Wholesaling Real Estate Fee Calculator
Find the maximum wholesale assignment fee that leaves enough margin for your cash buyer to profitably flip or BRRRR the property.
How Real Estate Wholesaling Actually Works
A real estate wholesaler controls a property under contract from the seller, then assigns the contract to an end cash buyer for an assignment fee. The wholesaler never owns the property — they assign their rights to purchase to another party at closing, collecting the difference between their contracted purchase price and what the end buyer agrees to pay.
The math: Seller agrees to sell for $145K → wholesaler signs contract → wholesaler markets to cash buyers at $160K → end buyer assumes the contract and closes at $160K → wholesaler collects the $15K assignment fee at closing. Source: BiggerPockets wholesale community, REIA standards. Last updated: May 2026.
The Maximum Allowable Offer (MAO) Math
Your end buyer (typically a flipper or BRRRR investor) uses the 70% rule: MAO = ARV × 0.70 − Rehab. Example: $285K ARV, $40K rehab → MAO = $159,500. If your contract with the seller is $145K, your maximum wholesale fee is $14,500 ($159,500 − $145,000). Charge more than that and the buyer's margin gets too thin; they'll pass and you'll fail to assign.
Typical Wholesale Fees in 2026
| Deal Size (ARV) | Typical Fee Range |
|---|---|
| Under $100K (rural/D-grade) | $3,000-$6,000 |
| $100K-$200K (typical suburban) | $8,000-$15,000 |
| $200K-$400K (mid-tier) | $10,000-$25,000 |
| $400K+ (high-end / luxury) | $15,000-$50,000+ |
Wholesaler Mistakes That Kill Deals
(1) Greed on fee. Asking for $30K assignment on a deal that only supports $15K — buyer walks. (2) Bad ARV. If you over-estimated ARV by $20K, your '70% rule MAO' is overstated by $20K — fee math collapses. (3) Underestimating rehab. Investors are sophisticated; they'll deduct your rehab estimate plus 20% buffer. (4) No buyer list. Without 50+ pre-qualified cash buyers, you have no leverage and weak comps. (5) Wholesaling without proper assignment language — some states (IL, OK, KY) restrict wholesaling without a license. Verify state law.