If you have any other questions please call us a 407-273-5444

Q: How does the cash back rebate program work?

     When a seller decides to sell his home through a real estate broker, the broker they choose always charges a commission.  So, when you buy a home that has been listed through a real estate broker a commission is paid by the seller at closing.  Typically here in Florida the commission is 5% or 6% (87% of the time it is 6%).  Since it is the most common commission, we will use 6% for the rest of our example. This commission is split 50/50 between the listing broker and the broker that sells the house.  If the listing broker sells the house, they keep the whole 6% commission.  If another broker sells the house, the listing broker gets 3% and the broker who sold the house gets 3%.  If you buy a listed for sale home through us, we give you 1% of the 3% commission we receive back to you.  

Q: How is this rebate free to me as a buyer?

     In an Multiple Listing real estate transaction the seller is required to pay a real estate commission for the services they received.   You will pay the same amount for a home whether or not you use a real estate agent.  If you do use an agent to buy a home you can expect the listing agent to keep all of the commission (6%).  We on the other hand rebate some of our commission to you.  

Q: Where do you get the money from to give me a rebate when I buy a house?

     By being the your representative on the buying side of the transaction, we are entitled, as in the example above, to a 3% commission.  We give you a portion of that commission to you.   

Q: When do I get the rebate?

     You receive your rebate at closing.  It is directly credited to you on the closing statement.

Q:  Couldn't I just get a discount from the seller or from the listing agent?

     It is always possible to get the seller to discount from his asking price.  However, getting our rebate is much different than negotiating a lower price on the home.  You get our rebate in addition to the lower price that is negotiated.    

Q: I was going to buy a house from the listing agent because I saw their name and telephone number on the lawn sign or on the MLS listing.  Couldn't I just get a discount from the seller or get the one percent from the listing agent?

     Once again, getting a cash back rebate is much different than negotiating a lower price.  No matter what the final price is the seller has a contract with the listing agent to pay them the  commission.  If you buy the house through the listing agent (you call the phone number on the lawn sign) the listing agent gets the whole 6%.  If you use another agent to represent you, that agent and the listing agent each get 3%.  Our value added to you is that if you choose us as your buying representative, we give you a portion of the our selling commission back to you as a rebate.   

Q: How do you make any money on this deal?

     Using the example we had above, we would give you a $2,500 rebate and still would receive a commission of $5,000.  This is certainly enough to compensate us for our services.  Remember, you are a savvy internet buyer.  Your time and effort saved us time and effort. So, this is certainly enough to compensate us for our services.   

Q: How come I can't find other real estate agents who will give me a cash back rebate?

     Quite simply, they can't afford to for a number of reasons.  Most agents working for large national firms (Coldwell Banker, Century 21, etc., you know the names) and are paying up to half of the total commission to their company.  So instead of giving you a rebate they are paying to keep up the corporate headquarters, the company plane, the national convention, the Super Bowl commercial, and the CEO's salary.  It's not their fault, they just plain don't have the money to give you a rebate.  There is still another reason.  Traditional cost real estate agents don't like rebates as it threatens what they perceive to be their traditional way of making money.  Because of this traditional way of thinking, few real estate agents have or ever will adopt our business model and use of technology the way we have to reduce our costs and pass a great deal of the savings on to you in the form of a rebate.   

Q: I don't want to pay more for a home so I don't want to use a real estate agent at all.  What do you have to say about that?

     No matter whether you use us or not, you are going to pay the same price for the home you purchase based on the negotiations.  Your advantage in calling us to assist you in purchasing a home is that we provide you with professional assistance with the selection of a home, the paper work, the negotiations and we give you a cash back rebate.   

Q: Are rebates like this one legal?

     Florida real estate law permits the sharing of commissions with the principals of the transaction.  Since you as a buyer are a principal, providing you with a rebate is perfectly legal.   

Q: Do I have to sign a contract with you?

     No, we have no long term contracts with you to lock you in as some "buyers agents" do.  We will however have an agreement on the individual home you are interested in purchasing.

Q:  I already have a contract with a realtor, can I still get a rebate from you?

     You can not get a rebate from us if you are represented by another realtor.

Q:  I have a realtor that was recommended to me.  I don't have a contract with them, but I would like to use their services.  Can I still get your rebate?

     Yes, if the realtor will agree to our terms.  Please call us at 407-273-5444 and tell us about your situation.  We think it is important that you deal with people that you have confidence in.  If a friend or relative gave you this referral it was because they felt the realtor did a quality job.  After you call us we will contact the realtor and explain the situation.  We have found that most realtors welcome the opportunity to work with us and with you. 

Q: What kind of service can I expect from you?

