How much does a new construction buyer agent credit cost in Maryland?
Nothing out of pocket. In Maryland the builder pays the buyer agent commission, usually 2 to 3 percent of the price. We split ours with you 50/50, so on new builds from $400,000 to $900,000 the credit runs about $4,000 to $13,500 back at closing. Your price is the same either way.
That short answer hides a few numbers worth knowing before you walk into a sales office, so here they are, in dollars, for the price ranges Maryland builders actually sell in.
What will I actually get back on a Maryland new build?
Between roughly 1 and 1.5 percent of your final contract price, paid as a credit on your closing disclosure. Builders set an agent commission for each community, almost always 2 to 3 percent, and your credit is half of it. Here's what that looks like at common Maryland price points:
| Final contract price | Builder pays (2 to 3%) | Your credit (half) |
|---|---|---|
| $400,000 | $8,000 to $12,000 | $4,000 to $6,000 |
| $500,000 | $10,000 to $15,000 | $5,000 to $7,500 |
| $600,000 | $12,000 to $18,000 | $6,000 to $9,000 |
| $700,000 | $14,000 to $21,000 | $7,000 to $10,500 |
| $850,000 | $17,000 to $25,500 | $8,500 to $12,750 |
| $1,000,000 | $20,000 to $30,000 | $10,000 to $15,000 |
The credit is figured on your final contract price, so a $60,000 walkout basement lot premium and $40,000 of design center upgrades on a Ryan Homes townhome in Frederick raise your credit too. A $475,000 55+ villa in Anne Arundel County and a $950,000 Toll Brothers single family home in Montgomery County both work the same way, only the dollar amounts change.
Why doesn't the credit cost me anything?
Because the builder budgets that commission on every home whether or not you bring an agent, and the base price doesn't change either way. Builders won't discount the house for an unrepresented buyer, since a visible price cut becomes the comp for every future sale in the community. When you walk in alone and sign the visitor sheet, the commission money simply stays with the builder. When a registered agent brings you, it gets paid out, and with us half of it lands on your side of the closing table.
What moves the number up or down
- The community's commission rate. Each builder sets it per community and adjusts it with inventory. A community with slow sales might pay 3 percent plus a bonus. A hot one might pay 2 percent. We confirm the current number in writing before you sign.
- Your final price. Lot premiums, structural options and design center orders all raise the contract price the percentage applies to.
- The company's split or fee. Models differ across Maryland. Some firms keep a flat fee, some keep 1 percent and rebate the rest, some advertise a percentage that quietly assumes a 3 percent commission. Our split is half of whatever the builder actually pays, stated in the agreement before your first visit.
- Your lender's credit cap. Loan rules cap total credits at closing. With a big credit and a small closing bill, the extra can't just become cash, so we coordinate a rate buydown or ask the builder for a price cut instead.
- Registration timing. Visit the sales office before an agent is registered and the number becomes zero for that community. No agent, and no credit company, can fix it afterward.
Is it legal to get part of the commission back in Maryland?
Yes. The Maryland Real Estate Commission permits licensees to share commission with their own client, provided the arrangement is in writing and disclosed. The credit isn't cash under the table; it appears as a line on your closing disclosure, the settlement form your lender reviews before you sign. Your loan officer sees it, the title company sees it, and everyone signs off.
Questions to ask any credit company before you sign
Whoever you use, get the pricing pinned down up front. Ask these five things:
- What exact split or fee do I get, in writing, before my first sales office visit?
- What happens if the builder pays 2 percent instead of 3? Does your fee shrink with it or come out of my share?
- Is there a minimum commission clause where I owe the difference if the builder pays little?
- What do I owe if I never end up buying? (With us: nothing.)
- Do you review the builder contract and attend the pre-drywall and final walkthroughs, or is this rebate only?
A company that hesitates on the first two is planning to decide your credit after you're committed.
When the credit is worth less than you'd expect
Three honest cases. First, if your closing costs are small and your loan program caps credits, part of the credit may need to become a rate buydown or price reduction, which takes coordination and sometimes a little negotiation. Second, a few communities offer a low commission or none at all; we tell you that in writing before you sign, and you can walk away owing us nothing. Third, if you already toured the sales office alone last weekend, most builders won't pay an agent who shows up later, though registrations often lapse after 30 days or so, and it's worth a text to find out where you stand.
The bottom line
A buyer agent credit in Maryland costs you $0 and returns four to five figures at closing on a typical new build. The only expensive move is walking into the sales office unregistered. If you're weighing the builder's rate buydown against all this, the two stack, and the incentives guide explains why. Still deciding if you want representation at all? Start with do you need an agent for new construction. And if a visit is already on your calendar, register us first. It takes two minutes.