I don't think that 6% is the maximum you can charge a commission on but I'm not an agent and probably the broker has a set limit on what the agents can charge and again I'm not sure.But even if there isn't a maximum the higher % of commission the more likely either the buyer or seller won't list or deal with you because that's too much for them.A wholesalers fee comes straight from an end buyer who is an investor and not your typical retail buyer(although some have wholesaled to retailers but it's rare)and the skies the limit on your assignment fee however that's based on how much profit is left for the end buyer but if you squeezed a lot of equity out of the seller than you can pretty much charge a nice hunk of change for your assignment and still leave a wide profit margin.

I believe I read a report recently that NAR projects that 60%+ of transaction in 2011 will be short sales, leaving the other 40% to reo, retail and what not.So, to answer your question (IMO), REO brokers have had to go back to basic real estate.

Most of us are in the B and C sector and not the A and those are different assets.Multifamily is definitely posed to top out for acquisition over the next few years.Many investors feel retail has a few years to go before it hits bottom.

What I was asking after that conclusion was should I proceed with making an offer with an agent who's being deceitful.FYI...I went ahead and made the offer so hopefully things go well.I always learn something new from my posts, though; so thanks Jake and Scott.Also, there may have already been an investor involved in this transaction (A to B)and you were ultimately looking at the B to C listing.A clue to this may be within the listing remarks, the agent should have some disclosure like "transaction is contingent upon third party acceptance...." which tells me I should not get involved in this transaction as they are probably looking for a retail buyer.

For instance, if your a fix and flipper, perhaps look for short sale properties which enough disrepair to preclude it from being fiannced by a retail buyer.As for success rates, short sales are always going to be much less successful, not just because the servicer/lender/investor has REO's to fall back on, but because at some point there becomes a zero sum gain (lack of incentive) for them.

In the meantime I would market the house out to either a retail end buyer and/or investors who want to make the house a total diamond and get the higher end of the comps selling in the area.

It is near impossible to flip to retail.

They put the property on the market at a value 10-15% above retail, then offer the home to owner-occupant exclusively for the first ten days with low down financing and no appraisal requirement.

Had we had to find a retail buyer, I think our pool of potential candidates would have been much smaller.

Seller says he was considering it but open to other offers.Also says a large retail chain (holiday i--,) has expressed interest in setting up a franchised location there.