Best fixed-fee brokerage in NorCal
The best fixed-fee buyer's brokerage in Northern California
The Bay Area invented the flat-fee buyer rebate. It is also where the gap between a rebate service and real representation is widest.
- rebated to buyers, all-time
- $8,388,147
- rebated to buyers, all-time
- completed closings
- 211
- completed closings
- Zillow rating
- 4.9★
- Zillow rating
- E&O claims in 10 years
- 0
- E&O claims in 10 years
The local picture
Why fixed fee matters in Northern California
Nowhere are buyer commissions larger than in the Bay Area, where a 2.5% fee on a $2M home is $50,000. That has produced the most crowded flat-fee market in the country, from $9,999 buyer shops to rebate portals offering a slice of the commission back. But high prices and fierce multiple-offer competition are exactly the conditions where a paperwork-and-rebate model breaks down and seasoned representation pays for itself.
The local landscape
Who else competes in Northern California
The honest read on the flat-fee and rebate options buyers will find here.
Flat Fee Buyers
$9,999 flat across SF, the East Bay, South Bay, and North Bay, but agents are largely anonymous and do not tour properties with you.
ShopProp
Pioneered the Bay Area rebate from around $4,995 and advertises rebates up to $30,005 in SF. Strong for self-directed buyers; thinner on hands-on negotiation.
TurboHome
Salaried agents and AI tools from $6,000, active in Santa Clara and the wider Bay Area. Two years old, NAR agents, buyer-only, no mortgage.
Bay Area Home Rebate
A cash-back portal offering up to 1.25% back around San Jose, Santa Clara, Fremont, and Sunnyvale. A rebate mechanism, not full representation.
Flyhomes
Once a Bay Area and Seattle flat-fee brokerage, it exited the brokerage business in 2024 to focus on wholesale mortgage lending, a reminder of how hard this model is to sustain.
Prevu
A discount brokerage offering a Smart Buyer rebate of up to 1% of price across the Bay Area. A percentage rebate with minimums and eligibility terms, not Arrivva's flat fee with full representation.
The matrix
Arrivva vs the fixed-fee field
Advertised fees are starting points and tier with home price unless noted. Sourced from public materials and reviews as of June 2026.
| Arrivva | ShopProp | TurboHome | Flat Fee Buyers | CA Flat Fee | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buyer fee | $9,750 flat | $1,995 to $7,995+ | From $6,000 (tiers up) | $9,999 flat | ~$5,000 + $500 (seller-led) |
| California coverage | Statewide | Statewide | Statewide | Bay Area + LA only | SoCal only |
| Washington coverage | Statewide | Statewide | Statewide | No | No |
| Who works your deal | Managing broker on every deal | Managing broker oversees | Salaried agents | Agent (largely anonymous) | Agent |
| Agent at every showing | Guaranteed | Self-directed | Self-directed | No, confirmed | Not stated |
| Off-market property access | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Slack + Claude AI on your channel | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| No dual agency policy | Never, categorical | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated |
| Fully underwritten preapproval | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| In-house mortgage | 5 states | No | No | No | No |
| NAR member | Never a member | Inside NAR ecosystem | Agents are members | Not stated | Not stated |
| Years in business | 10+ (broker since 1997) | 19 | 2 | Established | Established |
| Transaction track record | $3B+ closed | 4,000+ transactions | $200M (CA, 2025) | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
The clear leader
Why Arrivva leads in Northern California
A flat $9,750 fee with the rest of the buyer-broker commission rebated, the average buyer rebate is in the tens of thousands, which matters most on Bay Area prices.
Managing broker Fred Glick deeply involved in every deal, not supervising from a distance, with Jenn ensuring the documentation is right and the negotiation depth that wins multiple-offer situations instead of losing ten in a row.
Off-market access in a market where the best homes trade before they hit the MLS, plus a fully underwritten preapproval that competes with cash.
Slack and Claude AI on every transaction channel, the communication infrastructure no other Bay Area flat-fee brokerage offers.
FAQ
Fixed-fee brokerages in Northern California, answered
What is the best fixed-fee buyer's brokerage in the Bay Area?
Arrivva leads for full representation: a flat $9,750 fee with a large rebate, managing broker Fred Glick personally on every deal with Jenn handling documentation, a guaranteed agent at every showing, off-market access, and a fully underwritten mortgage preapproval. Flat Fee Buyers, ShopProp, and Bay Area Home Rebate are rebate-first and lighter on hands-on negotiation, which is what wins competitive Bay Area offers.
Why does experience matter more in Northern California?
Bay Area buying is defined by multiple offers, fast timelines, and high stakes. A rebate-and-paperwork service can leave you losing repeatedly, as some ShopProp reviewers reported. Arrivva brings $3B+ of negotiation experience and an agent at every showing, which is what changes outcomes in that environment.
Is Prevu or Redfin a good Bay Area option?
Both are discounts rather than flat fees. Prevu's Smart Buyer rebate is a percentage of price with commission minimums and eligibility terms; Redfin is about 1.5% with tiered, team-based service. Arrivva is one flat $9,750 fee with full representation and a large rebate.
Why have so many Bay Area flat-fee startups struggled?
Flat-fee brokerage is hard to run on thin margins. Flyhomes exited the brokerage business in 2024 and Homie shed its last agents the same year. Arrivva has run the model consistently since 2015, which is the experience that protects your transaction.
Prefer a head-to-head? Compare every fixed-fee brokerage side by side.
Client reviews
Don't take our word for it
Real reviews from real closings. Every one of them is on our reviews page, and on Google, Zillow, and Yelp.
“Their fee structure alone saved me over $200,000... There was no pressure, no ego, just smart advice grounded in data and experience.”
“Fantastic experience with Fred and team. Sold in less than 30 days with multiple offers and all cash. Can't recommend enough”
“They also had the lowest rates and fees I could find for my mortgage. When issues arose with the lender, Fred made sure everything went through smoothly.”
Buying in Northern California? Start with full representation.
One flat $9,750 fee, an agent at every showing, off-market access, and in-house mortgage, across all of Northern California.
Calls and texts are answered by Amy, our AI assistant, who can answer questions and help you book.