1 Year, Over $200M in Real Estate Transactions / 150 Homes: Why It’s Time to Rethink America’s Real Estate Model

One year ago, TurboHome set out to prove that homebuyers don’t have to choose between full-service support and saving money. The traditional 5–6% commission model has gone unquestioned for decades in the U.S., costing buyers and sellers billions every year. But times are changing.

In our first year, TurboHome has helped clients purchase 150 homes ($200M). During that time, TurboHome has given back $5M in total commission rebates. These results show that the U.S. needs a new approach: one where buyers get expert representation without paying a percentage-based tax on their dreams.

Why America’s Commission Model Needs to Change

For decades, commissions have been tied to a percentage of the home’s price, regardless of how much work was actually involved. That means agents on a $700,000 home and a $7 million home can walk away with wildly different paychecks, even if the services provided were nearly identical. 

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The latest TurboHome–ResiClub Housing Sentiment Survey highlights this reality: 73% of homeowners said they located their most recent property themselves, while only 27% credited their real estate agent. If buyers are doing most of the heavy lifting, why should they still be locked into paying agents a percentage of the home’s price?

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That’s why flat-fee pricing is the future. Instead of taking 2.5–3% of a home’s price, our clients pay a transparent flat fee:

• Sellers net more from each transaction.
• Buyers keep more of their budget intact.
• The process stays focused on expertise and outcomes, not inflated commission checks.
  
  

Savings that win in Competitive Deals. 

A TurboHome client purchased a $1.7M home in Torrance and saved over ~$40K in commission with our flat-fee model (but the savings were only part of the story). The way their offer was structured made it stand out from the 13 other offers on the table.

Here’s how Kevin, their TurboHome agent, made it happen:

The seller received 13 offers and sent a Multiple Counter Offer to everyone. The listing agent was candid: “We are past $1.7 million, so if you want to be competitive, that’s where you need to be. Kevin restructured the buyer’s offer to win: instead of asking the seller to cover a full commission, the offer came in at $1,725,000 with only TurboHome’s flat fee requested. That one adjustment netted the seller an additional ~$30K compared to competing offers and gave our buyer the edge they needed to win.

Even after securing the home, Kevin continued to negotiate on his client’s behalf. A termite report and roof inspection revealed issues, which resulted in a price reduction to cover the repairs—proving that expert representation doesn’t end when the offer is accepted.

Result: full service, full savings, and a winning offer in one of the toughest multiple-offer scenarios.

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What Buyers Really Want

Our first year revealed a clear message from buyers across the country: they want transparency, speed, and savings.

• Clear fees: Buyer’s agents don’t work for free. They usually just hide a surprise 2.5% or 3% charge in the deal. TurboHome is upfront about our fee.
• Smarter tools: AI-driven comps, risk reviews, and instant disclosures help them move quickly and safely.
• Fair representation: Agents who are salaried, focused on their goals—not chasing higher commissions.
  
  

This aligns with broader shifts in consumer behavior: more buyers are self-directing searches online, negotiating fees, and demanding accountability from their agents.

The Future of Homebuying

The U.S. real estate industry is evolving. The NAR settlement has made commission structures more transparent and negotiable, but buyers and sellers are still paying billions each year in unnecessary fees.

TurboHome’s first year proves there’s a better way. With $200M in transactions and 150 homes closed in just Texas and California alone, we’ve shown that buyers don’t need to overpay for expert service. Instead, they can combine the power of AI-driven tools, local expertise, and flat-fee pricing to win homes with confidence.

The takeaway is clear: America’s real estate model should change, because when buyers win, everyone wins.

👉 Ready to see how TurboHome is reshaping real estate? Talk to our team today at TurboHome.com.