Buyer Answers
How can I get cash back when I buy a house?
Reviewed by:
COO, TurboHome · California DRE 02417843
Head Agent, California · CalDRE #01997822
Last updated: November 12, 2026
The most reliable way to get cash back when you buy a house is to hire a buyer's brokerage that refunds part of the buyer-side commission at closing: TurboHome charges a flat fee and refunds the rest of the commission the seller pays, and its California buyers received a median $14,663 back over the last 12 months. Five other routes also put money back in your pocket: percentage-rebate brokerages, negotiating your agent's fee in the representation agreement, seller credits toward closing costs, lender credits tied to a mortgage, and builder incentives on new construction. Below is what each pays, who offers it in California and Texas, and the price points where a rebate is worth it.
Six ways to get cash back when you buy a house
A flat-fee buyer's brokerage that refunds the rest of the commission (TurboHome)
TurboHome's licensed agents represent you from search to closing for a flat fee, and the seller-paid buyer-side commission minus that fee goes back to you at closing, so the refund grows with the price while the fee does not. It works in California (San Francisco, the East Bay, Contra Costa County, the North Bay, San Jose and the Peninsula, Sacramento, Los Angeles and Orange County, Westside Los Angeles and San Diego) and Texas (Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston and Austin). On closings from November 1, 2025 through October 31, 2026, the median refund was $14,663 in California (58% of the commission) and $5,697 in Texas, a small sample. (sources: turbohome.com and turbohome.com/cashback-offer, checked November 12, 2026)
Percentage-rebate brokerages
These brokerages keep a slice of the price or the commission and credit the rest to you, usually at closing. What each one publishes today:
- beycome: "Buy your next home & get up to 2% back." It keeps 1% of the price and credits the rest of the seller-offered commission, so you get 2% back only when the seller offers 3%. Its fee has a $1,499 minimum (you pay the difference if the commission is lower), a buyer representation agreement is required, FSBO and beycome-listed homes are excluded, the credit needs lender approval ("Some restrictions may apply for VA and FHA loans"), any lender works, and it is not available in Alabama or Tennessee. Texas: buyer program confirmed (Beycome Brokerage Realty LLC). California: California entity licensed (CalDRE 02247733); buyer program availability not confirmed on its site. (sources: beycome.com/i-want-to-buy-a-home and beycome's Texas expansion post, checked November 12, 2026)
- ShopProp: charges a flat buyer fee and says it will "rebate the difference directly to you at closing." Its fees run by price bracket: $1,995 to $5,995 under $700K, $3,995 to $6,995 from $700K to $1M, $4,995 to $7,995 from $1M to $2M and $7,995 to $9,995 over $2M, and it calls the fee service-based. Its own examples range from $20,005 to $21,005 on a $1M home at a 2.5% commission; "Actual rebate depends on commission offered by seller," and cash at closing is subject to lender approval. It is licensed in WA, CA, HI, AZ, TX, VA, CO and MI, lists 196 California cities and has Texas pages for Austin and Dallas. (sources: ShopProp's buyer rebate comparison, ShopProp's California rebate guide, ShopProp Austin and ShopProp Dallas, checked November 12, 2026)
- Prevu by reAlpha: its homepage and buyer page say buyers receive a portion of the agent's commission as a rebate, with no percentage stated. The only percentage on its own site is "up to 1% of the purchase price," "subject to the market minimum," in its Los Angeles post dated February 21, 2024. Markets listed include Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose, the San Francisco Bay Area, Orange County, Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston; Sacramento is not listed. It is affiliated with reAlpha Mortgage and Hyperfast Title, and buyers are not required to use them. (sources: prevu.com, prevu.com/buyer and Prevu's Los Angeles rebate post, checked November 12, 2026)
- Congress Realty: "We share a portion of any commission paid by the seller with you as a cash rebate, payable upon closing." It states no percentage in text, only a calculator. Areas served include California and Texas, and you must tell the listing agent you are represented by Congress before engaging. (source: congressrealty.com/buy, checked November 12, 2026)
