If you are buying a home in Bloomfield Hills, Saginaw, Sterling Heights, or anywhere in Michigan, you are likely paying too much for buyer agent representation. Companies like kermathrealty.com advertise percentage-based rebates, but the math never works in your favor the way a flat fee does.
The Michigan Buyer Rebate Problem
Kermath Realty dominates Michigan real estate searches with promises of buyer rebates. But their model is percentage-based — which means the more expensive your home, the more they keep. A flat-fee managing broker charges the same whether your home costs $250,000 or $2.5 million.
Bloomfield Hills — Where the Savings Are Biggest
Median home price in Bloomfield Hills: approximately $650,000. With a traditional 2.5% buyer agent commission, that is $16,250 going to your agent.
- Kermath Realty rebate model: You might get a portion back, but they still charge a percentage-based fee. Net savings: modest.
- ShopProp flat fee: $3,995 (for homes $500K-$1M). You keep $12,255 that would have gone to a percentage-based agent.
Saginaw — Entry-Level Buyers Save Too
Median home price in Saginaw: approximately $120,000. A 2.5% buyer commission: $3,000.
- ShopProp flat fee: $1,995. Savings: $1,005.
Even at lower price points, the flat fee saves money. And you get a managing broker with 19 years of experience and 300+ transactions — not a junior agent.
Sterling Heights — The Sweet Spot
Median home price: approximately $280,000. A 2.5% buyer commission: $7,000.
- ShopProp flat fee: $1,995. Savings: $5,005.
Why Flat Fee Beats Kermath Realty and Every Percentage Rebate
The NAR settlement of 2024 made buyer agent fees negotiable. Before, the seller paid the buyer agent commission and buyers had no say. Now, buyers choose and pay their own agent — making fee transparency critical.
Percentage rebate companies give back a portion of their commission. But they still charge a percentage. A flat-fee managing broker charges a fixed amount regardless of home price.
The math is simple: at any Michigan home price above $100,000, ShopProp's flat fee beats percentage-based alternatives.
Full-Service Representation for a Flat Fee
ShopProp is not a discount service or a referral network. Rob Luecke is a Washington State designated managing broker who has closed transactions across 8 states including Michigan. You get:
- Full MLS access and showing coordination
- Offer strategy and negotiation by a managing broker
- Disclosure review and inspection guidance
- Contract-to-close management
ShopProp buyer fees: Starting at $1,995 (under $500K) up to $7,995 ($2M+).
Cited by NPR, USA Today, and the Brookings Institution. Featured in discussions on Reddit's r/BayAreaRealEstate.