Yes, cash back rebates are legal and its terms will be outlined in the schedule to the standard Buyer Designated Representation Agreement a buyer will sign with their Green Hedge Realty cash back agent prior to any offer.
Under current real estate trading regulations, licensed individuals and brokerages can legally earn commissions on property transactions. How they choose to use those funds, including offering cash back rebates to buyers, is entirely at their discretion.
Green Hedge Realty is a full service real estate Brokerage and the services it provides are intended to be complete and all inclusive. You will have a designated representative who will personally take you to showings, advise you when needed, draft & present offers on your behalf, and assist with pre-closing matters.
However, since every real estate transaction is unique, buyers are encouraged to discuss their requirements, preferred areas of interest, and schedule with their cash back agent to ensure the relationship is a good fit.
Green Hedge Realty will deposit a cash back rebate to a buyer's bank account via EFT the same day it is available. Payments are made from the co-operating commission Green Hedge Realty receives from the listing Brokerage after the completion of a transaction. This can take anywhere from a few days after closing to a few weeks or longer depending on the listing Brokerage. On average many buyers receive their rebate within 5 to 8 days.
As cash back rebates gain popularity in real estate transactions, new financial services may allow buyers to access these funds before closing, subject to interest fees.
Generally accepted practice holds that a cash back rebate on a home purchase is a price discount, and no income tax is payable. If the home is later sold, this discount may have an effect on capital gains tax paid to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). However, since taxes vary based on individual circumstances and realtors are not experts on taxes, buyers are advised to consult with a tax professional regarding their specific cash back rebate.
In Ontario, a buyer may pay Provincial Land Transfer Tax (PLTT), Municipal Land Transfer Tax (MLTT), and, for new homes, Harmonized Sales Tax (HST). None of these taxes are affected by cash back rebates because they are calculated based on the value of consideration. However, rebates may be used to lower the negotiated purchase price, which would affect these taxes. For guidance on such strategies, buyers should consult with their designated cash back representative.
A cash back rebate reduces the property's cost, which may cause a lender to adjust the mortgage amount. Buyers must disclose any cash back rebate to their lender to ensure they remain compliant with the lender's requirements to provide all pertinent information that may affect the size of the loan.
There is no small print or hidden fees. Any buyer client who works with a Green Hedge Realty cash back agent will receive the rebate as promised, deposited electronically to their bank account, with no deductions for fees or taxes. If the purchase price is $1,000,000 and the co-operating commission is 2.5%, then the cash back rebate will be exactly $15,000.
There is no catch! The price of housing has outpaced wages to such a degree, that it's now possible to offer very high cash back rebates while still earning a sufficiently high wage as a real estate salesperson. In addition, technological advances such as electronic signatures, have made the job easier and enabled REALTORS® to provide MLS® services to more clients at the same time.
When working with Green Hedge Realty's cash back realtors, buyers can expect to receive full designated representation services that meet the highest regulatory and professional standards, without limits on showings or services, and without any obligation to work with the brokerage or its agents again in the future.
Green Hedge Realty is licensed with the Real Estate Council of Ontario (RECO) as a Brokerage and insured under the Trust in Real Estate Services Act, 2002 (TRESA). As a member of the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board (TRREB), the Ontario Real Estate Association (OREA), and the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA), Green Hedge Realty is also subject to a code of ethics and rules ensuring buyers receive professional and comprehensive representation services from qualified and experienced REALTORS®.
To ensure complete satisfaction with the services, buyers are encouraged to discuss their specific requirements, area of interest, and personal schedule with their cash back agent to determine if they are a good fit for them.