In which scenario does the seller NOT owe a commission to the agent?

In the context of real estate agreements, a seller does not owe a commission to the agent in scenarios where the seller finds their own buyer, particularly under an Exclusive Agency Agreement. This type of agreement typically allows the seller to retain the right to sell the property on their own without incurring a commission obligation to the agent, as long as the agent hasn’t facilitated the sale.

An Exclusive Agency Agreement does grant the agent the ability to earn a commission if they bring in a buyer, but if the seller independently locates a buyer, the agent does not earn a commission in that specific transaction. This distinguishes this agreement from an Exclusive Right to Sell Agreement, where the agent is entitled to a commission regardless of who finds the buyer, and from Open Listing Agreements, where multiple agents may be involved, but the commission structure still generally requires payment if an agent is successful in finding a buyer.

This nuance is critical for understanding how different listing agreements operate, which helps sellers make informed decisions about their obligations regarding commissions.