In California, most transaction coordinators charge a flat fee of roughly $400 to $600 per transaction, billed when the deal closes. You typically pay nothing if the file falls through. Here's how that pricing works and what should be included.
The typical price range
Transaction coordination is usually priced per file rather than by the hour. Across California, flat fees generally land between $400 and $600 for a standard residential transaction, with dual-representation files (where the coordinator handles both sides) often priced a bit higher. Rates can vary with the complexity of the deal, the level of service, and the coordinator's experience.
At TC me, our pricing is simple and transparent: $500 for a purchase, $500 for a listing, and $700 for a dual transaction — and your first file with us is $50 off.
Flat fee vs. hourly
Most coordinators charge a flat per-file fee, which is predictable and easy to build into your cost of doing business. A few charge hourly or use a hybrid model. Flat-fee pricing is almost always the better deal for agents, because you know your exact cost up front regardless of how many hours the file ends up taking.
Pay at close — why it matters
A reputable TC only invoices when the transaction successfully closes. If a deal cancels or falls out of escrow, you shouldn't owe anything. This "pay at close" model keeps the coordinator's incentives aligned with yours — they only get paid when you do — and means there's no risk in trying one on your next file.
Who pays the TC fee?
That's up to you. Many agents absorb the fee as a cost of doing business, since delegating the paperwork frees them to close more deals. Others pass it to the client on the closing statement where local rules and disclosures allow. A good coordinator will follow your preference and your brokerage's guidelines, and keep the arrangement properly disclosed.
What should be included for the price
A flat fee should cover the complete contract-to-close process — not a stripped-down version with add-ons for everything. At a minimum, expect:
- Contract and document review
- Opening escrow and confirming the timeline
- Daily deadline and contingency tracking
- Preparation and distribution of the C.A.R. disclosure package
- Regular status communication to all parties
- Broker compliance and an audit-ready file
- Coordination through funding and recording
Is it worth it?
Coordinating a file yourself can take 10 to 15 hours. If your time is worth even $75 an hour, that's $750 to $1,000 of your effort spent on administrative work per deal. A flat coordinator fee of a few hundred dollars — paid only when the deal closes — frees that time to go list and sell the next one. For most producing agents, the math is easy.