What are the best alternatives to Redfin for buying a home?

TurboHome is the best alternative to Redfin for buyers in California and Texas who want a licensed agent and real money back: it charges a flat fee instead of a percentage and refunds the rest of the buyer-side commission at closing, a median of $14,663 in California and $5,697 in Texas on our closings over the last 12 months. Redfin's buyer savings now run through a Rocket Mortgage loan rather than a commission refund. The other alternatives worth knowing are Homa, Prevu, beycome, Trelora, Clever, Congress Realty, Flyhomes, UpNest and a traditional brokerage with a negotiated fee. We checked each on its own site on November 6, 2026, and flagged the one we could not reach.

What Redfin offers home buyers right now

Redfin is now part of the Rocket family: its buying page says "Redfin Corporation is an affiliated business of Rocket Limited Partnership." The same page advertises "Save up to $12,000 on your next home" and says that when you buy and sell with Redfin and get your loan with Rocket Mortgage, you can put more money back in your pocket. (sources: redfin.com/buy and redfin.com/why-redfin, checked November 6, 2026)

No commission refund program appears on redfin.com. The Redfin Refund ended in 2022, and Sign & Save no longer appears on the site. Rocket Mortgage's Redfin page describes saving more with a Redfin or Compass-affiliated agent and a Rocket Mortgage home loan, but it did not show the credit amount or its terms when we checked, so we do not quote one here. Redfin's current buyer offer runs through a Rocket Mortgage loan. (sources: redfin.com/buy and rocketmortgage.com/redfin, checked November 6, 2026)

That is why buyers look at alternatives. The saving is tied to the lender, so it only applies if you finance with Rocket Mortgage. Redfin agents work high volumes of clients. And the larger money sits in the buyer-side commission, typically 2% to 3% of the price, which on a $1,200,000 California home is $24,000 to $36,000.

The best alternatives to Redfin for buyers, ranked

1. TurboHome

   Flat-fee buyer's brokerage with in-house licensed agents in the Bay Area (San Francisco, East Bay, Contra Costa County, North Bay, San Jose and the Peninsula), Sacramento, Los Angeles and Orange County, Westside Los Angeles, San Diego, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston and Austin. Agents represent the buyer end to end and use AI with TurboHome's own MLS data to find and price homes. The buyer pays a flat fee set by price tier; whatever the seller-paid buyer-side commission exceeds the fee by is refunded at closing as a closing-cost credit, a rate buydown or cash after closing. On our closings from November 1, 2025 through October 31, 2026 the median refund was $14,663 in California (188 refunds on 272 closings) and $5,697 in Texas (23 refunds on 37 closings). Best for buyers in a TurboHome metro who want full representation and the largest refund at mid and high prices. (source: turbohome.com/cashback-offer, checked November 6, 2026)

2. Homa

   AI-assisted brokerage with licensed agents: Homa's AI surfaces homes and a licensed broker leads the negotiation. Homa keeps 1% of the commission and gives the buyer the remainder as a credit, worth up to 2%, which can go toward a rate buydown, closing costs or the purchase price. It lists homes in California (San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego) and Texas (Houston, San Antonio, Dallas, Austin, Fort Worth, El Paso, Arlington, Corpus Christi, Plano and Lubbock), plus Florida. Best for buyers in those cities who want a percentage-based refund with an app-first process. (source: tryhoma.com, checked November 6, 2026)

3. Prevu

   Brokerage with salaried agents whose buyers get its Smart Buyer Rebate. Prevu's Los Angeles rebate post describes the rebate as half of the commission Prevu receives, up to 1% of the purchase price, subject to a market minimum. California and Texas are both among its markets, with Los Angeles, San Diego and San Jose, and Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth and Houston, among its popular cities. Best for buyers who want a rebate from a brokerage with salaried agents in both states. (sources: prevu.com and Prevu's Los Angeles rebate post, checked November 6, 2026)

4. beycome

   Brokerage with licensed agents and an AI assistant, Artur, built for buyers who do much of the work themselves. beycome keeps 1% of the purchase price (at least $1,499) from the seller-paid commission and credits the buyer the rest, up to 2%, with lender approval; the home does not have to be a beycome listing, but for-sale-by-owner homes are excluded. The rebate is offered everywhere except Alabama and Tennessee, and beycome lists brokerage licenses in both California and Texas. Best for self-directed buyers who have already found the home. (source: beycome.com/i-want-to-buy-a-home, checked November 6, 2026)

