Home Buyer Rebate FAQ's
Is the commission rebate amount you offer negotiable?
No, our rebate amount is not negotiable.
How are you able to offer a commission rebate?
By being efficient through technology and only working with home buyers who can be pre-approved for a mortgage, know what they want and where they want to live and who are ready to make an offer.
Am I required to disclose that I am receiving a rebate?
Yes, the law requires disclosure of the rebate to all parties (lender, seller, attorney, etc.) involved in the transaction. It is extremely important to discuss the rebate with your lender ASAP and make sure that the rebate amount being offered will not be an issue for your loan approval.
Do I have to sign an agreement to work with you?
Yes. A Buyer's Brokerage Agreement is required by law in order to receive a commission contribution from me. The agreement provides protection to all parties by spelling out the terms of the arrangement and the agency relationship in the transaction. However, if either of us decide we're not a good fit, we can cancel the agreement (in writing) and move on.
Is there a minimum purchase price required to receive the rebate?
No, but the minimum fee for our service is $5000 regardless of the commission being offered.
Can I get a rebate on luxury new home construction?
Absolutely. I've sold many luxury properties and new homes over the years and because of this have achieved the coveted CLHMS Guild designation along with the New Home Co-Broker designation. This places me in the unique position of being able to provide insight into this market and I can provide actual guidance unlike other agents who don't have this experience or worse who aren't even located in Georgia.
Can you help me sell my current home?
Yes and because I live in North Atlanta, I can provide full service marketing and in-person guidance at a lower cost. Contact me to learn more.
What's the difference between a pre-qualification and a pre-approval from the lender?
Unlike pre-qualification, a pre-approval is a more specific estimate of what you could borrow from your lender and requires documents such as your W2, recent pay stubs, bank statements and tax returns. The lender will then use these documents to determine exactly how much you can be preapproved to borrow. We work with buyers who can provide a pre-approval letter from their lender.
Can I use your rebate program to buy a new home as an investment property?
Yes but whether you are allowed to rent the property is subject to the new home community you are buying in. Many communities have rental restrictions so it is imperative to find this information out from the builder by reviewing their HOA documents before signing any contract.
Can we visit new homes on our own without you?
Yes, if it's a new home community or if there's an open house and you have completed our brokerage agreement to protect the commission and rebate. It's very important to register me as your buyer's agent upon the first contact with the sales agent. If not, the agent can claim that you were their customer and refuse to pay a commission.
The builder's sales agent needs your information for the contract, what is it?
All necessary agent and office info is located on our Contact page.
I already visited a new home community and started working with the builder/salesperson. Can I still work with you?
Maybe. This will depend on how far along in the sales process you are and whether they required you to register a buyers agent on your first visit. You will need to contact the builders salesperson and ask if you can work with a buyer's agent on the transaction.
Are there any fees or costs that I will be responsible for?
There is an administration fee of .0015% of the sales price ($150 per $100,000) that will be deducted from the commission contribution at closing.
How and when will I receive my rebate?
It is deducted from our commission at closing and applied towards your closing costs.
Do I have to pay taxes on my rebate?
We do not dispense tax advice. If you have tax questions regarding receipt of the rebate, contact a tax professional before signing up or ask us for a referral.
What areas do you offer your services in?
We offer our services in north Metro Atlanta, however, we can technically assist you anywhere in the State of Georgia so give me a call to discuss if I can help.
Is it legal to receive a rebate from a real estate agent?
Yes, it is legal to receive a rebate in Georgia. In fact, it's illegal not to allow rebates. That's called "price fixing" and falls under the "anti-trust" provisions of federal law. State Real Estate Commissions around the country have been receiving a lot of scrutiny from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) because of their policies restricting rebates in real estate. Learn about Rebates on Justice.gov
I'm already working with a buyer's agent, but I want to work with you?
If you were working with an agent and you signed a Buyer's Brokerage Agreement, you will need to provide us with documentation from the agent showing the agreement was terminated and that you will not be placing an offer on any home they showed you. We do not contact agents and ask for you to be released from any agreement.
Is this a government program?
No. The rebate is provided by a real estate broker and is deducted from the commission paid by the seller to the real estate broker. Any one is eligible to receive the rebate provided they comply with the terms and conditions stated on this website, the brokerage agreement and state law.
Can we use this program on short sales or foreclosures?
