Why most agents do not advertise rebates
If rebates are legal, why do most agents not offer them openly?
Commission is their whole income
Most agents are paid only when a deal closes, and they cover their own marketing, car, licensing and brokerage fees. Giving part of the commission back is a real cut in pay.
Industry culture
For decades, standard commissions were treated as fixed. Agents who offered rebates were seen as undercutting colleagues. That is changing, especially after the 2024 US settlement, but slowly.
Why some agents choose to
An agent who spends thousands a month on ads and lead services to find one client can instead share part of the commission with a client who arrives ready to buy. For a lean, efficient agent, the math works.
What that means for you
You will rarely be offered a rebate unless you ask, or unless you come through a service where it is agreed in advance.