Comparing TurboHome and Coldwell Banker for homebuyers
Coldwell Banker is one of the oldest names in American real estate. It started in San Francisco in 1906, the brand now counts more than 93,000 agents in 50 countries, and since January 2026 it has been part of Compass International Holdings. TurboHome is a much smaller brokerage built around one idea: you keep most of the buyer-agent commission. Both give you a licensed agent. They differ on what happens to the commission and on how the office behind your agent is run.
Quick answer
In California and Texas, TurboHome usually returns far more money. At 2.5% buyer-agent compensation, that is about $15,000 on a $1 million home. Coldwell Banker does not publish a buyer rebate or a standard buyer fee.
Coldwell Banker can make sense if you want a long-established local office, or one company to coordinate your mortgage, title, escrow, and insurance.
At a glance
- Who you work withTurboHomeAn employed TurboHome agent in California and Texas. A vetted partner Realtor in other states.Coldwell BankerA Coldwell Banker agent at a company-owned Coldwell Banker Realty office or an affiliated franchise office.
- Money back as a buyerTurboHomeFlat fee, with eligible compensation above it credited to you in CA and TX. 0.5% back with partner agents.Coldwell BankerNo published buyer rebate or standard buyer fee.
- LenderTurboHomeNone required. Use any lender or pay cash.Coldwell BankerNone required. Guaranteed Rate Affinity is its affiliated lender, and using it is optional.
- How offices are runTurboHomeOne brokerage, with employed agents in California and Texas.Coldwell BankerCompany-owned offices in many large metros, plus franchise affiliates that run their own businesses.
- Where it worksTurboHomeNationwide, with in-house agents in California and Texas.Coldwell BankerAcross the US and in 50 countries, with about 9,200 licensees in California and 2,300 in Texas.
How Coldwell Banker works for homebuyers
Coldwell Banker traces its start to San Francisco in 1906, just after the Great Earthquake. The brand reports more than 93,000 agents in 50 countries and, for 2025, more than $246 billion in sales volume across 449,698 U.S. transaction sides. In January 2026, Compass completed its acquisition of Anywhere Real Estate, Coldwell Banker's former parent. Compass says each of its brands will keep operating independently.
Coldwell Banker offices come in two kinds. Coldwell Banker Realty is the company-owned brokerage, and it says it serves more than half of the 100 largest U.S. metros. Many other offices are franchise affiliates, often run by independent broker-owners who use the brand. Compass says those affiliates remain fully in charge of how they run their businesses, so services and policies can vary from one office to the next.
In California, ProfessionLens counts 9,185 licensed salespeople under Coldwell Banker / NRT, the most of any brokerage in the state, plus 2,280 in Texas, based on September 2026 state license data. Coldwell Banker does not publish a buyer rebate or a standard buyer fee. What your agent earns is set in your written buyer agreement and is usually paid from the seller's side.
How TurboHome works for homebuyers
TurboHome is a full-service brokerage built on a simple trade: you get a licensed local agent, and you keep most of the buyer-agent commission. In California and Texas, you work with an employed TurboHome agent, not a freelancer or a referral. TurboHome charges a published flat fee based on the home price and credits eligible compensation above that fee to you at closing as cash back.
Outside California and Texas, TurboHome matches you with a partner Realtor who returns 0.5% of the purchase price at closing where state law allows it. Either way, your cash back does not depend on which lender you use, and it works if you pay cash.
What it's like to buy with Coldwell Banker vs. TurboHome
Day to day, a few differences matter most.
The agent relationship
At Coldwell Banker you pick an agent, and your experience depends on that agent and the office they work under. Coldwell Banker Realty says its agents get continuous coaching, negotiation practice, and ethics and compliance training. Franchise offices are run by their own owners, so ask which kind of office your agent belongs to.
TurboHome buyers in California and Texas work with one employed agent from first tour through closing. Private tours are included at no extra cost, with the listing side's permission, and escrow and closing support are part of the same service.
Mortgage, title, and closing services
Coldwell Banker Realty says it coordinates mortgage pre-approval, title and escrow, home insurance, home warranty, and relocation under one roof. Its affiliated lender, Guaranteed Rate Affinity, offers a PowerBid Approval and a Same Day Mortgage promotion for qualified buyers. Coldwell Banker discloses that it shares ownership with the lender and may benefit from the referral, and that you are not required to use it.
TurboHome's cash back and rebates are available no matter who finances your purchase, or whether you pay cash. TurboHome also offers Cash Advantage, which lets you make offers with the speed and certainty of cash even if you are financing.
Rocket Mortgage and the Compass connection
Rocket Mortgage's purchase offer gives clients of Compass or Compass-affiliated brokerage agents a lender credit of 0.75% of the loan, up to $6,000, or a 1-0 temporary buydown, on conforming retail loans. Jumbo loans get 0.25% of the loan instead, and the offer cannot be combined with other discounts.
Rocket's disclosure does not name Coldwell Banker. If you plan to finance with Rocket, ask Rocket directly whether your Coldwell Banker agent qualifies before you count on the credit. This comparison does not include it in the numbers below.
