Is a buyer rebate legal in California?

Yes. California allows a broker to rebate part of their own compensation to their client. It is disclosed to your lender and appears on your closing statement.

Can I take the rebate as cash?

Usually not in full. Most loan programmes apply a credit to your closing costs first and cap what can come back to you as cash. Your lender decides.

What if the seller offers nothing to the buyer's agent?

Then there is no rebate, and you would owe the flat fee at closing — $999 or $4,999 depending on your plan. You never owe more than the fee.

Do I still get a real agent?

Yes. SelfCloze is a licensed California brokerage service, DRE #01993621 under Premier Agency, DRE #02240990. The flat fee is what changes, not the representation.

At closing, out of escrow. Nothing up front, and if you don't buy, you pay nothing.

Buyer Rebate Calculator

When you buy a home the seller usually pays your agent a percentage of the price. SelfCloze charges one flat fee and credits the difference back to you at closing. You pay nothing up front. You get up to $30,000 back.

Example

On an $850,000 home where the seller offers 3%, the buyer-side commission is $25,500. With the $4,999 plan, up to $20,501 could come back to you as a rebate.

Your numbers

Home price$1,000,000

Drag to the price you're shopping at.

Your plan

Up to $25,001 back to you at closing.

Our flat fee$4,999
Back to you$25,001

Seller offers the buyer's agent (3.00%): $30,000
Our flat fee: −$4,999
Credited to you: $25,001

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

*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.

Here's what you can do with the extra money

Down payment20%

Loan amount $800,000.

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 $20,000 in San Diego. Your rebate covers $20,000 of it.

$5,001 would be left over.

Lower your monthly payment

A 2-1 buydown on this loan costs $18,603 and takes $1,025 a month off your payment in year one.

Your rebate covers it, with $6,398 left over.

See the full buydown breakdown

Lower your rate for the whole loan

Spent on points, the rebate buys about 3.13 points — roughly 0.78% lower, for as long as you keep the loan.

6.95% → 6.17%, saving $412 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.

Questions people ask

Is a buyer rebate legal in California?: Yes. California allows a broker to rebate part of their own compensation to their client. It is disclosed to your lender and appears on your closing statement.
Can I take the rebate as cash?: Usually not in full. Most loan programmes apply a credit to your closing costs first and cap what can come back to you as cash. Your lender decides.
What if the seller offers nothing to the buyer's agent?: Then there is no rebate, and you would owe the flat fee at closing — $999 or $4,999 depending on your plan. You never owe more than the fee.
Do I still get a real agent?: Yes. SelfCloze is a licensed California brokerage service, DRE #01993621 under Premier Agency, DRE #02240990. The flat fee is what changes, not the representation.
When do I pay?: At closing, out of escrow. Nothing up front, and if you don't buy, you pay nothing.

Know your rebate? Here's what it buys.

The seller pays your agent a percentage of the price. We keep a flat fee and credit you the rest. Use it to buy your rate down from 7% to as low as 5% and take over $900 off your monthly payment in year one.

See your new payment

What's a temporary buydown? →

Example temporary rate buydown on a $1M San Diego home with 20% down and a 30-year fixed loan at 7%. The lower rate applies to the early years of the loan, and terms vary by lender. Assumes the seller offers 3% to the buyer's agent. Lender approval required. Estimate only, not a guarantee.