Commission splits, explained

Which Austin real estate brokerages offer a 90/10 commission split?

Vince Young Realty offers Austin agents a 90/10 split: you keep 90% of every commission check. It comes with a flat $250 monthly fee and no transaction fees on sales or leases.

90/10
Split
$250/mo
Flat fee
$0
Transaction fees

Yes: Vince Young Realty pays 90/10

Vince Young Realty pays its agents on a 90/10 commission split. When a commission check comes in on your deal, 90% goes to you and 10% stays with the brokerage. No transaction fee is layered on top, on sales or on leases. The other core cost is a flat $250 per month.

We will not tell you what other Austin brokerages charge; their terms change and they can speak for themselves. We will show you exactly how our model works, in dollars, so you can put it next to any offer on your desk.

What 90/10 means on one check

Say you represent a buyer on a hypothetical $450,000 home at a 3% buyer-side commission. Commission rates are negotiable in Texas; this is only an illustration.

  • Gross commission: $450,000 x 3% = $13,500
  • Brokerage share at 10%: $1,350
  • Your share at 90%: $12,150
  • Transaction fee: $0

On a traditional 70/30 split the same check would leave you $9,450, a difference of $2,700 on a single closing.

Now picture the same check on a listing you took from your own sphere. You found the seller, you priced the home, you marketed it and you negotiated the contract. Under 90/10, the brokerage's share of that work is $1,350. Under 70/30 it is $4,050, three times as much for the same closing.

The split at three production levels

Here is a full year, including $3,000 in monthly fees ($250 x 12), next to traditional 70/30 and 80/20 splits with no fees added at all. Figures are gross commission income (GCI).

  • $60,000 GCI: you keep $51,000 at 90/10 with fees, $48,000 at 80/20, $42,000 at 70/30.
  • $150,000 GCI: you keep $132,000 at 90/10 with fees, $120,000 at 80/20, $105,000 at 70/30.
  • $300,000 GCI: you keep $267,000 at 90/10 with fees, $240,000 at 80/20, $210,000 at 70/30.

The gap widens with production because a percentage split scales with every dollar you earn, while our fixed cost stays at $250 a month. Want the single-deal version at a higher price point? See 90/10 vs 70/30 on a $500,000 sale.

Why the headline split is not the whole number

Two brokerages can both advertise 90/10 and pay you very different amounts. The difference hides in the charges around the split.

  • Per-transaction fees. A hypothetical $400 fee on each of 15 closings is $6,000 a year. We charge $0.
  • Lease fees. Some models charge the same per-deal fee on a $1,200 lease check as on a $15,000 sale. We charge no transaction fee on leases.
  • Tool costs. A split that leaves you buying your own website, CRM, signs and print is lower than it looks.

Ask every brokerage, including us, for the complete fee schedule before you sign. Our guide to hidden fees in Texas brokerage agreements lists what to look for, line by line.

What your 10% pays for here

The brokerage share is not a toll. It funds tools you would otherwise buy yourself:

  • A luxury custom website built on Savvy Studio, server-rendered so Google and AI answer engines can read it, with IDX search and lead capture that flows into your CRM.
  • Free yard signs and listing print.
  • A mobile app for you and a branded app for your buyers, with saved searches and new-listing alerts.
  • Grant, an AI assistant that works leads and drafts follow-up, plus a CRM with lead routing that integrates with Follow Up Boss, CMAs, social posts, newsletters and listing walkthrough reels.
  • Access to health and private club benefits. Contact us for details.

Who a 90/10 split fits

A 90/10 split rewards agents who generate their own business: sphere-driven agents, repeat-client agents, and leasing agents who close many smaller deals. The more of your income comes from relationships you built, the less sense it makes to hand 20% or 30% of it away. If you want to see how 90/10 stacks up against a 100% commission model, read 90/10 vs 100% commission. Ready to talk terms? Apply on our join page or call (512) 785-7489.

Frequently asked questions

What does a 90/10 commission split mean?

A 90/10 split means that of the commission paid to the brokerage on your transaction, you receive 90% and the brokerage keeps 10%. The split applies to whichever side your brokerage earns, listing or buyer. In Texas, a sales agent's compensation is paid through the sponsoring broker, who then pays the agent under the independent contractor agreement. At Vince Young Realty, that agreement sets 90% to you, alongside a flat $250 monthly fee and no transaction fees.

