Buying: our fee and your credit

Buying a home

Our fee is set in writing. Anything a seller pays above it goes to you.

Our fee is 1.75% of the purchase price, minimum $10,000, maximum $25,000, Hawaii general excise tax included. It is written into your buyer agreement, which you sign before you tour a home.

• If the seller offers more than our fee, your offer asks the seller to give you the difference, as a credit toward your closing costs or a lower price. If the seller pays us instead and we pass the difference to you, it is reduced by the Hawaii general excise tax we owe on it. We tell you the exact amount in writing before you offer.
• Homes listed at $500,000 or more: you won't pay our fee out of pocket, even if you negotiate the price lower. Before you offer, we find out what the seller will pay. If it's less than our fee, we work out the difference with you, in writing, before you offer. Usually we simply lower our fee to match.
• For homes listed under $500,000, you pay any difference at closing. You will know the exact amount before you make an offer.
• If your purchase does not close, and it is not because you broke the purchase contract, you owe us nothing.

Credits are paid at closing through escrow and shown on your closing statement. Your lender must approve them; lenders usually limit credits to closing costs and prepaid items. Fees are negotiable. Credits are not paid for referrals. We show you every home that fits your needs, whatever the seller offers.

What you pay, depending on the seller's offer

Since August 2024, sellers can't post offers to buyer's brokerages in the MLS. A seller may still offer to pay all, part or none of our fee, and your offer will ask for it.

How it works when you make an offer

• Know before you offer. We find out what the seller is offering and show you your credit, or for homes listed under $500,000, any amount you would pay.
• Your offer asks the seller to pay our fee. The seller can accept, counter or decline, like any other term.
• Check with your lender early. Ask whether your loan allows the seller to pay our fee, and how much of any credit can go toward your closing costs.
• If your credit is more than your lender allows, we look at other options with you before you offer, such as using it to lower your interest rate or asking the seller for a lower price instead.
• Listed under $500,000? Plan your cash. Count any possible difference as part of your closing costs. VA buyers generally cannot finance a buyer-broker fee they pay themselves.

Next step: Planning to tour homes? We go over the buyer agreement and your numbers first. Request a call.

Buying a newly built home

1% of the price, never more than $8,000. The rest of the builder's fee goes to you.

For a newly built home, our fee is 1% of the base price or $8,000, whichever is less, Hawaii general excise tax included. It is written into your buyer agreement, which you sign before your first visit to the project.

Many builders pay a fee to the buyer's brokerage. Before your first visit, we get the builder's broker terms in writing and tell you how the rest of the builder's fee can reach you: as a builder credit or lower price, or as a credit from us at closing, as far as your lender allows. A credit from us is reduced by the Hawaii general excise tax we owe on it. If the builder's rules allow neither, the extra stays with the builder. We never keep more than our fee.

• You sign a written buyer agreement before your first visit to the project.
• We attend your first visit and register you with the builder.
• If the builder pays less than our fee, or nothing, you pay the difference at closing. We tell you the amount before your first visit.
• Your lender must approve the credit, which usually goes toward your closing costs, not cash to you.
• Builders often offer their own closing-cost incentives through a preferred lender. Before you sign, we check how their incentive and our credit fit within your lender's limits.
• If your credit is more than your lender allows, we look at other options with you, such as using it to lower your interest rate.
• We show you every project that fits your needs, whatever the builder pays.

The credit is not paid for referrals. Ask a tax professional how a credit affects you.

Official links and sources

• HiCentral MLS: NAR settlement
• HiCentral MLS Rules and Regulations (July 20, 2026)
• NAR: consumer guide to written buyer agreements
• NAR: what the settlement means for home buyers and sellers
• Hawaii Department of Taxation: general excise tax
• Hawaii Department of Taxation: county surcharge and pass-on rates
• Federal Reserve Board: "Commissions and Omissions" (FEDS Notes, May 12, 2025)
• AccountTECH: commission rates after the NAR settlement
• Redfin: buyer's agent commissions, Q3 2025 (December 8, 2025)

Marcus Suzuki (R) is a real estate broker. This page is general information about buyer fees and credits and is not legal or tax advice. Last reviewed: October 30, 2026.