Is a buyer rebate legal in California?

Yes. California permits a broker to rebate part of their compensation to their own client, and most states do. It is disclosed on the closing statement and to your lender, which is how it should be — a rebate nobody is told about is the kind that causes problems.

At closing. It appears as a credit on your closing statement, so it reduces what you bring to the table rather than arriving as a cheque weeks later.

Does my lender allow it?

Almost always, with a limit. Most lenders apply a credit to your closing costs first and cap how much can come back to you beyond that, and some programs cap total credits as a share of the price. Your lender has the final say, so tell them early — not the week of closing.

What if the seller doesn't offer buyer-agent pay?

Then there is nothing to rebate from, and we agree the fee with you up front instead. It is also something you can ask for: buyer-agent compensation is negotiable in the offer, the same as price and credits.

Can I take it as cash?

Sometimes, partly. Lenders generally want a credit used against closing costs and prepaid items first, and many will not allow cash back beyond that. Putting it toward a rate buydown is usually the route that keeps the most value.

Buyer Rebate in San Diego: Get Up to $30K Back

When you buy a home in San Diego and Riverside County, the seller usually offers to pay your agent a percentage of the price — commonly about 3%. You never see that money, because it comes off the seller's side at closing.

SelfCloze keeps a flat fee instead — $999 on Offer + Paperwork or $4,999 on Full Service — and credits the difference back to you at closing. Nothing comes out of your pocket, and if you don't buy, there is no fee.

See what you'd get back

*Up to $30K is an estimate on a home priced around $1.03M or more where the seller offers 3% to the buyer's agent, on the $999 plan. Your amount depends on the price, what the seller offers, and your loan. Most lenders apply a credit to closing costs first. Estimates only, not a guarantee.

How much do you get back in San Diego?

The middle row is the median San Diego County sale price ($962,000, Aug 2026) — Riverside prices run lower, so use the calculator below for your own number. All three rows assume the seller offers 3% to the buyer's agent.

Estimated buyer credit at three San Diego and Riverside County purchase prices
Purchase price	Seller offers 3%	Back to you on Offer + Paperwork	Back to you on Full Service
$750,000	$22,500	$21,501	$17,501
$962,000	$28,860	$27,861	$23,861
$1,300,000	$39,000	$38,001	$34,001

Run your own number

Your numbers

Home price$962,000

Drag to the price you're shopping at.

Your plan

Up to $23,861 back to you at closing.

Our flat fee$4,999
Back to you$23,861

Seller offers the buyer's agent (3.00%): $28,860
Our flat fee: −$4,999
Credited to you: $23,861

Most lenders let the rebate go toward closing costs and rate buydowns. Cash back to you is limited. Your lender decides.

Here's what you can do with the extra money

Down payment20%

Loan amount $769,600.

Loan type

Conventional loans cap seller-paid costs at 3% under 10% down, 6% from 10–25%, and 9% above that.

Cover closing costs

Closing costs2.5% of loan

About $19,240 in San Diego. Your rebate covers $19,240 of it.

$4,621 would be left over.

Lower your monthly payment

A 2-1 buydown on this loan costs $17,897 and takes $986 a month off your payment in year one.

Your rebate covers it, with $5,964 left over.

See the full buydown breakdown

Lower your rate for the whole loan

Spent on points, the rebate buys about 3.10 points — roughly 0.78% lower, for as long as you keep the loan.

6.95% → 6.17%, saving $393 a month. Assumes each point lowers the rate about 0.25% — a rough estimate; your lender quotes the real number.

Payments are principal and interest only, at 6.95%. Freddie Mac average, week of 9/17/2026. Your rate will differ.

Flat-fee buyer plan vs. a percentage-rebate brokerage

A flat fee

The brokerage keeps the same amount whatever the price, and the rest of what the seller offered is credited to you. On a more expensive home the fee stays put, so the credit grows with the price.

A percentage rebate

The brokerage keeps a share of what the seller offered and rebates you the remainder, so what they keep rises with the price too. Predictable as a proportion, less so as a number.

Both are legal and both are disclosed. Which leaves you more depends on the price and on what the seller offers, which is what the calculator above is for.

Questions people ask

Is a buyer rebate legal in California?: Yes. California permits a broker to rebate part of their compensation to their own client, and most states do. It is disclosed on the closing statement and to your lender, which is how it should be — a rebate nobody is told about is the kind that causes problems.
When do I get it?: At closing. It appears as a credit on your closing statement, so it reduces what you bring to the table rather than arriving as a cheque weeks later.
Does my lender allow it?: Almost always, with a limit. Most lenders apply a credit to your closing costs first and cap how much can come back to you beyond that, and some programs cap total credits as a share of the price. Your lender has the final say, so tell them early — not the week of closing.
What if the seller doesn't offer buyer-agent pay?: Then there is nothing to rebate from, and we agree the fee with you up front instead. It is also something you can ask for: buyer-agent compensation is negotiable in the offer, the same as price and credits.
Can I take it as cash?: Sometimes, partly. Lenders generally want a credit used against closing costs and prepaid items first, and many will not allow cash back beyond that. Putting it toward a rate buydown is usually the route that keeps the most value.