When a Realtor takes a listing, he and the seller agree to a certain percentage of the sales price of the house to be paid to the listing agent. The listing agent will be paid from the proceeds of the sale. In the event that a different agent shows the property to a buyer and they enter into escrow, after the close of escrow that commission is split with the buyer’s agent. If the listing agent also has the buyer’s side, he will keep the entire commission for himself. In the event that the agent represents both the buyer and the seller, then he would keep both sides of the commission.