Every home game is different. Like an earlier poster mentioned, if one doesn't like the rake, s/he doesn't have to play. I host two home games/week, Wed & Sat:

Wed.: 1-2 NL $100 Buy-in, 5% Rake, Max $5. My housekeeper serves food and beverages (I play in this game). Mostly close friends. My HK usually picks up another $20-30 in tips.

Sat: 2-5 NL $1000 Buy-in - 7% Rake, Max $10. about 75% of the time, I have a dealer from Tunica, but if not available, I will deal instead of play. Max 8 seats, and they are always full. My (cute) 24 year old daughter and one of her (very cute) friends serve this game, and everything is first-rate. The girls always do well, as does the dealer. This game ends at 4 AM, and we will take new players (should someone bust out) until 1 AM. I ALWAYS have a wait list.

The Wed. game is going on 5 years, and the Sat game 3 1/2, so the players must not have a problem w/the rake. Our county sheriff plays in the Sat. game, so I don't sweat it too much. Thank goodness my home is well off the beaten path! Don't think this would go over well in a neighborhood