On most transactions, there is usually a
listing agent and a selling agent. The selling agent is
sometimes referred to in media as the buyer's agent, because
he works on the buyer's behalf and it easier than explaining
each time that the "selling agent" is not the listing agent
and is actually the buyer's agent.
However...
There are some agents that market
themselves as "buyer's agents," "exclusive buyer's agents,"
buyer's representatives," and so on. Mostly it is just
marketing. At the same time, part of it is because they want
to accentuate the reasons a buyer should not
go directly to the listing agent when they purchase real
estate. This has to do with agency.
See, if a buyer goes directly to the
listing agent, they are dealing with an agent that has
conflicting responsibilities. Their job is to get a good price
for the seller and they may not zealously represent the
interests of the buyer. Those who market themselves as
"Buyer's Agents" indicate they are only working for the buyer
in a real estate transaction.
The commission is still paid by the seller,
no matter what they say in their marketing (with extremely
rare exceptions). They either get paid directly by the seller
or set up the transaction so that the seller provides a
"credit" to the buyer for how much the real estate commission
is -- then the buyer pays the commission.
Like a Realtor I once knew said, "No matter
how it is set up, the buyer still walks away with the house
and the seller still walks away with 94% of the purchase
price."