Can a licensee receive compensation for a deal that falls through?

A licensee typically receives compensation only when a transaction is successfully completed. This means that payment is generally tied to the closing of the deal; if a deal falls through, the expectation is that there was no successful transaction, and consequently, no commission is earned.

While there may be situations where a licensee could receive compensation under specific agreements – such as in a buyer’s broker agreement or if specified in the seller's contract – these are exceptions rather than the rule. Most standard practices in real estate compensation dictate that successful deals are the basis of a licensee's earnings. Thus, the statement that only successful deals entitle them to compensation is consistent with common industry practices and the understanding of real estate business operations.