Two paths. Same certification standard. Transparent fees, full service, published rules. Here is what to know whether you are selling your home or buying your next one.
A Fair Fixed Fee Certified Listing Agent represents you, the seller, under a flat fee. Not a percentage of what your home sells for. The fee is disclosed in writing before you sign anything. It does not rise because your home is worth more. It does not fall because the buyer negotiated a concession. It is what was agreed upon, paid at closing, and that is the end of it.
Certified listing agents charge a flat fee that does not exceed 2.5% of the sale price, OR a market-indexed dollar cap for your metro area, whichever is lower. In most California markets, that dollar cap ranges from $15,000 to $30,000. In Santa Clarita specifically, the published cap is $17,000. In lower-price markets, the cap is lower. The math favors the seller without compromising the service.
Drag to enter your home's estimated sale price.
Estimate based on typical 6% commission (seller side alone is 3%, plus traditional 3% buyer-side offered by seller = 6% total). Actual fees are always negotiable. Individual transactions vary. Fair Fixed Fee cap shown is Santa Clarita Valley, California default; your metro's cap may differ.
Your home entered into the Multiple Listing Service with accurate details, optimized descriptions, and syndication to major search sites.
Professional photos. Minimum 20 images for a single-family home. No phone snapshots.
Lockbox management, scheduling, follow-up, and feedback collection.
Every offer reviewed and negotiated on your behalf. All offers presented.
From accepted offer through close of escrow. Inspection, appraisal, lender, and title coordination.
Your agent is present (in person or virtual) at closing. No handing you off to a title officer and disappearing.
Some items may be offered at additional cost, clearly disclosed before work begins. These include physical staging, drone videography beyond standard photos, pre-listing repairs or upgrades, and off-market pre-listing exposure. Each certified agent handles these differently. Ask before you sign.
A Fair Fixed Fee Certified Buyer Agent represents you, the buyer, under a flat fee that is disclosed in writing before you sign a buyer-representation agreement. This matters more than it did before August 2024. Under the current MLS rules, you are expected to understand and agree to your agent's fee structure up front, rather than assume it is "paid by the seller."
Certified buyer agents charge a flat fee that does not exceed 1.5% of the purchase price, OR a market-indexed dollar cap for your metro area, whichever is lower. In California markets, that dollar cap typically ranges from $7,500 to $18,000. In Santa Clarita, the published cap is $10,000.
Since August 17, 2024, MLS rules no longer require listing brokers to offer cooperative compensation to buyer brokers. That has practical consequences. There are three common structures now, all of which must be disclosed in writing to the buyer:
A certified buyer agent discloses which structure applies to your transaction before any offer is written.
Active search based on your documented criteria. Not a link to Zillow.
Scheduled, attended, and debriefed. Feedback captured for future searches.
Before you offer on a home, a written analysis of what similar homes sold for and how your offer should be structured.
Written offer preparation. Negotiation of price, terms, contingencies, and credits.
Recommendations for qualified inspectors. Review of reports. Negotiation of repair credits.
Appraisal, title, lender, and closing coordination. Attendance at closing.
The public directory of Fair Fixed Fee Certified agents opens once the founding cohort is onboarded (targeted Q3 2026). The directory allows consumers to search by state, metropolitan area, neighborhood, and certification tier. Each listing displays the agent's unique verification number (FFFCB-YYYY-####) which can be independently verified at fairfixedfee.com/verify/[ID].
Leave your email and which metros you care about. We will notify you the day the directory goes live with certified agents in your area.
