Separate the fee question from who found the house, because finding the listing was always the smallest part of what you pay an agent for. Most buyers find homes themselves now on Zillow, Redfin, and the like. A good buyer's agent earns the fee by negotiating price and terms, handling contracts and contingencies, and keeping inspections and closing from blowing up the transaction. That work stays the same no matter who spotted the listing. On the fee itself, everything is negotiable, especially since the NAR settlement put buyer-agent compensation in a written agreement up front. If you have signed a buyer-agency agreement and 3% feels like too much given that you found the home, have a direct, honest conversation with your agent about price, service, or fee. Many agents will negotiate, and a strong one can explain plainly what you get for the number. One caution on the math: depending on how compensation is structured in your deal, part of the agent's pay may be covered in a way that does not reduce your purchase price or your negotiating room, so a lower headline commission does not always translate into more house for you. And after the settlement, seller-paid buyer-agent compensation is negotiable rather than automatic. Ask your agent to walk you through exactly how the money flows in your specific contract.