When do Real Estate Agents get Paid?

Real Estate agents don't get payed by the hour like other jobs. All income comes from houses you sell. If you don't sell homes, you don't get paid. Therefore, your annual income varies from year to year depending on how many homes sold.

Agents do not get paid for listing a home if it doesn't sell. Any expenses that go out to open houses or advertising doesn't get paid for by the owner/seller; the agent pays for everything to advertise the home in different ways. You only receive money at the time of a sell. As far as commission goes, it can vary between the different franchises and who you work under. For example, at Century 21 the listing agent receives 3% and the selling agent receives 3%. If you were to both list and sale a home you would receive 6%. 

There is money to be made in the career of real estate, but you have to be willing to put in the time and effort. It's not an 8-5 job.