I knew a woman who was a real estate agent. She knew almost everyone in town. A new family showed up wanting to buy a house and they enlisted her to help them. For days, weeks and months she showed them house after house. Finally, a nice big one caught their eye, but the owner was unwilling to budge on the price. They told the real estate agent that they regretfully were going to cease their search.

The agent felt bad for them. A month later the house sold and she was surprised to see that it was to that same family. Apparently, they made a side deal with the owner for minus the amount of her commission once their contract with her expired.

I did not hear about this story from the agent, but a secondary source. It was regrettable since the husband of the family was a pastor looking to start a church. His reputation proceeded him.