How to Ask Your Buyer's Agent for a Rebate in Utah (2026)

Utah Home Buyers · Updated October 2026

Ask about a rebate before you sign a buyer agreement or tour homes, and get the answer in writing. Commission rebates are legal in Utah, but there is no standard amount, so the questions below tell you exactly what you will get back. Each one includes how DiscountAgent.com answers it.

Short version: ask "Do you offer a rebate, how is it calculated, and will it be in our written agreement?" At DiscountAgent.com the answer is yes, everything above 1.5% of the price, in writing. That is $7,500 on a $500,000 home when the seller offers 3%.

Why Timing Matters

Since the NAR settlement took effect in August 2024, Utah buyers sign a written agreement with their agent before touring homes. That agreement sets how your agent is paid. Once it is signed, your agent has no obligation to rebate anything, so ask your questions first and compare agents before you commit.

7 Questions to Ask Before You Sign

1. "Do you offer a buyer commission rebate?"

Ask this first, before you tour a home together. Since August 2024, Utah buyers sign a written buyer agreement before touring, and your compensation terms go in that agreement.

DiscountAgent.com’s answer: Yes. I keep 1.5% of the purchase price and rebate everything above that to you.

2. "How exactly is the rebate calculated?"

Get a formula, not a vague promise. A percentage of the commission, a fixed dollar amount, and "everything above X%" all work out differently.

DiscountAgent.com’s answer: Rebate = the buyer-agent commission minus 1.5% of the price. At a 3% offer on a $500,000 home, that is $7,500.

3. "What is the least you will be paid, and what happens if the seller offers less?"

Post-NAR, sellers may offer anything from 0% to more than 3%. You need to know the floor and who covers it.

DiscountAgent.com’s answer: I keep 1.5% and you get everything above it. If the seller offers less than 1.5%, there is no rebate, but you don't owe me the difference; my buyer agreement never requires you to pay a commission out of pocket. If the seller offers more than 3%, your rebate goes up.

4. "When and how will I receive it?"

A check after closing and a credit on the Closing Disclosure are both common. Choose before you are under contract.

DiscountAgent.com’s answer: Usually a brokerage check after closing. If you want it at closing for closing costs or a rate buy-down, it goes on the Closing Disclosure as a credit.

5. "Will the rebate be in our written buyer agreement?"

A verbal promise is worth little at closing. The rebate terms belong in writing.

DiscountAgent.com’s answer: Yes. The 1.5% and the rebate are spelled out in the agreement you sign.

6. "Have lenders ever refused your rebates?"

Utah allows rebates when they follow your loan's underwriting guidelines, so an agent who has worked through this with lenders is valuable.

DiscountAgent.com’s answer: No lender has ever denied one of my clients' rebates. Tell your loan officer about it at pre-approval and we coordinate from there.

7. "Are there any other fees I will pay you?"

Some brokerages add transaction, compliance, or administrative fees that quietly reduce the rebate.

DiscountAgent.com’s answer: None. I charge zero junk fees: no broker compliance fee, transaction fee, or administrative fee. See what real estate junk fees are.

Want those answers in writing?

Aaron will walk you through the buyer agreement and your expected rebate before you tour a single home.

Get A Free Consultation Call 801-243-8900

What to Do If Your Agent Says No

Agents who don't rebate usually give one of a few reasons. Here is how to think about each:

“Rebates aren’t legal.” They are permitted in Utah under Utah Administrative Code R162-2f-401l, as long as they follow your loan's underwriting guidelines. A brokerage can still choose not to offer one.
“It’ll cause tax problems.” Rebates are often treated as a reduction in the purchase price. Ask a tax professional rather than taking either side's word for it.
“Your lender won’t allow it.” Ask your loan officer directly. Lenders have approved every DiscountAgent.com client rebate to date.
“I earn every dollar of my commission.” That is a fair business choice. It also means you can compare that agent's service with a full-service broker who rebates, and decide what the difference is worth to you.

If you haven't signed anything yet, you are free to choose a different agent.

What Should Be in Writing

The agent's compensation, including any minimum (for DiscountAgent.com, 1.5% of the price)
How the rebate is calculated, with an example
When and how it is paid: check after closing or credit at closing
Any other fees you will pay the brokerage (at DiscountAgent.com, none)
Whether you owe anything if the seller offers less than the agent's compensation
What happens if the seller offers less, or more, than expected

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it rude to ask a buyer's agent for a rebate?

No. Commissions are negotiable in Utah, and rebates are legal under Utah Administrative Code R162-2f-401l. Asking how an agent is paid and what comes back to you is a normal part of choosing an agent.

When should I ask for a commission rebate?

Before you sign a buyer agreement or tour homes. Since August 2024, Utah buyers sign a written agreement with their agent before touring, and the rebate terms should be in that agreement.

What is the average buyer agent rebate?

There is no standard amount. Some agents offer nothing, some a fixed dollar amount, and some a share of the commission. DiscountAgent.com rebates everything above 1.5% of the price, which is 50% of a 3% commission.

My agent says rebates are not allowed. Is that true in Utah?

Rebates are permitted in Utah. Utah Administrative Code R162-2f-401l says an inducement gift to a buyer is not an illegal sharing of commission when it complies with the underwriting guidelines of the loan. An individual brokerage can still choose not to offer one.

Can I ask for a rebate after I sign a buyer agreement?

You can ask, but the agreement you signed sets your agent's compensation, so your agent does not have to agree. That is why it is best to ask before you sign.

Will I owe my buyer's agent money if the seller offers a low commission?

It depends on your buyer agreement, which is why you should read it before you sign. Many agreements require the buyer to pay any shortfall. The DiscountAgent.com agreement does not: if the seller offers less than 1.5%, there is no rebate, but you never pay a commission out of pocket.

What junk fees should I watch for?

Some brokerages add broker compliance, transaction, or administrative fees of several hundred dollars at closing. Ask for every fee in writing. DiscountAgent.com charges none.

Is a buyer agent rebate taxable?

Buyer rebates are often treated as a reduction in the purchase price rather than income, but it depends on your situation. Ask your tax professional.

Buying in Utah? Start with the right agreement.

Full-service buyer representation since 2006, with everything above 1.5% of the buyer-agent commission rebated to you.