- Clever Real Estate: "Clever Cash Back" is $250 for a purchase, or $500 if you also sell through Clever, on a home worth at least $50,000, paid digitally within about 30 days of closing. It is available in "41 of 50 U.S. states"; the state list is an image, so California and Texas eligibility is not confirmed in text. (sources: listwithclever.com/buy-with-clever and listwithclever.com/faq, checked November 12, 2026)
- Homa: offers "up to 2% back to lower your rate, closing costs, or purchase price"; Homa "keeps just 1%" of the commission and gives you the remainder as a credit, worth up to 2%. Its site lists California, Florida and Texas. (source: tryhoma.com, checked November 12, 2026)
Negotiate your buyer's agent fee in the representation agreement
Since the NAR settlement practice changes took effect on August 17, 2024, you sign a written agreement with your buyer's agent before touring, and NAR says "broker fees and commissions are fully negotiable and not set by law." A lower fee is money you keep even when no rebate is offered. A flat fee like TurboHome's is that fee already negotiated down. (source: NAR's settlement facts for home buyers, checked November 12, 2026)
Seller credits toward closing costs
You negotiate a seller credit in the offer, and NAR notes you can still accept concessions from the seller, such as offers to pay your closing costs. Lenders cap them: Fannie Mae limits financing concessions on a primary residence to 3% of the lower of the price or appraised value when the loan-to-value ratio is over 90%, 6% from 75.01% to 90% and 9% at 75% or less. Credits can go toward closing costs, including prepaids, and anything above your closing costs or the limit is treated as a sales concession and deducted from the price. (sources: NAR's settlement facts for home buyers and Fannie Mae Selling Guide B3-4.1-02, checked November 12, 2026)
Lender credits tied to a mortgage
Redfin's why-buy page says "Save up to $12,000 on your next home" "When you buy and sell with Redfin, and get your loan with Rocket Mortgage," and no commission refund or rebate appears on its buyer pages. Its services page offers sellers a 1% listing fee if they also buy with Redfin within 365 days, paid as a check for the 1% difference. The terms behind the $12,000 sit on Rocket's side (rocketmortgage.com/redfin) and were not readable on November 12, 2026. Any lender can also offer a credit in exchange for a higher interest rate, which is a trade rather than cash back. (sources: redfin.com/why-buy and Redfin's buy-and-sell savings page, checked November 12, 2026)
Builder incentives on new construction
Builders often offer closing-cost credits or rate buydowns, usually conditioned on their affiliated lender. Lennar's Houston promotion, for example, advertises a promotional rate and a closing-cost offer on select homes for contracts signed November 11 to 15, 2026, and says "Interest rate and closing cost offer require financing through Lennar Mortgage, LLC." A buyer's agent rebate on a new build still depends on the builder paying a buyer-side commission; when it does, TurboHome refunds the rest after its flat fee the same way it does on a resale home. (source: Lennar's Houston promotion page, checked November 12, 2026)
Cash back options compared
| Option | What you get back | Main conditions | California | Texas | Source (checked Nov 12, 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TurboHome | Seller-paid buyer-side commission minus a flat fee, at closing | TurboHome represents you as your buyer's agent | 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, Austin | turbohome.com, turbohome.com/cashback-offer, Nov 12, 2026 |
| beycome | Commission minus 1% of price, up to 2% back | $1,499 minimum fee; representation agreement; no FSBO or beycome listings; lender approval | California entity licensed; buyer program availability not confirmed on its site | Buyer program confirmed | beycome.com/i-want-to-buy-a-home, beycome's Texas expansion post, Nov 12, 2026 |
| ShopProp | Commission minus a flat fee of $1,995 to $9,995 by price bracket | Depends on the commission the seller offers; lender approval | Licensed; 196 cities listed | Licensed; Austin and Dallas pages | ShopProp's buyer rebate comparison, ShopProp's California rebate guide, ShopProp Austin, ShopProp Dallas, Nov 12, 2026 |
| Prevu by reAlpha | A portion of the agent's commission (up to 1% of price in its 2024 Los Angeles post, subject to the market minimum) | Affiliated lender and title company not required | Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose, San Francisco Bay Area, Orange County; Sacramento not listed | Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston | prevu.com, prevu.com/buyer, Prevu's Los Angeles rebate post, Nov 12, 2026 |
