The blog
How commissions really work, where rebates come from, and what buyers and sellers in BC and Florida should know before they sign.
November 11, 2026Are real estate rebates legal in Canada?
Generally yes. A quick tour of how rebates work across Canadian provinces, and the common conditions.
November 11, 2026BC's dual agency rules and what they mean for your rebate
Since 2018 one BC agent generally cannot act for both buyer and seller. Why that matters if you plan to call the listing agent directly.
November 11, 2026BC real estate commission explained: 7%, 2.5%, 3.22% and 1.15%
The numbers you keep hearing about BC commission, what each one means, and a worked example at Lower Mainland prices.
November 11, 2026Who pays the buyer agent in Florida now?
Since August 2024, buyer agent pay in Florida is set in a written agreement. Who ends up paying it, and how that affects your rebate.
November 11, 2026Using a buyer rebate with a VA loan
VA loans have their own rules on concessions. How a commission rebate fits for veterans and service members.
November 11, 2026Can you get a buyer rebate with an FHA loan?
Yes, within FHA's limits on interested party contributions. How it works and what can go wrong.
November 11, 2026Buying in a Florida 55-plus community with a rebate
Age-restricted communities are a big part of Florida's market. How the rebate works, and the rules to read first.
November 11, 2026Buying in Florida after hurricane season: get the insurance quote first
In Florida, insurance can decide whether a deal works. What to get before you remove your inspection contingency.
November 11, 2026Buying in Pinellas County after Helene and Milton
The 2024 storms changed how buyers look at Pinellas homes. What to check, and how the rebate fits in.
November 11, 2026Can a buyer's agent legally give you money back in BC?
Yes, with conditions. What BC rules say about commission rebates, disclosure, and why it has to be in writing.
November 11, 2026Can you negotiate realtor commission in BC?
Yes. Commission in BC is not fixed by law. How the common 7% and 2.5% structure works, and where sellers actually have room.
November 11, 2026Canadians buying in Florida: how the rebate works across the border
Snowbirds and investors from Canada can get the same buyer rebate in Florida. Financing, currency and tax points to sort out first.
November 11, 2026Cash back on a Miami condo: what to expect, and what to check first
A 25% buyer rebate on a Miami-Dade condo, the math at the county median, and the post-Surfside checks that matter more.
November 11, 2026Buying a home in Tampa with cash back
What a buyer rebate is worth at Hillsborough County prices, and the Tampa-specific things to check before you close.
November 11, 2026Buying a townhouse in Surrey? Here is what the cash back looks like
At Surrey's townhouse benchmark, a 50% rebate is over $5,000. The math, and the townhouse-specific checks.
November 11, 2026Discount realtor vs cash back realtor: what is the difference?
Both promise to save you money. One cuts the fee, the other gives part of it back. Which fits buyers, and which fits sellers.
November 11, 2026Do Florida sellers have to pay the buyer's agent?
No law requires it. Why many Florida sellers still agree to it, and how to decide for your own sale.
November 11, 2026Does a buyer rebate affect the appraisal?
No, because the contract price does not change. But the lender still looks at it. Here is why.
November 11, 2026Why you should not walk into an open house or presale centre alone
Signing in at an open house or presale centre without your agent can cost you your rebate. Here is how to do it right.
November 11, 2026First-time buyer in BC? Stack the transfer tax exemption with cash back
The BC first-time buyer exemption saves up to $8,000. Add a 50% rebate and a first purchase in the Lower Mainland gets meaningfully cheaper.
November 11, 2026Flat-fee MLS listing in BC vs a full-service commission discount
A flat-fee listing saves the most on paper. When it works for BC sellers, and when a full-service discount comes out ahead.
November 11, 2026Where a buyer rebate shows up on a Florida closing statement
On a financed Florida purchase, the rebate appears as a credit from the buyer's brokerage. Here is how to spot it and what can go wrong.
November 11, 2026I found the house myself. Can I still get cash back?
Yes, if your agent is involved before you make contact. Why the order matters and what to do now.
November 11, 2026GST on real estate commission in BC: who pays it and does the rebate include it?
Commission in BC carries 5% GST. Who pays it, how it shows up, and why your rebate is calculated before GST.
November 11, 2026Hidden brokerage fees buyers and sellers should ask about
Transaction fees, admin fees and compliance fees can quietly eat into your rebate or discount. What to ask before you sign.
November 11, 2026How listing commission works in Florida now
Florida sellers now agree to the listing fee and any buyer agent pay separately. What that means for your costs.
November 11, 2026How to sell a house in Vancouver and pay less commission
Practical ways to cut selling costs on a Vancouver house without losing buyers, with real numbers at Vancouver prices.
November 11, 2026How to tell if a real estate rebate offer is real
Five warning signs that an advertised rebate will shrink or disappear, and the questions that expose them.
November 11, 2026Buying in Lakewood Ranch: CDD fees, HOA fees and your rebate
Lakewood Ranch is one of the best-selling communities in the US. How the rebate works on new and resale homes, and the fees to budget for.
November 11, 2026Can you get cash back on a presale assignment?
Buying an assignment in Vancouver, Burnaby or Surrey: who pays the commission, how the rebate works, and what to check.
November 11, 2026Can you get a rebate when buying a rental property?
Yes. How a buyer rebate works on an investment purchase, and how it affects your cost base for tax.
November 11, 2026How much cash back do you get on a $1 million Vancouver home?
The exact math on a $1,000,000 Vancouver purchase: what the buyer's brokerage earns, what half of it is, and when it lands.
November 11, 2026Getting a rebate on a Florida vacation home
Buying a second home on the Gulf or Atlantic coast? How the rebate works, and the rental and insurance rules to check.
November 11, 2026Getting a rebate on new construction in Florida
Florida builders pay buyer agents on most new homes. How to make sure the commission exists, and how the rebate is credited.
November 11, 2026Should you ask for a rebate or just offer less?
Rebates and price reductions both save money, but they behave differently with lenders, taxes and multiple offers.
November 11, 2026Getting cash back when you buy land or a building lot
Vacant land and teardown lots pay commission too. How the rebate works and what to check on land deals.
November 11, 2026Selling and buying in the Lower Mainland: collect both savings
Move up from a townhouse to a house with the same partner agent and save on both sides. A worked example.
November 11, 2026Selling a condo in Broward County with a lower commission
Broward condo sellers face more competition than ever. How to cut the listing fee without hurting your sale.
November 11, 2026Strata special levies: read the documents before you count the rebate
A $6,000 rebate does not help much if a $25,000 levy is coming. How to find levies in BC strata documents.
November 11, 2026What happens to the rebate if your deal collapses?
No closing, no commission, no rebate. What that means in BC and Florida, and what to watch for.
November 11, 2026What is a real estate commission rebate? A plain-English answer
A commission rebate is part of your agent's fee given back to you. Where it comes from, who allows it, and how it is paid.
November 11, 2026What should you do with your real estate rebate?
Practical ways buyers use their rebate, from moving costs to the first repair, with typical amounts in BC and Florida.
November 11, 2026What to look for in a buyer agreement before you sign
Since 2024 most US buyers sign a buyer agreement before touring. The clauses that decide what you pay and what you get back.
November 11, 2026When do you actually get the rebate? BC vs Florida
BC rebates come after completion; Florida rebates usually arrive as a closing credit. The timing, step by step.
November 11, 2026Why most agents do not advertise rebates
Rebates are legal almost everywhere we operate, yet few agents talk about them. The economics and the culture behind it.