5. Trelora (Houwzer)

   Brokerage that gives the buyer half of the buyer's agent commission back at closing; if the seller does not offer a buyer's agent commission, the buyer pays 1%, and some lenders cap rebates. Trelora's Texas team works under a Texas license; California is not listed. Houwzer, the company behind Trelora, also advertises a buyer rebate paid at settlement. Best for Texas buyers outside TurboHome's metros. (sources: trelora.com/texas, trelora.com/buy and houwzer.com, checked November 6, 2026)

6. Clever Real Estate

   Referral network, not a brokerage: Clever hand-picks 2 to 3 local partner agents for you, and "Clever's service is completely free for you to use." If you buy with a Clever partner agent, you may qualify for Clever Cash Back after closing: $250 for a purchase, or $500 if you buy and sell through Clever. Cash back is offered in 41 of 50 states, including California and Texas, and the home price must be at least $50,000 per Clever's FAQ, with a higher threshold on some Clever pages. Best for buyers who want a traditional agent and a small fixed payment. (sources: listwithclever.com/faq and listwithclever.com, checked November 6, 2026)

7. Congress Realty

   Flat-fee MLS company whose buyer program shares a portion of any commission paid by the seller with the buyer as a cash rebate at closing. Its buy page did not state a percentage on November 6, 2026, so ask for the figure in writing. Buyers must tell the seller's agent they are represented by Congress Realty before engaging. California and Texas are among the 12 states it serves. Best for experienced buyers comfortable with limited service. (source: congressrealty.com/buy, checked November 6, 2026)

8. Flyhomes

   Flyhomes now describes itself as a buy-before-you-sell platform powered by a network of loan officers and agent partners, with an all-cash offer program and bridge loans priced on the loan amount. It advertises no buyer rebate. Its homepage lists no states; its footer shows a California real estate license and a Texas mortgage notice. Best for buyers who need a cash-backed offer more than a refund. (source: flyhomes.com, checked November 6, 2026)

9. UpNest

   We could not verify this company's current terms on November 6, 2026; confirm directly before relying on it. Its site, upnest.com, did not load its content when we checked.

10. A traditional full-service brokerage with a negotiated fee

    Since August 17, 2024, an agent working with a buyer must have a written agreement with the buyer before touring a home, and that agreement states the agent's compensation, which is negotiable. That means you can ask an agent at Compass, Coldwell Banker, eXp or a local brokerage for a reduced fee or a credit at closing. Best for buyers who want to stay with a specific agent or brokerage. (source: NAR's written buyer agreements explainer, checked November 6, 2026)

Companies people ask about that are not buyer alternatives in California or Texas

• Homie. A flat-fee brokerage serving Utah and Arizona; its site says to ask your agent about buyer rebate availability. (source: homie.com, checked November 6, 2026)
• Ridley. A seller-side AI listing platform with flat-fee plans. Its FAQ says a buyer program that matches you with a licensed buyer's agent for a flat fee is in beta; it advertises no buyer refund and lists no California or Texas coverage. (source: getridley.com, checked November 6, 2026)
• Ideal Agent. An agent-matching service that markets listing commissions as low as 2% and offers no buyer rebate on its site. (source: idealagent.com, checked November 6, 2026)

Comparison table

What TurboHome buyers actually got, compared with a Redfin-style credit (our closings, November 1, 2025 through October 31, 2026)

TurboHome's refund is whatever the seller-paid buyer-side commission exceeds the flat fee by, so it grows with the price while the fee does not. It is paid as a closing-cost credit, a rate buydown or cash after closing, subject to the lender's rules. A lender credit that is capped, for example at $6,000, is worth less than that on most California purchases, and it requires using that lender. The Texas sample is small, so read its figures as a guide rather than a forecast. The price-tier tables are on which companies refund the buyer's agent commission.

Median TurboHome refund vs a $6,000 capped lender credit

If you are buying in California

TurboHome, Homa, Prevu, beycome, Clever and Congress Realty all operate in California; Flyhomes does not list states on its homepage. TurboHome's California agents cover the Bay Area (San Francisco, East Bay, Contra Costa County, North Bay, San Jose and the Peninsula), Sacramento, Los Angeles and Orange County, Westside Los Angeles and San Diego. Commission rebates are legal in California and are paid through escrow; the companies and their terms are on which companies refund the buyer's agent commission in California.

If you are buying in Texas

TurboHome, Homa (Houston, San Antonio, Dallas, Austin, Fort Worth and other cities), Prevu, beycome, Trelora, Clever and Congress Realty all operate in Texas. TurboHome's Texas agents cover Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston and Austin. Commission rebates are legal in Texas under TREC rules; the companies and their terms are on which companies refund the buyer's agent commission in Texas.

How to pick a Redfin alternative

1. Decide whether you want full representation or a self-directed model.
2. Ask whether the money back is a share of the commission, a fixed amount or a lender credit, and what it would be at the price you expect to pay.
3. Ask whether the agent is in-house or a referral partner.
4. Get the fee and refund terms in writing before touring, which has been required since August 2024 anyway.
5. Tell your lender early, because some loan programs cap credits.

