Almost everything you buy has a price. Real estate representation usually doesn't. It has a percentage, and the percentage grows with the price of the house whether the work does or not.
Flat fee real estate replaces that percentage with one fixed price for full service. At Arrivva:
- Buyers pay $9,750.
- Sellers pay $15,750.
Same fee on a $700,000 condo or a $3 million house.
How it works for buyers
When you buy with Arrivva, you get full representation: search, valuation, offer strategy, negotiation, and escrow through closing.
Most listings still offer a buyer-broker fee, commonly 2 to 3 percent of the price. We keep $9,750 of it and everything above that comes back to you as a rebate at closing. You can use it to strengthen your offer, cover closing costs up to your lender's limits, lower the price, or take it as cash after closing. Rebates are generally treated as a reduction of your purchase price rather than income, but confirm with your tax advisor.
We also fully underwrite your preapproval before you make an offer, so your bid competes nearly like cash. See how buying works.
How it works for sellers
For $15,750, sellers get full service:
- Pricing strategy backed by a data-driven valuation
- Inspections paid up front, so your home hits the market fully disclosed
- Professional photography, Matterport 3D tours, and floor plans
- MLS, Zillow, Redfin, Realtor.com, and wider syndication
- Negotiation handled personally by our broker, Fred Glick
- Transaction management through closing
Since the NAR settlement, sellers aren't required to offer a buyer-broker fee at all. We help you decide what, if anything, to offer based on your market. See how selling works.
What it saves
On a $1 million home with 2.5 percent per side:
| Traditional (2.5%) | Arrivva | |
|---|---|---|
| Buying | $25,000 fee, nothing back | $9,750 fee, $15,250 back as a rebate |
| Selling | $25,000 listing fee | $15,750 flat |
The higher the price, the bigger the gap. On a $2 million purchase, the same math puts $40,250 back in the buyer's pocket.
Why the incentive matters more than the savings
A commission agent earns more when you pay more. A buyer's agent who negotiates $50,000 off the price takes a pay cut for it. A listing agent may push you to take a quick offer rather than hold out for a better one.
With a flat fee, we're paid the same either way. The only job left is getting you the best deal.
What to look for in any flat-fee brokerage
Not every flat fee is the same. Ask:
- Is it full service? Some flat-fee companies only put you on the MLS.
- Is the fee really flat? Some start low and tier up with the price.
- Who negotiates? You want a licensed broker, not a call center.
- Do they ever represent both sides? We never do.
Where we work
Arrivva represents buyers and sellers across California and Washington, with a full-service mortgage brokerage alongside. We've been doing this for 10 years, and we're not NAR members.
The bottom line
Flat fee real estate gives you a price instead of a percentage, and an advocate whose pay doesn't depend on how much you spend. That's the whole idea.