We're verifying the current rules with California Department of Real Estate (DRE).
We haven't finished verifying California's current rules on buyer-agent rebates against California Department of Real Estate (DRE), so this page doesn't state a verdict yet. What we can explain is the mechanics: the buyer-agent fee is negotiable, and a lower buyer-agent commission delivers the same dollars a rebate would — with nothing to claim after closing.
| Price | Typical buyer-agent commission (est.) | With a 50% lower fee, you keep | Commission actually charged |
|---|---|---|---|
| US$500,000 | US$12,500 | US$6,250 (≈1.3% of price) | US$6,250 |
| US$800,000 | US$20,000 | US$10,000 (≈1.3% of price) | US$10,000 |
| US$1,200,000 | US$30,000 | US$15,000 (≈1.3% of price) | US$15,000 |
Illustrative: an agent charging 50% less than the estimated commission. This is the number agents on matchclose bid down where the marketplace is open — reductions start at 5% and go up.
Run your own numbers — reductions and rebates alike start at 5% of the buyer-agent commission and agents compete upward.
Your agent collects their full commission, then pays part of it back to you.
Your agent charges less in the first place.
After closing — it arrives as a payment to you.
At closing — the fee is simply smaller.
Keep the terms in your buyer agreement and follow up after close.
Nothing — the number in your agreement is the whole story.
Example: on an $800,000 home at a 2.5% buyer-agent commission ($20,000), a 20% bid is $4,000 to you — the same dollars whether it's taken as a lower commission or as cash back.
Regulator: California Department of Real Estate (DRE)
Don't live the next horror story.
On matchclose, agents compete to represent you — compare every bid and what it saves you, with the bird's-eye view before you commit.
This page is general information, not legal advice. The rules change and depend on your transaction; always confirm with the regulator named above, a licensed agent, and your mortgage lender before relying on a rebate or a fee arrangement.