Buying by state
Buying a House Without a Realtor in California
Buying without an agent is legal nationwide - what changes from state to state are the money and closing rules. Here is what California’s rules say, generated from the same legal dataset the product runs on.
The rules
What California requires, plainly
- Buyer commission rebates
- Allowed - delivered as closing-cost credits or a rate buydown, through a licensed broker where the law requires one
- Attorney required at closing
- No - closing runs through a licensed title or escrow company
- Remote online notarization (RON)
- Not available - a mobile notary or in-person signing is used instead
- Typical signing mode
- Mobile notary / in person
- Dual agency
- Allowed with disclosure (when brokers are in the deal)
- Minimum-service duty (brokerage mode only)
- No minimum-service law Applies only when a licensed broker is in the deal; self-directed software purchases have no brokerage party.
Research summary, not legal advice. Every rule here comes from research pending attorney verification; confirm with a licensed professional in your state. All figures are estimates, and fees settle at close - never upfront, never financed into your loan.
The money
The commission math, with example figures
A 5.5% total commission on a $400,000 home (example figures, est.):
- Total commission
- $22,000 (est.)
- The buyer’s side, roughly half
- $11,000 (est.)
- StraightKeys buyer flat fee, settled at close
- $1,499 (est.)
- Difference you could keep
- $9,501 (est.)
In California, that difference can reach you as closing-cost credits or a rate buydown - real money applied to your purchase, subject to your loan’s contribution caps. You always choose your own lender.
Fees are settled at close - never upfront, never financed into your loan.
Questions
California, answered straight
Can I buy a house without a realtor in California?
Yes. In California, as everywhere in the U.S., the agent is an optional actor in the transaction: buyers can deal directly with builders and sellers. Research summary, not legal advice - confirm details with a licensed professional in California.
Are buyer commission rebates legal in California?
Yes. In California a broker may share commission with the buyer, typically delivered as closing-cost credits or a rate buydown, subject to loan contribution caps. Research summary, not legal advice.
Does California require an attorney at closing?
No. In California closing normally runs through a licensed title or escrow company. Research summary, not legal advice.
Is remote online notarization available in California?
No. In California, signing happens with a mobile notary or in person.
Does StraightKeys work in California today?
Not yet. StraightKeys is expanding state by state, and California is not on the supported list yet.