Buyer Agent Commission Rebate
in San Diego County. Paid as a closing cost credit.
Buyers often search for a real estate commission rebate in San Diego County, and the question behind it is simple: where does the seller's offered compensation go? With a flat fee of $7,250 or $9,250, the portion above the fee can be applied as a buyer closing cost credit, with full representation throughout.
Credits depend on the seller's offer, your lender's limits and the purchase contract. Not a guarantee. See disclosures.
Estimate Your Closing Cost Credit
Enter your price and the compensation a seller offers. The estimator subtracts the flat fee and shows the credit, or what you would pay if the offer falls short.
Your credit, line by line
Seller offers vary by home. Check the listing and ask Roman.
The Credit Is What Is Left After the Flat Fee
A percentage-based agent keeps whatever the seller offers. Under a flat fee, the fee is fixed first, and the credit is the amount of the seller's offer above it. A bigger offer helps you. A smaller offer is shown to you in advance.
- Credit = seller offer minus flat fee, never below zero.
- Shortfall = flat fee minus seller offer, paid by you at closing if the offer is smaller.
- Disclosed in writing before you make an offer.
| If the seller offers | Offered amount | Roman's flat fee | Result for you |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seller offers 2.5% | $22,500 | $7,250 | $15,250 credit to you |
| Seller offers 2% | $18,000 | $7,250 | $10,750 credit to you |
| Seller offers 1.5% | $13,500 | $7,250 | $6,250 credit to you |
| Seller offers 1% | $9,000 | $7,250 | $1,750 credit to you |
| No seller-offered compensation | $0 | $7,250 | You pay $7,250 |
Illustration on a $900,000 purchase, where the flat fee is $7,250. Round numbers for illustration only. Credits are subject to lender and loan program limits and to the purchase contract.
Commission Rebate, Buyer Rebate, Closing Credit: One Idea
Home buyers in San Diego County search for this as a commission rebate, a buyer rebate or a realtor rebate to the buyer. In a real transaction the money does not arrive as a check from your agent. It shows up as a closing cost credit on your settlement statement, funded from the buyer agent compensation the seller offered.
Some agents advertise a percentage rebate: they keep a share of the commission and return the rest. A flat fee works the other way around. The fee is set first, and the buyer commission rebate is whatever the seller's offer leaves above it. That is why the amount depends on the seller and on your lender's limits, and why Roman shows you the figures before you offer.
Three Things That Affect Your Credit
- Lender and loan limits. Conventional, FHA, VA and other loans cap the total seller contributions toward closing costs. Your lender sets the limit, and a credit may be reduced to fit it.
- The contract. The credit is written into the purchase agreement, so it should be part of your offer from the start. Roman builds it in with you.
- Price versus credit. Sometimes negotiating a lower purchase price serves you better. We compare both using your numbers.
Tax treatment depends on your situation. Please speak with a CPA or tax professional.
What the Flat Fee Looks Like Across San Diego County
San Diego County spans condos and starter homes to coastal estates. These illustrative prices show how a flat fee compares with a 2.5% buyer agent cost.
| Purchase price | Buyer agent at 2.5% | Flat fee | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| $600,000 | $15,000 | $7,250 | $7,750 |
| $900,000 | $22,500 | $7,250 | $15,250 |
| $1,200,000 | $30,000 | $7,250 | $22,750 |
| $1,600,000 | $40,000 | $9,250 | $30,750 |
| $2,500,000 | $62,500 | $9,250 | $53,250 |
Illustrative price points, not market medians. See each city page for sourced local pricing. A 2.5% buyer agent cost is used as a common comparison and is not a quote. At roughly $290,000 the flat fee and a 2.5% fee are about equal; below that the flat fee costs more than a 2.5% fee would.
Where the Credit Appears in Your Transaction
Find the offer
Roman checks the listing and the seller's side for the compensation offered on the home you like.
Run the numbers
You see the fee, the offered amount and the resulting credit or shortfall, in writing.
Write the offer
The offer is drafted with the credit or compensation terms included in the contract.
Confirm with lender
Your lender confirms how much seller credit your loan can accept.
See it at closing
The credit appears on your closing disclosure, reducing the cash you bring.
Credit Examples Start With Your City
Seller practices vary across San Diego County. Choose your city for local pricing and a worked example.
North County Coastal
Beach and lagoon communities along the coast, from Oceanside and Carlsbad to Encinitas, with Coaster rail service through the corridor.
North County Inland
Escondido, San Marcos and Vista, linked by State Route 78 and the Sprinter rail line.
The City of San Diego
The county's largest city, from downtown and the coast to the northern suburbs and the South Bay border.
South Bay and East County
Chula Vista in the South Bay, and La Mesa and El Cajon in the East County valleys.
What Clients Say
Roman's dedication and guidance were instrumental in the purchase of my first home. Given the complexity of my transaction, having him on my side as an advocate was invaluable.
We highly recommend choosing Roman as your realtor, he helped us buy our home! Being first time home buyers, we heavily relied on his guidance and expertise.
I've been buying and selling with Roman over the past 7 years. He helped me buy my first condo in Van Nuys, sold that condo, and helped me buy a new home in Lake Balboa. His great!
I had an exceptional experience working with Roman Doktorovich for my home selling and buying process. His extensive knowledge of the real estate market was evident.
I have known Roman for almost 20 years. I have been referring clients who wish to buy or sell in the Greater Los Angeles area to Roman. So far all have been happy.
Rebate and Commission Resources
Commission Rebate and Closing Credit: Common Questions
Is a buyer agent commission rebate legal in California?
What do you call it if it is not a rebate?
What is a realtor rebate to the buyer in San Diego County?
How is my credit calculated?
What if the seller offers less than the flat fee?
Can I get a credit on a home bought off-market or from a builder?
Is it better than negotiating a lower price?
Is the credit taxable?
See Your Credit Before You Write an Offer.
Send Roman your target price and area. He will confirm the flat fee, check the seller offers on homes you like and show you the numbers in writing.
Important Disclosures
Roman Doktorovich, DRE #01441969, is a licensed California real estate agent with Real Brokerage Technologies Inc. (Lic #02022092). Buyer agent compensation is not set by law and is fully negotiable. Roman's flat fee is $7,250 for homes under $1,500,000 and $9,250 for homes at $1,500,000 and above, and is stated in a written buyer representation agreement before any property is shown.
Whether a seller offers to pay any portion of a buyer's agent compensation is determined by the seller and negotiated in each transaction. If a seller offers more than the flat fee, the excess may be applied as a credit toward your closing costs, subject to your lender's and loan program's limits on seller credits and to the purchase contract. If a seller offers less than the flat fee, or nothing, you pay the difference directly. Roman will confirm the figures with you in writing before you submit an offer.
All examples are illustrative, use round numbers, and are not a quote, a guarantee or a prediction of any transaction. They are not legal, tax or financial advice. Consult your lender about credit limits and a tax professional about the tax treatment of any credit.