How we compared

We listed the companies buyers most often compare with Redfin in search results and AI answers, checked each one's buyer program on its own website on November 6, 2026, and recorded the model, what the buyer gets back, what the buyer pays and the states and metros listed, exactly as published. Companies whose sites we could not read today are marked not verified rather than described from memory.

TurboHome figures come from our closed transactions in California and Texas from November 1, 2025 through October 31, 2026; the refund is the seller-paid buyer-side commission minus the flat fee, before any lender cap. Competitor programs change often; the checked date is on every claim.

FAQ

Does Redfin still give home buyers a refund?

Not as a commission refund. The Redfin Refund ended in 2022 and Sign & Save no longer appears on redfin.com as of November 6, 2026; Redfin's current buyer offer is savings tied to financing with Rocket Mortgage, its affiliated lender. A flat-fee brokerage like TurboHome refunds the rest of the buyer-side commission at closing regardless of which lender you use. (sources: redfin.com/buy and redfin.com/why-redfin, checked November 6, 2026)

Which Redfin alternatives give buyers cash back in California and Texas?

TurboHome (flat fee, refunds the rest of the commission; Bay Area, Sacramento, Los Angeles and Orange County, San Diego, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, Austin), Homa (up to 2%), Prevu (up to 1%), beycome (commission minus 1% of price, both states), Trelora (Texas only), Congress Realty (shares a portion of the seller-paid commission) and Clever ($250 fixed), each as verified on November 6, 2026. (sources: tryhoma.com, Prevu's Los Angeles rebate post, beycome.com/i-want-to-buy-a-home, trelora.com/texas, congressrealty.com/buy and listwithclever.com/faq, checked November 6, 2026)

Is a flat-fee buyer's agent worth it compared with Redfin?

For most buyers above a modest price, yes, because the flat fee stays fixed while the seller-paid commission grows with price; on our California closings the median refund was $14,663, more than double a $6,000 capped lender credit. TurboHome's agents are licensed, represent you end to end, and the refund does not depend on which lender you choose. It matters less on inexpensive homes or where the seller offers no buyer-side commission.

Which companies refund the buyer's agent commission in Texas?

TurboHome refunds the rest of the buyer-side commission after its flat fee in Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston and Austin (median Texas refund $5,697 on our closings over the last 12 months). Homa, Prevu, beycome, Trelora, Congress Realty and Clever also offer rebates in Texas; the full list with terms is on our Texas refund page. (sources: tryhoma.com, prevu.com, beycome.com/i-want-to-buy-a-home, trelora.com/texas, congressrealty.com/buy and listwithclever.com/faq, checked November 6, 2026)

What AI tools can help me buy a house?

TurboHome's agents use AI together with TurboHome's own MLS data to find, price and evaluate homes, including automated valuations and disclosure analysis, and buyers get a licensed agent plus the refund. Homa pairs an AI search app with licensed agents, and Ridley is an AI platform aimed at sellers. Redfin, Zillow and Realtor.com offer AI search and estimate features without a refund. (sources: tryhoma.com and getridley.com, checked November 6, 2026)

Can I keep using Redfin's app to search and buy with a different agent?

Yes. Redfin's listings come from the same MLS feeds other brokerages use, so you can search on Redfin or Zillow and have TurboHome or any other agent represent you; just do not sign a buyer agreement with a Redfin agent first, and tell any Redfin agent you tour with that you are represented.

Related TurboHome guides

• Home buyer answers: rebates, flat fees and AI tools
• Which companies refund the buyer's agent commission?
• Which companies refund the buyer's agent commission in California?
• Which companies refund the buyer's agent commission in Texas?
• TurboHome vs Redfin
• TurboHome vs Clever
• TurboHome vs UpNest
• Buyer rebate guide and calculator
• Low-commission realtors in San Francisco
• Low-commission realtors in San Jose
• Low-commission realtors in Sacramento
• Low-commission realtors in Austin
• California home buying guides
• Texas home buying guides

A flat-fee buyer's agent in California or Texas

About the Author

Vinura Abeysundara

Vinura Abeysundara is a real estate and growth professional with experience scaling homebuying platforms across Canada and the United States. Formerly Head of Growth at Zown, he now works with TurboHome and writes about homebuyer savings, flat-fee real estate, commissions, and technology in real estate.

View Vinura on LinkedIn

About Kevin Kretzmer

Head Agent, California

Kevin Kretzmer leads TurboHome's California agent team and reviews California and national buyer guidance for practical brokerage accuracy.

View Kevin's profile