Under what circumstance is a seller obligated to pay commission?

A seller is obligated to pay a commission to the real estate agent primarily when the property sells. This is because commissions in real estate transactions are typically structured as a percentage of the sale price. The contract between the seller and the agent often stipulates that the agent will receive a commission upon the successful closing of a sale.

In this scenario, the role of the agent includes marketing the property, negotiating with potential buyers, and facilitating the transaction to ensure that it successfully closes. Until the property is sold, the commission is not due, regardless of other activities undertaken by the agent, such as presenting offers or listing the property at a certain price. The focus is on the successful sale as the key trigger for the obligation to pay the commission.