How Does a Buyer Rebate Work in Georgia?
A buyer rebate in Georgia is exactly what it sounds like: your buyer's agent gives part of their commission back to you at closing. It's fully legal in Georgia. In my practice, I credit up to 1% of the purchase price back to my buyers — on a $500,000 home, that's up to $5,000 applied at the closing table toward your closing costs, a rate buy-down, or prepaid expenses, subject to lender approval.
That's the whole answer. The rest of this post covers the questions buyers actually ask me once they hear it.
Is a buyer rebate legal in Georgia?
Yes. Georgia is one of roughly forty states that allow real estate agents to share commission with their clients. It's disclosed to your lender and appears as a credit on your Closing Disclosure — the same official document that lists every dollar in your transaction. Nothing about it is under the table. Your lender sees it, approves it, and it shows up in black and white on closing day.
Why doesn't every agent offer this?
Honestly? Most agents carry overhead I don't. Teams, assistants, office splits, expensive lead subscriptions — that all comes out of the commission before the agent sees a dime. I've been doing this for 23 years as a solo agent, which means my costs stay low and I can pass part of my commission back to the person who actually earned it: you, the buyer making the biggest purchase of your life.
The rebate doesn't change how I work. You get the same person answering the phone, touring homes with you, reading the seller's disclosure line by line, and negotiating your contract. Last month I walked a buyer through a closing that got postponed twice through no fault of theirs, and every delay cost them a rate relock fee. Those are the moments a credit at closing exists for — real money back when the process throws you a curveball.
What can the rebate be used for?
Your lender decides how the credit gets applied, which is why every rebate is subject to lender approval. Most commonly it goes toward your closing costs — title fees, lender fees, prepaid taxes and insurance. Some buyers use it to buy down their interest rate, which lowers the monthly payment for the life of the loan. On certain loan types there's a cap on total credits, so I coordinate with your lender early to make sure every dollar lands where it's allowed to.
Is the rebate taxed as income?
Generally, the IRS treats a commission rebate as a reduction in your purchase price rather than taxable income — but I'm a Realtor, not a tax professional, so confirm your situation with your CPA.
How do I get the rebate?
Work with me as your buyer's agent from the start. The rebate is written into our agreement up front, so there are no surprises and nothing to negotiate later. If you're moving to Atlanta or buying anywhere in the metro area — Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Roswell, Sandy Springs, Dunwoody, Duluth and beyond — the math is worth five minutes of your time.
You can see exactly what your rebate would be on my calculator here: https://jennifer-lazarian-realty.netlify.app/?utm_source=blog&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=buyer_rebate
Or call my office at (678) 456-4545 and I'll walk you through it in plain English.
Jennifer Orly Lazarian, licensed real estate agent with Virtual Properties Realty. Buyer rebate up to 1% of purchase price paid at closing; subject to lender approval. Terms apply.
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