Your buyer's agent has never been free — their commission is priced into what you pay, whether you use it or not. You negotiate your salary, your level, your equity refresh. This is the same negotiation, applied to the largest purchase you'll make: work with us and up to 1% of the purchase price comes back to you at closing.
On a $2M purchase, that's up to
$20,000
back to you at closing — call it a vest tranche you didn't have to wait for.
It's comp, not a coupon. The commission exists either way; the only question is whether you claim your share of it.
Fully disclosed. On the closing statement, coordinated with your lender. CA DRE permits it; we document it.
Full representation. Pricing analysis, offer strategy, negotiation, closing. The rebate changes the economics, not the service.
The math, in full
Purchase priceTypical buyer-side commission (2.5%)Your rebate (up to 1%)Effective cost of representation
$1.00M$25,000−$10,000$15,000
$1.50M$37,500−$15,000$22,500
$2.00M$50,000−$20,000$30,000
$2.50M$62,500−$25,000$37,500
$3.00M$75,000−$30,000$45,000
$4.00M$100,000−$40,000$60,000
Commissions are set by each listing and are negotiable; 2.5% shown as the typical buyer-side figure in Santa Clara County. Rebate is up to 1% of purchase price, subject to lender approval of the credit structure.
The unclaimed signing bonus
Tech professionals negotiate everything — TC, level, refresh grants, start dates. Then 99% of them walk into the largest transaction of their lives and pay full retail for representation without asking a single question about the fee structure. The rebate is the negotiation most buyers don't know they can win. You just won it by reading this page.
You already do the search
Traditional commission pricing dates from an era when agents controlled listing access. You find homes yourself, at 11pm, with saved filters. What you actually need is judgment: what it will really sell for, how to structure a winning offer without overpaying, and flawless execution to closing. That's what we do — and the rebate returns the part of the fee the old model charged for work you now do yourself.
Questions worth asking
Yes. California explicitly permits real estate commission rebates to buyers, and the Department of Justice has long encouraged them as pro-consumer competition. The rebate is disclosed to your lender and appears on your closing statement — it is a documented credit, not a side deal. Barbara Ratcliffe, Prevu Real Estate, CA DRE# 01709259.
Generally no. The IRS has treated buyer rebates as an adjustment to the purchase price rather than taxable income (it effectively lowers your cost basis in the home). Your situation may differ — confirm with your CPA, which takes five minutes.
Up to 1% of the purchase price, paid to you at closing. On a $2M Sunnyvale or Cupertino home that is up to $20,000 — roughly a quarterly RSU vest you did not have to wait a quarter for. On a $3M purchase it is up to $30,000.
No — the economics are simply honest. You already find homes yourself on Redfin and Zillow at 11pm; what you need from an agent is pricing analysis, offer strategy, negotiation and closing execution. You get full representation; the rebate returns the share of the commission that legacy pricing assumed an agent would spend finding you listings.
It is applied as a credit at closing and disclosed on your closing statement. Lenders allow it — most treat it as a credit toward closing costs; any excess handling depends on the loan program. We coordinate the paperwork with your lender so the credit is structured cleanly. Always disclosed: an undisclosed rebate is mortgage fraud, so we do this by the book, every time.
Run your own number
Tell us your target city and price range and we'll put the rebate, the strategy and the current market in one plan — in writing, before you commit to anything.
Rebate of up to 1% of purchase price offered by Prevu Real Estate to buyers represented by Barbara Ratcliffe, CA DRE# 01709259. Rebates are disclosed to your lender and reflected on the closing statement; availability and structure of the credit are subject to lender and loan-program approval. Not tax advice — consult your CPA regarding your specific situation.