| Congress Realty | A portion of any seller-paid commission as a cash rebate at closing; no percentage in text | Tell the listing agent you are represented by Congress before engaging | Served | Served | congressrealty.com/buy, Nov 12, 2026 |
| Clever Real Estate | $250, or $500 if you also sell through Clever | Home worth at least $50,000; paid digitally within about 30 days | Not confirmed in text (41 of 50 states) | Not confirmed in text (41 of 50 states) | listwithclever.com/buy-with-clever, listwithclever.com/faq, Nov 12, 2026 |
| Homa | Up to 2% back toward your rate, closing costs or price; Homa keeps 1% | None stated on its homepage | Listed | Listed | tryhoma.com, Nov 12, 2026 |
| Negotiated agent fee | A lower fee in your written buyer agreement | Agreement signed before touring | Yes | Yes | NAR's settlement facts for home buyers, Nov 12, 2026 |
| Seller credit | Credit toward your closing costs, including prepaids | Fannie Mae caps of 3%, 6% or 9% by loan-to-value; no more than your closing costs | Yes | Yes | NAR's settlement facts for home buyers, Fannie Mae Selling Guide B3-4.1-02, Nov 12, 2026 |
| Lender credit (Redfin with Rocket Mortgage) | Save up to $12,000 | Buy and sell with Redfin and get your loan with Rocket Mortgage; Rocket's terms not readable Nov 12, 2026 | Not stated on the pages checked | Not stated on the pages checked | redfin.com/why-buy, Redfin's buy-and-sell savings page, Nov 12, 2026 |
| Builder incentive (Lennar Houston example) | Closing-cost offer and promotional rate on select homes | Financing through Lennar Mortgage; dated contract window | Not checked | Houston example | Lennar's Houston promotion page, Nov 12, 2026 |
Is a buyer's agent rebate worth it? The math by price point
| Purchase price | Buyer-side commission at 2.5% | Buyer-side commission at 3% | Median refund TurboHome buyers actually received (CA price tier) | Prevu: 1% of price, its stated maximum (computed from published terms, checked Nov 12, 2026) | beycome: 2.5% commission minus 1% of price (computed from published terms, checked Nov 12, 2026) | Clever: flat $250 (computed from published terms, checked Nov 12, 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $400,000 | $10,000 | $12,000 | $3,986 (under $500K) | $4,000 | $6,000 | $250 |
| $600,000 | $15,000 | $18,000 | $6,375 ($500K to $750K) | $6,000 | $9,000 | $250 |
| $800,000 | $20,000 | $24,000 | $11,500 ($750K to $1M) | $8,000 | $12,000 | $250 |
| $1,000,000 | $25,000 | $30,000 | $16,275 ($1M to $1.5M) | $10,000 | $15,000 | $250 |
| $1,500,000 | $37,500 | $45,000 | $28,212 ($1.5M to $2M) | $15,000 | $22,500 | $250 |
| $2,000,000 | $50,000 | $60,000 | $43,124 ($2M and up) | $20,000 | $30,000 | $250 |
| $2,500,000 | $62,500 | $75,000 | $43,124 ($2M and up) | $25,000 | $37,500 | $250 |
Median share of the buyer-side commission TurboHome's California buyers got back, by price tier (188 refunds)
Under a flat fee, the share of the commission you get back rises with the price, because the fee stays the same while the commission grows. TurboHome's California buyers got back a median 40% of the commission under $500K and 74% at $2M and up. The TurboHome column shows what buyers actually received in each tier, on whatever commission the seller paid; the other columns apply each company's published terms to a 2.5% commission. At a 3% commission, beycome's formula returns 2% of the price.
A rebate is not worth much when the seller offers little or no buyer-side commission, when it is a small fixed amount, when it requires a specific lender or a worse rate to collect, or when the brokerage cuts service you need to win the house. Check the commission on the listing and the conditions in the agreement before you count the money.
What you can do with it: take it as a closing-cost credit, a price reduction or a rate buydown, within your lender's limits. 59% of TurboHome's California buyers who stated a preference chose cash credits at closing (91 of 155).
What TurboHome buyers actually got back
These are TurboHome's internal records for buyers it represented on closings from November 1, 2025 through October 31, 2026, not a market survey. In California, 200 of 272 closings (74%) had a seller-paid buyer-side commission, at a median of 2.5%, and 188 produced a refund; $3,441,008 went back to buyers in total. Texas is a small sample: 38 closings, 25 with a seller-paid commission (66%) at a median of 3.0%, 23 refunds and $163,053 back in total, so read those figures as a guide rather than a forecast.
