If a listing agent leaves a firm before a buyer is found, does the firm owe the agent a commission?

The correct answer is based on the principle that in most real estate firms, listings are considered the property of the firm rather than the individual agents who generated them. When a listing agreement is signed, it typically names the brokerage as the party responsible for the transaction. As a result, even if the listing agent leaves the firm, the firm retains the rights to the listing and any commission earned from it.

This structure is important in establishing a clear and consistent approach to how listings are handled within the agency. The commission is paid to the firm, which may then pay a portion to the listing agent according to their internal agreements or policies. Therefore, if a buyer is found after the listing agent has left, the firm is obligated to that commission, not the agent directly.

The other options do not accurately reflect the standard practices in real estate brokerage. For instance, the notion that the firm might owe a commission based on future findings or performance does not fit within the context of how ownership of listings works. The policies of individual firms can vary, but fundamentally, under agency law, it is the brokerage that holds the listing rights.