Sorry, we do not offer this for foreclosures or short sale properties.
No, our rebate amount is not negotiable.
How are you able to offer a commission rebate?
By being efficient through technology and only working with home buyers who can be pre-approved for a mortgage, know what they want and where they want to live and who are ready to make an offer.
Am I required to disclose that I am receiving a rebate?
Yes, the law requires disclosure of the rebate to all parties (lender, seller, attorney, etc.) involved in the transaction. It is extremely important to discuss the rebate with your lender ASAP and make sure that the rebate amount being offered will not be an issue for your loan approval.
Do I have to sign an agreement to work with you?
Yes. A Buyer's Brokerage Agreement is required by law in order to receive a commission contribution from me. The agreement provides protection to all parties by spelling out the terms of the arrangement and the agency relationship in the transaction. However, if either of us decide we're not a good fit, we can cancel the agreement (in writing) and move on.
Is there a minimum purchase price required to receive the rebate?
No, but the minimum fee for our service is $5000 regardless of the commission being offered.
Can I get a rebate on luxury new home construction?
Absolutely. I've sold many luxury properties and new homes over the years and because of this have achieved the coveted CLHMS Guild designation along with the New Home Co-Broker designation. This places me in the unique position of being able to provide insight into this market and I can provide actual guidance unlike other agents who don't have this experience or worse who aren't even located in Georgia.
Can you help me sell my current home?
Yes and because I live in North Atlanta, I can provide full service marketing and in-person guidance at a lower cost. Contact me to learn more.
What's the difference between a pre-qualification and a pre-approval from the lender?
Unlike pre-qualification, a pre-approval is a more specific estimate of what you could borrow from your lender and requires documents such as your W2, recent pay stubs, bank statements and tax returns. The lender will then use these documents to determine exactly how much you can be preapproved to borrow. We work with buyers who can provide a pre-approval letter from their lender.
Can I use your rebate program to buy a new home as an investment property?
Yes but whether you are allowed to rent the property is subject to the new home community you are buying in. Many communities have rental restrictions so it is imperative to find this information out from the builder by reviewing their HOA documents before signing any contract.
Can we visit new homes on our own without you?
Yes, if it's a new home community or if there's an open house and you have completed our brokerage agreement to protect the commission and rebate. It's very important to register me as your buyer's agent upon the first contact with the sales agent. If not, the agent can claim that you were their customer and refuse to pay a commission.
The builder's sales agent needs your information for the contract, what is it?
All necessary agent and office info is located on our Contact page.
I already visited a new home community and started working with the builder/salesperson. Can I still work with you?
Maybe. This will depend on how far along in the sales process you are and whether they required you to register a buyers agent on your first visit. You will need to contact the builders salesperson and ask if you can work with a buyer's agent on the transaction.
Are there any fees or costs that I will be responsible for?
There is an administration fee of .0015% of the sales price ($150 per $100,000) that will be deducted from the commission contribution at closing.
How and when will I receive my rebate?
It is deducted from our commission at closing and applied towards your closing costs.
Do I have to pay taxes on my rebate?
We do not dispense tax advice. If you have tax questions regarding receipt of the rebate, contact a tax professional before signing up or ask us for a referral.
What areas do you offer your services in?
We offer our services in north Metro Atlanta, however, we can technically assist you anywhere in the State of Georgia so give me a call to discuss if I can help.
Is it legal to receive a rebate from a real estate agent?
Yes, it is legal to receive a rebate in Georgia. In fact, it's illegal not to allow rebates. That's called "price fixing" and falls under the "anti-trust" provisions of federal law. State Real Estate Commissions around the country have been receiving a lot of scrutiny from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) because of their policies restricting rebates in real estate. Learn about Rebates on Justice.gov
I'm already working with a buyer's agent, but I want to work with you?
If you were working with an agent and you signed a Buyer's Brokerage Agreement, you will need to provide us with documentation from the agent showing the agreement was terminated and that you will not be placing an offer on any home they showed you. We do not contact agents and ask for you to be released from any agreement.
Is this a government program?
No. The rebate is provided by a real estate broker and is deducted from the commission paid by the seller to the real estate broker. Any one is eligible to receive the rebate provided they comply with the terms and conditions stated on this website, the brokerage agreement and state law.
Can we use this program on short sales or foreclosures?
Sorry, we do not offer this for foreclosures or short sale properties.
