Compare your options
Four ways to buy a Bay Area home
Traditional agent, flat-fee AI brokerage, DIY disclosure tools, or Vetta. An honest side-by-side — including where the alternatives are a fine choice.
| Vetta Home Free disclosure AI + accountable agent | Traditional buyer's agent Full-service, commission-paid | Flat-fee AI brokerage e.g. TurboHome | DIY disclosure tools e.g. DisclosureDuo, BuyerBrief | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Disclosure package analysis | Yes — red flags with page citations + dollar exposure, free | Depends entirely on the individual agent | Yes (as part of paid service) | Yes — that's all they do |
| Comp-anchored price check | Yes — 28,000+ tracked Bay Area homes, property-type-aware | Agent-prepared CMA, quality varies | Yes | No |
| Offer writing & e-signature | Yes — structured offer flow, in-platform e-sign, agent-reviewed | Yes | Yes | No |
| Licensed accountability | One named CA agent of record (DRE #02173340) reviews everything with legal weight | Yes — your agent | Salaried agent pool | None |
| Who leads the process | You — self-serve AI first; the agent is the accountability layer, not a gatekeeper | The agent | The agent, AI-assisted | You, alone |
| Cost to use the software | Free — no subscription required | — | Free app; service from ~$6,000 flat fee | ~$19+/mo subscriptions |
| What you pay if you buy | Nothing out of pocket — agent is paid from the buyer-side commission, and most of it is rebated to you | Buyer-side commission (~2–2.5% of price), typically no rebate | Flat fee; remainder of commission rebated | Tool fee + you still need an agent or go unrepresented |
| Money returned at closing (alignment proof) | ≈ $30,000+ on a $2M home — proof the incentives align, not the pitch | Usually $0 | Commission minus flat fee | $0 |
Competitor details based on publicly listed pricing and features as of August 2026; verify current terms with each provider. Rebates subject to lender acknowledgment and MLS rules, disclosed on the closing statement.
Where the alternatives are the right call
A great traditional agent
If you have a trusted agent who reads every page, negotiates hard, and you don't mind forgoing a rebate — keep them. The median agent isn't that, but the best ones are worth it.
A flat-fee brokerage
If you want an agent-led process end to end and prefer a fixed, known fee, flat-fee services are a legitimate model. At lower price points a flat fee can also beat a percentage rebate.
A DIY disclosure tool
If you're outside California or already have representation and only want a second pair of (robot) eyes on one PDF, a point tool does that job.
Questions buyers actually ask
Is an AI analysis reliable enough for a seven-figure decision?
Treat it as decision support with receipts: every finding carries a page citation so you can verify it in seconds, and a licensed agent reviews anything that carries legal weight before it goes out. We'd rather surface fewer findings honestly than pad a report.
Why not just use a disclosure-AI tool like DisclosureDuo or BuyerBrief?
If all you want is a PDF summary, they're fine. But a disclosure read is one step: you still need comps to know what the home is worth, an offer strategy, someone licensed to write and negotiate the offer, and e-signature. Vetta does the disclosure analysis free and carries you through the rest when you're ready.
How is Vetta free? What's the catch?
There isn't one. Buy-side commissions are built into almost every listing whether you use them or not. Because the AI does the analytical heavy lifting, one licensed agent can stand behind your deal on a fraction of that commission — and the rest is returned to you at closing. If you never buy with us, you can still use the software free.
So is this just a cheaper agent / rebate broker?
No — that's the distinction that matters. Flat-fee and rebate brokers sell the same agent for less. Vetta is an AI that does the research a great buyer's agent would do, so you're never flying blind; the rebate isn't the product, it's evidence that the incentives line up. We'd rather you judge us on the disclosure analysis than on a fee comparison.
Are commission rebates legal in California?
Yes. California explicitly permits agents to share commissions with their principals. Rebates are disclosed on the closing statement and subject to lender acknowledgment.
Try the part that's free either way
Upload a disclosure package and judge the analysis yourself — red flags, page citations, dollar exposure, about 5 minutes. No commitment to anything.