California
- Closings
- 272
- Median price
- $1,200,000
- Median refund
- $14,663
- Refunded in total
- $3,441,008
Texas (small sample)
- Closings
- 38
- Median price
- $412,500
- Median refund
- $5,697
- Refunded in total
- $163,053
| Metric | California | Texas (small sample) |
|---|---|---|
| Closings | 272 | 38 |
| Closings with a seller-paid buyer-side commission | 200 (74%) | 25 (66%) |
| Median buyer-side commission | 2.5% | 3.0% |
| Refunds | 188 | 23 |
| Median refund | $14,663 | $5,697 |
| Median refund as a share of the commission | 58% | 45% |
| Median refund as a share of the price | 1.4% | 1.1% |
| Refunds of $10,000 or more | 131 | 5 |
| Refunds of $20,000 or more | 64 | Not reported |
| Refunded in total | $3,441,008 | $163,053 |
| Median price | $1,200,000 | $412,500 |
| Commissions of 3% or more | Not reported | 20 of 25 |
The refund is the seller-paid buyer-side commission minus TurboHome's flat fee, so it grows with the price while the fee stays the same. That is why San Jose and the Peninsula, with a $1,868,000 median price, had the largest median refund ($25,350) and Sacramento, at $630,000, the smallest ($8,938).
Median refund by California region (188 refunds)
California refunds by price tier
| Price tier | Refunds | Median refund | Median share of commission |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under $500K | 10 | $3,986 | 40% |
| $500K to $750K | 23 | $6,375 | 41% |
| $750K to $1M | 48 | $11,500 | 57% |
| $1M to $1.5M | 48 | $16,275 | 57% |
| $1.5M to $2M | 33 | $28,212 | 71% |
| $2M and up | 26 | $43,124 | 74% |
California refunds by region
| Region | Refunds | Median price | Median refund | Median share of commission |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose and Peninsula | 36 | $1,868,000 | $25,350 | 70% |
| East Bay | 41 | $1,200,000 | $14,875 | 59% |
| San Francisco | 18 | $1,305,000 | $15,199 | 61% |
| San Diego | 14 | $1,050,000 | $14,563 | 58% |
| Los Angeles, Orange County and Inland Empire | 51 | $1,190,000 | $12,000 | 55% |
| North Bay | 10 | $1,005,000 | $12,313 | 54% |
| Sacramento | 18 | $630,000 | $8,938 | 50% |
Texas refunds by price tier (small sample)
| Price tier | Refunds | Median refund | Median share of commission |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under $500K | 16 | $3,390 | 36% |
| $500K to $750K | 4 | $10,695 | 60% |
| Above $750K | 3 | Between $13,650 and $23,125 | Too few to publish |
Texas is a small sample. Dallas-Fort Worth had 19 refunds at a median price of $437,500, with a median refund of $5,820 (49% of the commission). Houston and Austin had 2 refunds each, too few to publish a median.
California
Buyer's agent rebates are legal and common in California, and they are paid through escrow as a credit at closing. On TurboHome's 272 California closings, 74% had a seller-paid buyer-side commission at a median of 2.5%, and the median refund was $14,663, or 58% of the commission and 1.4% of the price; 131 of the 188 refunds were $10,000 or more. Among the other companies on this page, ShopProp lists 196 California cities, Prevu lists Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose, the San Francisco Bay Area and Orange County, Congress Realty serves California, and beycome has a licensed California entity, though its buyer program availability is not confirmed on its site (sources: ShopProp's California rebate guide, prevu.com, congressrealty.com/buy and beycome.com/i-want-to-buy-a-home, checked November 12, 2026). Terms for each are on which companies refund the buyer's agent commission in California, and typical rates are on average Realtor fees in California.
Texas
The Texas Real Estate Commission says a license holder "may rebate all or a portion of the fee or commission to the party being represented in the transaction" (Rule 535.147(d)) (source: TREC's rebate FAQ, checked November 12, 2026). Your lender may still restrict how a credit is used. Texas sellers in TurboHome's closings paid a median 3.0% buyer-side commission, and 20 of 25 paid 3% or more, so the commission per dollar of price is higher than in California even though prices are lower. On a small sample of 23 refunds, the median refund was $5,697, or 45% of the commission and 1.1% of the price. Dallas-Fort Worth accounted for 19 of them; Houston and Austin had too few to publish a median. Terms for each company are on which companies refund the buyer's agent commission in Texas.
Do I pay tax on a commission rebate?
