When you hear that a property has sold in Jamaica for J$20 million, and the standard 5% commission comes to J$1 million, what’s the first thought that crosses your mind?
For most people, it’s some version of: “Wow, that agent just made a million dollars in one transaction!”
It sounds simple. It looks impressive. But it’s not true.
Behind that big number lies a much smaller reality—a reality of splits, deductions, expenses, and long months of effort. The actual take-home for an agent is often a fraction of what people imagine. Sometimes, by the time all is said and done, the agent walks away with less than what a junior office worker earns in the same period.
This gap between perception and reality has fueled years of misunderstanding between agents and clients. Sellers think they’re overpaying. Buyers wonder why commissions even exist. And new agents enter the industry with false expectations, only to burn out when they see the truth.
That’s why Jamaica Homes developed the Commission Reali…
