How California Home Buyers Can Get 1% Cash Back (Without Doing Anything Extra)

When you buy a new construction home in California, the builder pays a commission to your buyer's agent — typically 2–3% of the purchase price. Most buyers don't know this happens, let alone that they can get some of it back.

At Ease, we rebate 50% of our commission directly to you at closing. On a $700,000 home, that's roughly $7,000 back in your pocket. On a $1,000,000 home, it's $10,000 or more.

How the Rebate Actually Works

Here's the simple version:

1. You register with Ease before your first builder visit (important — more on this below).
2. We accompany you on tours, negotiate incentives, and manage the paperwork.
3. The builder pays our commission at closing.
4. We cut you a check (or apply it to closing costs) for roughly 1% of the purchase price.

The rebate is legal in California under SB 1171 and has been permitted by the Department of Real Estate since 2012. Builders won't reduce your price if you use an agent — that commission is baked into their pricing regardless.

Why Doesn't Every Agent Do This?

Most agents don't rebate because there's no incentive to. The standard practice is to keep 100% of the commission. Ease is structured differently: we make money by operating efficiently at scale, which lets us share the upside with you.

What You Need to Do

Almost nothing — which is the point.

• Register with Ease first. Builders track who referred you. If you walk into a model home without an agent, they'll register you under the on-site sales rep, and you lose the ability to have your own representation.
• Paste the community links you're interested in. We'll reach out to schedule tours and brief you before you go.
• Attend the tours with us (or tell us what you saw). We take notes, ask the hard questions, and advise on which lots, plans, and incentives make sense.

That's it. We handle the rest.

The Rebate vs. Closing Costs

Many buyers apply the rebate to closing costs, which effectively lowers the amount of cash you need to bring to the table. Your lender will need to know about the rebate upfront — it counts as a credit and has to be disclosed. We'll walk you through this with your escrow officer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does using a rebate agent affect the quality of service? No. We provide full-service representation — tours, negotiation, offer review, contingency management, and walkthrough support. The rebate comes from our operating efficiency, not from cutting corners.

Will the builder charge me more if I use Ease? No. Builder pricing is standardized. The commission they pay an agent doesn't affect your purchase price — it comes from the builder's marketing budget.

When do I receive the rebate? At closing, as a credit on your settlement statement, or as a check within a few days of close (depending on your lender's guidelines and escrow process).

Does the rebate affect my mortgage or loan approval? It will be disclosed to your lender — it counts as a seller credit. In most cases this is straightforward, but your loan officer should be aware before closing.

Can I use the rebate on any new construction home? Yes, as long as Ease is registered as your buyer's agent before your first official visit to the community. That's the key step.

How is the rebate calculated? We rebate 50% of our gross commission. On a standard 2% commission at $800,000, that's $8,000 back to you. The exact amount depends on the builder's commission structure.

What if I want to see multiple communities? We cover all of them under the same representation. You're not locked into one community — we'll accompany you to as many as you want and help you compare.

Is the rebate taxable? The IRS has historically treated buyer rebates as a reduction in purchase price (not income), so in most cases they are not taxable. Consult your tax advisor for your specific situation.

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Ready to start?

Ease handles tours, negotiation, and paperwork — and you get 1% back at closing. Start here by pasting the community link you're interested in.