There is a lot of confusion these days about the Buyer Agent Fee.  Is it paid by the seller and the listing agent "to procure you" for the benefit of the seller?  Sounds antiquated, doesn't it?  Yet that is what most insiders think is happening.  Let's assume that you believe the Buyer Agent fee is paid by you as part of the sale price, for the purpose of hiring somone to represent you, the buyer, in the real estate transaction.  Sounds much more civilized, doesn't it?  Since you are paying it as part of the sale price and part of your mortgage payment, then let's assume you can also negotiate it, and offer some advices in that regard.

There are some limitations.  Mainly there is a limit to the amount of cash you can receive in credits.  This limit is set by your lender and is often different from individual borrower to individual borrower depending on your personal borrower credentials.  By the end of the transaction, if you have negotiated credits in excess of the amount allowed, you cannot be paid "off the sheet" or "outside of closing" as that is Lender Fraud.

But you can, if you know the amount early enough in the transaction, take the difference against the Sale Price of the home.  To effect this method of credit, you need to make the changes, with the seller's signature as well since it is not a unilateral choice, before the loan documents are drawn.

Yes, I know, you have to find someone who will treat you, the buyer, as an equal to the seller in the transaction.  Sounds simple enough.  Sounds like a fair way to look at it, doesn't it?  I think so.