🚫 Bullsh*t Fees Only Suckers Pay

Real estate already comes with legit costs - commission, attorney, title, inspections. But then there are the fake fees. The double-dip, nickel-and-dime garbage that shady brokers and service providers sneak in, hoping you won’t notice.

Let’s break it down 👇

1. MLS Fees (now illegal)

I can’t speak for every MLS, but here’s how ours worked: the MLS charged $25 to enter a listing. Brokers then turned around and billed sellers $150–$200 for that exact same service - and sometimes even charged the buyer too.

Don’t want to pay it? They’d stick the agent with the bill. It’s a pure 600% markup on something that costs twenty-five bucks. Thankfully, specifically charging "MLS fees" is no longer allowed, but brokers are already sneaking it back in under new names like “technology fee,” “listing enhancement,” or “marketing package.” Same scam, different label.

2. Processing & Admin Fees

Translation: “We want more money.” What is your commission covering if not admin and processing? Adding these on top of a percentage-based commission is like buying a car and then being told you have to pay extra for the steering wheel. These fees don’t reflect actual additional work - they’re just an easy way for brokers to squeeze a few hundred dollars more out of every transaction.

3. Application Fees

Sometimes these are legit - like when a landlord or lender needs to run your credit or background check. But often they’re inflated (the actual cost is usually around $25–$40, not $75+).

Worse, they’re sometimes double-charged to the applicant.
👉 Example: You pay $75 for your application fee. That covers the credit/background report. But then the property manager tacks on an additional $75–$100 “processing” or “review” fee, claiming it’s separate. In reality, it’s just the same report with a new label slapped on it.

So you’re paying twice for one service. One report. Two charges. All on your dime.

It’s like buying a concert ticket and being told you also have to pay an extra “entry fee” at the door just to use the ticket you already bought. 🎟️

4. Courier / Document Delivery Fees

We live in 2025. Everything is e-signed, emailed, and stored digitally. Charging $50–$100 for “document delivery” is a relic from 1998. If someone is billing you for couriers in an all-digital world, it’s not only double dipping (because those services are already covered by your lender, title agency, or attorney fees), it’s a red flag that their whole practice is outdated.

5. Credit Report Fees

Yes, lenders need to run your credit. No, it doesn’t cost $100. Pulling credit is usually under $30. Anything above that is padding.

6. Document / “Doc” Fees

This one is the most blatant cash grab of all. Some agents and attorneys charge $500–$1,000 as a “document fee.” For what? Printing? Signing their name? Nothing justifies this - it’s literally a line item designed to see if you’ll pay without asking questions.

✅ The Bottom Line

You’re already paying commission, attorney, and title costs. You shouldn’t be nickel-and-dimed for every little task that’s already included in the total price. These fees are nothing more than money grabs, designed to test if you’ll notice.

It’s like when a restaurant charges 3.5% extra to use your credit card. Credit card fees are already baked into the price of doing business - charging again is double dipping. Real estate’s fake fees work the same way.

💭 Your Turn: Have you ever spotted a BS fee on a closing statement or rental agreement that made you go, “Wait, what?” Drop it in the comments - let’s expose the scams.

👉 And if you want to work with an ethical Realtor who won’t nickel and dime you - and won’t let anyone else nickel and dime you either - you know where to find me.

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