How Does a Buyer Rebate Work in Georgia?
A buyer rebate means your agent gives part of their commission back to you at closing. It's legal in Georgia. I credit my buyers up to 1% of the purchase price. On a $650,000 home in Alpharetta, that's up to $6,500 at the closing table, subject to lender approval. That's the short answer. The rest of this post covers the questions buyers ask me once they hear it, including the limits most agents don't mention. Is a buyer rebate legal in Georgia? Yes. The Georgia Real Estate Commission allows it under Rule 520-1-.10, as long as the rebate is disclosed on the closing statement. It shows up on your Closing Disclosure, the official document that lists every dollar in your transaction, and your lender sees it and approves it. Georgia is an attorney-closing state, so the closing attorney applies the credit at the table along with everything else. Nothing about it is hidden. Where does the money come from? Since August 2024, buyers sign a written agreement with their agent b...