[getdul981]

We have had our house listed with a realtor for just over a month. Prior to listing with this realtor, we had some neighbors come by and look at our house. We have only had one couple come by with a realtor from another company about 2 or 3 days after our initial listing. Our realtor had an open house this past Sunday and had 4 couples come by. Two were neighbor couples.

Today, the wife of the couple that came by prior to our listing came by again. She just called us and made us an offer that is very reasonable, but they don't want to have a realtor involved. It's approximately $5000 more than we would receive if we stay listed and sell for the full list price and the realtor gets her full 6%. It just so happens that her husband came by Sunday and the realtor knows that he is a neighbor.

Is it ethical and or possible to get the realtor to release us from the contract if we agree to pay her 1/6 of what she would have received had we stayed with her and sold at the full price? (we have a 6 month contract) If she won't release us, we are under no obligation to reduce the price or to accept any offers less than our list price. I would think she would jump at the opportunity to have a few thousand as opposed to nothing.

We are also afraid that the neighbors might find another house if we cannot sell to them.

Any suggestions???