HOMEH vs a Traditional Realtor: What's the Difference?

On paper, every Ontario brokerage offers the same thing: licensed agents who help you buy or sell. So what actually separates HOMEH from a traditional realtor? It comes down to one thing — the money. HOMEH is a licensed Ontario brokerage that charges a 1% listing fee for sellers and gives eligible buyers the industry's highest Cashback Rebate, instead of keeping the full commission. Sellers who also buy with HOMEH within 6 months list for free, or pay $395 + HST for a Mere Posting.

Key takeaways

• Both are licensed brokerages — the service and accountability are the same.
• Traditional commission is typically ~5% total (often ~2.5% per side) plus HST.
• HOMEH lists for a 1% listing fee and shares a large portion of commission back as cashback.
• Eligible buyers can receive the industry's highest Cashback Rebate. Sellers list for 1%, or free when they also buy with HOMEH within 6 months, or $395 + HST with a Mere Posting.
• On a typical GTA home, the difference can be tens of thousands of dollars.

Same licence, different model

First, the part that's identical: both HOMEH and a traditional realtor operate as licensed Ontario brokerages, governed by the same provincial rules. You get a real agent, professional representation, and full accountability either way. HOMEH is not a discount or do-it-yourself service.

The difference is the fee structure. A traditional brokerage typically keeps most of the commission. HOMEH runs leaner and returns a large share of it to you — as a lower listing fee for sellers, and as cashback for buyers and sellers alike.

The headline difference

Same representation, very different outcome on price. For the underlying mechanics, see how HOMEH cashback works.

What traditional commission costs

In Ontario, total real estate commission is typically around 5% of the sale price, usually split roughly 2.5% to the listing brokerage and 2.5% to the buyer's brokerage, plus HST. That comes out of the proceeds at closing. For a fuller explanation, read real estate commission in Ontario.

The HOMEH model, side by side

Here's the clearest comparison of what each model means for your wallet:

Sellers can dig into the listing side in how HOMEH's 1% listing fee works.

Is it really allowed?

A fair question — and the answer is yes. In Ontario, brokerages are permitted to offer commission rebates and incentives to their own clients under the rules administered by the Real Estate Council of Ontario (RECO) and the Trust in Real Estate Services Act (TRESA). HOMEH's cashback is simply a transparent, disclosed version of this.

If you want the detail, we cover it in is real estate cashback legal in Ontario.

Which is right for you?

If you value full brokerage representation but don't want to hand the entire commission to the brokerage, HOMEH is built for you. The service is the same; the financial outcome is meaningfully better — often by tens of thousands of dollars on a typical GTA home.

Compare the numbers yourself

Eligible HOMEH buyers receive the industry's highest Cashback Rebate. Sellers list for 1%, or free when they also buy with HOMEH within 6 months, or $395 + HST with a Mere Posting. See exactly what you'd save with the cashback calculator.