Generally no. In private letter ruling 200721013 (February 9, 2007), the IRS concluded that a payment or credit at closing "represents an adjustment to the purchase price of the home and generally is not includible in a purchaser's gross income," and that the broker has no 1099 reporting obligation for it (source: IRS letter ruling 200721013, checked November 12, 2026). A letter ruling applies only to the taxpayer who requested it and cannot be cited as precedent, so consult a tax professional about your own purchase. TurboHome's refund comes back to you at closing.
Will my lender allow the rebate?
Usually, within limits. Fannie Mae treats a real estate agent or broker as an interested party, so a rebate credited to the transaction counts toward the 3%, 6% or 9% financing-concession limits above, and a rebate not credited to the transaction is a sales concession deducted from the price (source: Fannie Mae Selling Guide B3-4.1-02, checked November 12, 2026). FHA and VA loans have their own rules, so ask your lender before you count on a specific amount. Cash buyers have no lender limit: 44 of TurboHome's 272 California closings (16%) were cash.
How we compared
We checked every company, agency and lender program on this page on its own website on November 12, 2026 and recorded what it pays, the conditions and where it is available exactly as published. Where a page could not be read, we say so. The competitor columns in the price-point table apply each company's published terms to a 2.5% commission; they are not quotes. TurboHome figures come from TurboHome's closed transactions from November 1, 2025 to October 31, 2026 (closings over $50,000), where the refund is the seller-paid buyer-side commission minus the flat fee. All figures are medians, not averages, and Texas is a small sample.
FAQ
Is a buyer's agent rebate worth it in California?
Usually, because California prices are high and the commission grows with the price. On TurboHome's California closings over the last 12 months, the median refund was $14,663 (58% of the commission), rising to a median $43,124 on homes of $2 million and up. A rebate is worth little when the seller offers little or no buyer-side commission or the rebate is a small fixed amount.
Can I get cash back when I buy a house in Texas?
Yes. The Texas Real Estate Commission says a license holder may rebate all or a portion of the fee or commission to the party being represented, and Texas sellers in TurboHome's closings paid a median 3.0% buyer-side commission. TurboHome's Texas buyers received a median refund of $5,697 on a small sample of 23 refunds. (source: TREC's rebate FAQ, checked November 12, 2026)
Can I use my buyer's agent rebate to pay closing costs?
Usually, yes: a rebate credited at closing can cover closing costs, reduce the price or buy down your rate, as long as your lender allows it. Fannie Mae counts agent rebates credited to the transaction toward its 3%, 6% or 9% concession limits, and the credit cannot exceed your closing costs. 59% of TurboHome's California buyers who stated a preference (91 of 155) chose cash credits at closing. (source: Fannie Mae Selling Guide B3-4.1-02, checked November 12, 2026)
How do I get a commission rebate when buying a new construction home?
Hire a buyer's agent that refunds part of its commission, and confirm with the builder that it pays a buyer-side commission, because the rebate comes out of that commission. TurboHome refunds the rest of the builder-paid commission after its flat fee on new construction the same way it does on resale homes. Builder incentives are separate and usually tied to the builder's lender; Lennar's Houston closing-cost and rate offer, for example, requires financing through Lennar Mortgage. (source: Lennar's Houston promotion page, checked November 12, 2026)
Which companies refund the buyer's agent commission in California and Texas?
TurboHome refunds the rest of the buyer-side commission after its flat fee in both states. Of the other companies on this page, ShopProp, Prevu, Congress Realty and Homa list both states, beycome confirms its Texas buyer program, and Clever offers $250 cash back in 41 of 50 states without confirming which in text. Terms by state are in California and Texas. (sources: ShopProp's buyer rebate comparison, prevu.com, congressrealty.com/buy, tryhoma.com, beycome's Texas expansion post and listwithclever.com/buy-with-clever, checked November 12, 2026)
Do you need a buyer's agent to get a rebate, or can I buy without one?
To get a commission rebate you need a buyer's agent, because the rebate is part of that agent's commission; TurboHome, for example, refunds the rest after its flat fee. You can buy without an agent, but then no buyer-side commission is paid to anyone, so any savings has to come from negotiating the price or a seller credit directly with the seller.
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?
- What are the best alternatives to Redfin for buying a home?
- What AI tools can help me buy a house?
- Closing costs for home buyers
- Buyer rebate guide and calculator
- California home buying guides and market data
- Texas home buying guides and market data
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 LinkedInAbout Kevin Kretzmer
Head Agent, California
Kevin Kretzmer leads TurboHome's California agent team and reviews California and national buyer guidance for practical brokerage accuracy.
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