Is a real estate commission rebate legal in NYC?

Yes. Commission rebates are legal in New York and are commonly used as a way to reduce the effective cost of buying real estate.

Is the commission rebate taxable?

No. The IRS treats commission rebates as a reduction in the property’s cost basis, not as taxable income. You will not receive a 1099 for the amount returned.

How do buyer agent commissions actually work in NYC?

In a standard NYC real estate transaction, the seller pays a commission — typically 5–6% total — which is split between the listing agent and the buyer’s agent. Most buyer’s agents keep their full half (2.5–3%) at closing. BRN returns up to 1.5% of that to the buyer.

Your New York City Buyers Agent Should Be Paying You Back.

BRN is the New York City buyers agent that returns half our commission to you at closing — up to 1.5% of your purchase price. Full service. No strings.

On a $3M home, that’s $45,000 back.

BRN is the New York City buyers agent that returns half our commission to you at closing — up to 1.5% of your purchase price. Full service. No strings.

On a $3M home, that’s $45,000 back.

Manhattan

Brooklyn

The Hamptons

A luxury apartment in New York City with a high-end kitchen and wood built-ins

Estimate My Return

Enter your expected purchase price to see the maximum amount BRN could return to you at closing.

The estimate assumes a 3% buyer-side commission. We’ll confirm the exact figure for your transaction.

Enter your expected purchase price to see the maximum amount BRN could return to you at closing.

The estimate assumes a 3% buyer-side commission. We’ll confirm the exact figure for your transaction.

Enter your expected purchase price to see the maximum amount BRN could return to you at closing.

The estimate assumes a 3% buyer-side commission. We’ll confirm the exact figure for your transaction.

Expected purchase price:

Maximum estimated return at closing:

$45,000

Your exact figure, in writing, before you close.

A brown stone townhouse sits beside a yellow painted townhouse at the corner of Gramercy Park and E 20th St in New York City

How It Works — Getting a Cash Back Rebate From Your NYC Buyers Agent

In many NYC real estate transactions, the seller or listing broker pays the buyer’s agent. The amount is negotiable and varies by property. Most NYC buyer’s agents keep the entire amount.

When you buy a home in New York through BRN, we return half of the commission we receive, up to 1.5% of the purchase price, to you at closing.

Same full-service representation. Same senior expertise. You just keep more of your money.

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The BRN Difference

01 — Deep NYC Market Knowledge

Manhattan and Brooklyn — co-ops, condos, brownstones, and townhouses from the Upper East Side to Brooklyn Heights. We know which buildings carry risk, which co-op boards are difficult, and where value still exists in a market that rarely makes it obvious.

A open laptop sitting on a marble tabletop

02 — Financial and Legal Rigor

Our partners bring backgrounds in finance, law, and real estate. We run the numbers, assess the property, and negotiate with precision — across transactions from $1M to $10M+.

A tree covered residential street in New York with cars parked along each side

03 — A Closing That Works in Your Favor

When the deal closes, BRN returns up to 1.5% of the purchase price to you. On a $3M home, that’s $45,000. On a $5M home, $75,000. Yours to use however you choose.

The stoop of a brown stone building in New York City, the kind that would represented by a New York City buyers agent

PARTNER-LED FROM FIRST CALL TO CLOSING

Two Senior Experts. One Seamless Purchase.

Major real estate purchases demand more than market knowledge alone. Every BRN client benefits from senior-level legal, financial and real estate expertise throughout the transaction.

Andrew Borchini

A Penn Law and Wharton graduate, former Boies Schiller lawyer and senior leader at Barclays, Andrew brings legal, financial and negotiation rigor to co-op, condo, townhouse and brownstone purchases.

John-Scott Johnson

With more than 20 years in New York real estate, John-Scott brings deep expertise in pricing, building financials, due diligence, co-op requirements and transaction execution.

READ OUR FULL BACKGROUNDS

Who We Work With

NYC buyers who want senior representation and meaningful capital returned at closing. Whether you’re purchasing a co-op on the Upper West Side, a condo in Tribeca, or a brownstone in Brooklyn Heights, we bring the same senior-level attention to every transaction.

“We received $58,500 at closing on our Tribeca condo. But what made us recommend BRN to friends was the senior-level work that went into the purchase — financial analysis, board package, negotiation. They earned the commission. Then they returned part of it to us.”

— Matt B., Tribeca condo buyer

“Our co-op board package was the most daunting part of buying on the Upper West Side, and BRN handled it like the financial document it is. Senior partners, start to finish — and $40,000 returned at closing. We’d recommend them to anyone buying in the city.”

— Anthony S., Upper West Side co-op buyer

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Frequently Asked Questions:

BRN operates differently than most brokerages. The questions below are the ones we hear most often — answered plainly.

Yes. Commission rebates have been legal in New York State since 2014 under Section 442 of New York Real Property Law. They’re a standard, regulated practice — not a workaround.

Generally, no. Commission rebates are usually treated as a reduction in the property’s cost basis. Confirm the treatment with your tax adviser.

At closing, the amount is wired directly to you or credited against your closing costs — your choice. The transaction is fully documented in the closing statement.

In many NYC real estate transactions, the seller or listing broker pays the buyer’s agent. The amount is negotiable and varies by property. Most buyer’s agents keep the full amount at closing. BRN returns half of the commission we receive, up to 1.5% of the purchase price, to the buyer.

Closing costs depend on the property, price, financing and whether you are buying a resale or new development. A BRN commission return can offset part of those costs. For example, if BRN receives a 3% commission on a $3M purchase, the return would be $45,000. Your attorney and lender should confirm the full closing-cost estimate and how the return can be applied.

See NYC buyer closing-cost examples

Co-op and condo board approval is one of the most complex parts of buying in NYC, and BRN handles it directly. We prepare your board package — financial statements, reference letters, personal documentation — and coach you through the board interview. Buildings vary widely in how they evaluate buyers, and we know which boards are difficult and which are straightforward.

None. BRN is structured to return a portion of our commission to you because that’s how the firm was built — not as a promotion. You receive full senior representation throughout the process: property search, financial analysis, negotiation, board package preparation, closing. The amount returned comes out of our commission, not out of what we do for you.

Round marble table next to a wooden chair.

Ready to buy in NYC? Let’s Talk.

Tell us what you’re looking for. You’ll get an honest read on the NYC market and on your shortlist if you have one — including the properties we’d tell you to walk away from.

A short conversation, no obligation. Tell us what you’re looking for and we’ll give you an honest read on the market and on how we can help.

Prefer to reach us directly?

hello@brnpartners.com

917-310-4876