Where TurboHome and Coldwell Banker are available
Where TurboHome serves homebuyers
TurboHome has employed agents in California and Texas and works with partner Realtors in every other state. Rebates are restricted in eight states.
- TurboHome in-house agents
- TurboHome partner agents, 0.5% back
- Buyer rebates not allowed
Coldwell Banker has company-owned and franchise offices across the US and in 50 countries, so it is not drawn here.
Both companies can connect you with an agent in most of the country. TurboHome's employed agents serve buyers in California and Texas. Everywhere else, you work with a TurboHome partner Realtor, who returns 0.5% at closing where state law allows.
Coldwell Banker Realty, the company-owned brokerage, says it serves more than half of the 100 largest U.S. metros, and franchise affiliates cover many other towns. Because affiliates run their own businesses, ask your local office about its own fees and policies.
In eight states, Alabama, Alaska, Kansas, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Oregon, and Tennessee, buyer commission rebates are banned or restricted, so no brokerage can pay you a rebate there. Iowa allows them under its licensing rules, and Louisiana's Attorney General said in a 2021 opinion that rebates are permitted. See our buyer rebate guide for the rules in each state.
Costs and fees with TurboHome and Coldwell Banker
Buyer-agent compensation is set in your written buyer agreement and is often paid by the seller. Coldwell Banker does not publish a standard buyer fee or rebate, so the commission your Coldwell Banker agent earns is not returned to you.
Some individual agents and offices at any brokerage will negotiate a credit or a lower fee. If a Coldwell Banker agent offers one, get it in writing in your buyer agreement.
TurboHome buyers in California and Texas pay a flat fee instead of a percentage: $5,000 at $500,000 and below, $10,000 through $1 million, $15,000 through $2 million, $20,000 through $3 million, $30,000 through $4 million, $40,000 through $5 million, and $50,000 from $5,000,001 upward. When the seller offers buyer-agent compensation, TurboHome keeps its flat fee and credits the rest to you at closing. The exact amount depends on the price, compensation offered, lender approval, closing instructions, and state law.
In other states, TurboHome partner agents return 0.5% of the purchase price where the money is available and state law allows it.
What buyers get back at today's median prices
Median sale prices load from TurboHome's market data each time this page is served. Click a city for its full housing market report.
- Median prices:
- 3 months ending September 30, 2026
- 30-year rate:
- 7.40% (week of October 15, 2026)
- CaliforniastatewideMedian sale price$752,837Agent compensation at 2.5%$18,821TurboHome cash back (CA and TX)$8,821Coldwell Banker buyer rebateNone published
- TexasstatewideMedian sale price$329,054Agent compensation at 2.5%$8,226TurboHome cash back (CA and TX)$3,226Coldwell Banker buyer rebateNone published
- San FranciscoCAMedian sale price$1,579,248Agent compensation at 2.5%$39,481TurboHome cash back (CA and TX)$24,481Coldwell Banker buyer rebateNone published
- San JoseCAMedian sale price$1,349,357Agent compensation at 2.5%$33,734TurboHome cash back (CA and TX)$18,734Coldwell Banker buyer rebateNone published
- Los AngelesCAMedian sale price$1,032,508Agent compensation at 2.5%$25,813TurboHome cash back (CA and TX)$10,813Coldwell Banker buyer rebateNone published
- San DiegoCAMedian sale price$979,034Agent compensation at 2.5%$24,476TurboHome cash back (CA and TX)$14,476Coldwell Banker buyer rebateNone published
- SacramentoCAMedian sale price$508,258Agent compensation at 2.5%$12,706TurboHome cash back (CA and TX)$2,706Coldwell Banker buyer rebateNone published
- PlanoTXMedian sale price$499,762Agent compensation at 2.5%$12,494TurboHome cash back (CA and TX)$7,494Coldwell Banker buyer rebateNone published
Assumes 2.5% buyer-agent compensation. Coldwell Banker publishes no standard buyer rebate, so its column shows none. Compensation, lender approval, and state law decide the actual amount. Outside California and Texas, TurboHome partner agents return 0.5%.
How much buyers get back
Estimated cash back at four home prices. TurboHome's cash back grows with the price. Coldwell Banker publishes no buyer rebate.
- TurboHome cash back (CA and TX)
- TurboHome partner rebate (0.5%)
- Coldwell Banker published buyer rebate
| Home price | TurboHome cash back (CA and TX) | TurboHome partner rebate (0.5%) | Coldwell Banker published buyer rebate |
|---|---|---|---|
| $500,000 | $7,500 | $2,500 | $0 |
| $800,000 | $10,000 | $4,000 | $0 |
| $1,000,000 | $15,000 | $5,000 | $0 |
| $1,500,000 | $22,500 | $7,500 | $0 |
Assumes 2.5% buyer-agent compensation. Coldwell Banker publishes no standard buyer rebate, so its column shows none. Compensation, lender approval, and state law decide the actual amount.