     You can expect exceptional service from us.  Unlike traditional cost real estate agents who spend 90% of their time trying to get listings, we spend 90% of the time working with buyers to find the right home in the right community at a good price.  We know all the ins and outs of getting you, the buyer, the best deal.  And, after we secure that deal we will help you every step of the way until we are both at the closing and shake your hand on the great deal we got on your home and you get your rebate.   Our experience allows us to also recommend the best mortgage companies, title insurers and home inspectors.  

Q: Can I get cash back rebate if I buy a new home?

     Yes.  Many, if not most, builders will pay a commission when their homes are bought through a real estate agent.  If you do not use us as your real estate agent when buying a new home, the commission is instead distributed internally within the builder organization which is of course no benefit to you.  We will be happy to work with you in buying a new home from a builder.  But, you must contact us first before you go visit the builder.  This is a requirement of the builder.  So, if you are thinking of buying a new home, please contact us first as it is the only way we can provide you with a rebate.     

Q: Won't the builder just raise my price to pay you?

     Florida law forbids such a practice.  The price of the home must be by Florida real estate law the same whether you use an agent or not.   

Q: Besides the cash rebate, are there any other reasons I should work with you as a buyers representative when I buy a new home?

     There sure are.   Builders specifically encourage and compensate buyer representatives to assist clients in their communities.  Builders realize that most buyers shop both the resale market and other new home builders with their buyer's representative, and therefore plan on agent compensation as a part of their overall marketing program.  However, builders will not encourage a buyer to use the services of an agent for the fear of losing the buyer to other homes or builders suggested by the agent.  It cost you nothing to use our services when purchasing a new home from a  builder and you even get a rebate of the commission we recieve.  If your still thinking of dealing directly with the builder, don't.  Here is why:

1. The builder salesperson is employed by the builder and only represents their interest.

2. The builder's use their own contract with clauses written to protect the builder.

3. You are on builder's turf!  Builder sets the rules.

4. The builder may limit the lenders available to you for financing the home if the builder assists in closing costs.

          So please, coordinate your initial visit to a builder with us.   

Q: What is the difference between a pre-qualified and a pre-approved mortgage?

     Pre-Qualified is merely an assessment that you may qualify for a mortgage loan and is the result of the data you supply, and does not consider the other data a lender may have access too.  It holds no real weight and is a marketing technique used by lenders to have potential loan applicants consider doing business with them. 

     Pre-approval is vastly different.  It means that the lender, after considering your application and all available data,  has made a formal commitment to grant you a loan for a specific amount of money.  This allows you to shop with confidence for homes in your price range.  In simple words the pre-approval letter tells the seller that you have the financial means to buy their house.   

Q: Why do you require that we be pre-approved for a mortgage?

     There are two reasons why we do this.  One is for our benefit, the other for you.

1. For our benefit:  As we have mentioned before, a great deal of a traditional agents expense comes from just wasting time.  There are many people who view visiting homes for sale as a hobby, much like going to garage sales.  Their sole interest is to be entertained by the agent and see peoples' homes and how they are decorated.  We are sure you would agree that the potential buyer who has gone through the steps of getting a pre-approved mortgage indicates that they are clearly a serious buyer.  By eliminating the casual shopper, we save an enormous amount of time and pass that savings on to you in the form of the rebate.

2. For your benefit:  A pre-approved home buyer has an enormous advantage when buying a home.  Let us give you an all too familiar example we have seen:  Two potential buyers tour a house.  They both decide that this is the house they want to buy.  Through their agents they both make an offer at the price the home was listed at.  One buyer is pre-approved and one is pre-qualified.  It is the pre-approved buyer who's offer is accepted buy the buyer,  Why?  Because the seller knows that getting a mortgage will not be a obstacle to closing the home sale.   

Q: Do I have to get my pre-approval and mortgage through you?

     Absolutely not.  Many of our buyers have existing relationships with favored lenders and we encourage them to continue that relationship.  However, many other buyers use our services to acquire a mortgage.  We are a Florida registered mortgage broker and can find the you very attractive mortgage rates.  We do not work with any specific lender(s).  Instead we put the power of technology to work for you.  We have built an IT system that allows us to search a database of hundreds of qualified lenders to find the most suitable match for your home financing needs.  We believe you will find this service extraordinary.   

Q:  Who is the Broker?

     Home Investment Realty, Inc, 9318 E. Colonial Drive, Orlando, Florida.  Home Investment  Realty, established in 1997, is one of Orlando's premier real estate brokers with 300 agents serving the Central Florida area.

Q:  I am a serious home buyer.  We have been looking on the internet for homes.  And have even found some we are interested in seeing.  I would like to consider further using your services to help me make the home purchase and get a 1% rebate.  Where do I start?

     We appreciate your interest.  The best way for us to begun a working relationship is for you to call us at 407-273-5444.  That will give us an opportunity to get to know one another and allow us to determine your home purchasing goals.  Then together we will establish a plan for finding and buying your home.  The end result will be that we will have a valued client and you will find a great home in a great community and save money too.   

Get started now.  Call us at 407-273-5444 and Save.