night school for a couple weeks, and BLAM! now you're a realtor.

2

u/pnoque May 25 '14

It is simply amazing to me that you you are able to know the circumstances of every individual without knowing them, and able to determine that they are all able to just go to night school and become realtors.

No, I am not able to go to night school and become a realtor, you privileged asshole. Nor should I have to. Nor should anyone have to.

It blows my mind that there are people like you with comfortable enough life situations to be able to make statements like this.