If a seller finds their own buyer in an exclusive agency listing agreement, what is the outcome regarding commission?

In an exclusive agency listing agreement, the seller retains the right to find their own buyer. If the seller successfully locates a buyer without assistance from the agent, they are not obligated to pay any commission to the agent. This is a key feature of exclusive agency agreements, differentiating them from exclusive right-to-sell agreements, where the agent receives a commission regardless of who finds the buyer. Therefore, in the scenario described, the correct understanding is that the seller does not owe a commission since they were able to secure the buyer on their own.