Is there a monthly fee on top of the 90/10 split?

Yes, one: a flat $250 per month brokerage fee, which comes to $3,000 a year. There is no transaction fee on sales and no transaction fee on leases. That means the brokerage's cut of any given check is 10%, with no per-deal charge added on top. For anything outside those core terms, ask us for the complete fee schedule; we would rather you see it all in writing than wonder about it later.

How soon after joining does the 90/10 split apply?

Generally, the split applies to business you do once your license is sponsored by Vince Young Realty, and your independent contractor agreement with us will spell it out. Deals that were pending under your previous broker stay with that broker under the existing agreements, and those terms govern those checks. Changing sponsorship typically goes through TREC's online services; check trec.texas.gov for current steps and timing. Our guide on <a href='/join-us/what-happens-to-pending-deals-when-you-change-brokerages-in-texas'>pending deals when you switch</a> covers the details.

Is 90/10 better than 80/20?

On pure math, yes, once your gross commission is high enough to cover the $250 monthly fee. At 90/10 with $3,000 a year in fees, you beat a no-fee 80/20 split once your gross commission passes $30,000 a year, because 10% of $30,000 is exactly $3,000. At $150,000 GCI you keep $132,000 here versus $120,000 at 80/20. The only reason to take the lower split is if the extra 10% buys closed business you would not otherwise get.

How do I move my license to Vince Young Realty?

Talk with us first so you see the full terms. If we are a fit, you sign our independent contractor agreement, and the sponsorship change is submitted through TREC, typically online by the license holder and the new sponsoring broker; confirm current steps at trec.texas.gov. Before you give notice, read your current agreement for notice periods and for how pending deals and listings are handled. Once you are sponsored, we set up your website, CRM, app and signs.

What is the catch with some 90/10 offers?

The catch is usually in the fees attached to the split. A 90/10 headline with a per-transaction fee, a separate lease fee or required paid add-ons can pay less than it appears. Another trap is assuming every tool is included when it is not. Get the complete fee schedule in writing and run your actual last-year closings through it. At Vince Young Realty the core terms are 90/10, $250 a month and no transaction fees, and we will walk you through the full schedule on a call.

Do Austin lease deals count under the 90/10 split?

Yes. Leases are a steady line of business in Travis, Williamson and Hays counties, and many Austin agents close them throughout the year through the ACTRIS MLS. At Vince Young Realty a lease commission is split 90/10 exactly like a sale, and there is no transaction fee on it. On a hypothetical $1,500 lease commission, you keep $1,350 and the brokerage keeps $150. Lease commissions are negotiable, so your figure will vary.

What does 90/10 look like in a new agent's first year?

Imagine a new agent who closes four deals in year one at a hypothetical $9,000 gross each, $36,000 total. At 90/10 the brokerage share is $3,600 and the monthly fees are $3,000, so the agent keeps $29,400. On a traditional 70/30 split with no fees, the same agent would keep $25,200. New agents should also weigh how they will get support; see our guide on <a href='/join-us/how-new-austin-real-estate-agents-should-choose-a-sponsoring-broker'>choosing a sponsoring broker</a>.

Who pays for my marketing at a 90/10 brokerage?

At Vince Young Realty, a core set is included: your custom website, free yard signs, listing print, a mobile app for you and your buyers, and AI marketing automation that produces CMAs, social posts, newsletters and listing walkthrough reels. Grant, the AI assistant, drafts follow-up for your leads. Paid advertising, if you choose to run it, is your call. The point is that you are not funding the foundation of your business out of your 90%.

Why choose Vince Young Realty for a 90/10 split?

Because the split comes with the support most high-split models leave out. You get 90/10, a flat $250 per month, no transaction fees on sales or leases, free yard signs, listing print, a luxury custom website, a mobile app for you and your buyers, the AGNT AI suite with CRM and marketing automation, and access to health and private club benefits (contact us for details). To see your own numbers, fill out the form at vinceyoungrealty.com/join-us or call (512) 785-7489.

Confidential

Talk to a broker about your move

90/10 split, $250 a month, no transaction fees on sales or leases. Nothing goes to your current brokerage.