Keep your commission. Keep your clients. Keep your weekends covered.
ePalm Realty is a flat-fee California brokerage, now welcoming agents in San Diego County. You pay $595 when a sale closes, nothing every month, and you get a broker who picks up the phone.
See what you'd take home
Move the sliders to match your year.
| ePalm fees for the year (incl. E&O) | |
| You'd keep on an 80/20 split | |
| You'd keep on a 70/30 split | |
| Extra in your pocket vs. 80/20 |
Estimate only. Split comparisons assume no cap, franchise, or monthly fees. Your actual results depend on your transactions.
One simple fee schedule
No start-up fee, no monthly fee, no technology fee, and no surcharge on luxury sales. Every file is covered by the brokerage's E&O policy; a separate $295 E&O fee applies per closed side, subject to change at policy renewal.
Per side, plus the $295 E&O fee. The same fee on a $400,000 condo or a $4 million estate.
Of your commission, or $100 if that's more, plus the $295 E&O fee. Residential leases of 30 days or longer.
Slow month? Time off? You owe nothing until you close.
For agents who don't yet meet the experienced-agent test in the FAQ. The broker guides every step of your first two sales. Then you move to $595 for good.
| Referral and license-park agents | San Diego County agents. $0 per year. Referrals to agents outside ePalm: on sales, ePalm keeps 10% of the referral fee you receive or $595, whichever is greater; on leases, 10% or $100, whichever is greater. Never more than the referral fee itself. No separate E&O fee on referrals. |
|---|---|
| Referrals to another ePalm agent | Free for the referring agent. |
| Leases | 10% of your commission or $100, whichever is greater, plus the $295 E&O fee. |
| E&O fee | $295 per closed sale or lease side, on every plan (a double-ended deal is two sides). Subject to change at the brokerage's E&O policy renewal. Not charged on referral-only deals. |
| Your own property, a relative's, or both sides | $995 flat, with a required file review. |
| Leads provided by the brokerage | 30% of the commission on that deal. |
| Invite an agent | Earn $50 from each closed sale by an agent you bring in, for their first 12 months. |
| Optional help | Checklist management $99 per file. Broker price opinions $25. |
All fees apply to residential property only: single-family homes, condos, townhomes, planned-development homes, and single-family lots. Fees are paid through escrow at closing. Every sale uses a transaction coordinator; the $650 coordination fee is normally paid at closing by the client you represent, whether the buyer or the seller (see the FAQ). REALTOR® membership is required: you join a local Association of REALTORS® where ePalm Realty is a member and pay your own association and MLS dues. That membership gives you zipForm, C.A.R. standard forms, and member discounts.
What you get for $595
A low fee only works if the brokerage behind it is solid. Here's what comes with every closed deal.
Apply to join- Direct broker access, including weekendsQuestions about a contract or a tricky disclosure go straight to Frank, not a call center.
- A transaction coordinator on every saleAn in-house or ePalm-approved coordinator manages your paperwork and deadlines, and the broker reviews every file.
- Residential sales and leases welcomeHomes, condos, and residential leases all fit here, from first-time buyers to luxury.
- An in-house lender optionFrank Farazmand Mortgage is available if your clients want it. You're always free to recommend any lender you choose.
- Tools that work from anywhereA private agent portal, online transaction management, and ready-made marketing templates. Details below.
- Your brand, your wayMarket yourself or your team. We keep your advertising compliant.
Tools and support
Everything you need to run your business, set up for you from your first week.
Private agent portal
Password-protected access to ePalm forms, checklists, policies, the fee schedule, and brand files, any time, from any device.
Online transaction management
Open files, upload documents, and track what's missing from your phone or computer. No office visits for paperwork.
A coordinator on every sale
An in-house or ePalm-approved transaction coordinator manages deadlines and documents from contract to close.
Broker file review
Every file is reviewed against a clear checklist, so problems are caught before they become claims.
Forms library
C.A.R. standard forms through zipForm with your REALTOR® membership, plus ePalm's own forms for coordination, transfers, and more.
Marketing templates
ePalm-branded flyers, social posts, and just-listed and just-sold templates you can edit in Canva, or use your own brand.
Training
A video library on contracts, disclosures, and financing, plus one-on-one mentorship on your first two sales if you're in the mentorship program.
Business tools setup
Guidance setting up a free CRM, online appointment booking, and video walkthroughs for remote clients.
Park your license, keep it earning
Not selling actively right now? Keep your license with ePalm Realty for $0 a year instead of letting it lapse or paying board and MLS dues you aren't using. When you send business to another agent, you still earn. Currently available to agents in San Diego County.
- No annual fee, everHold your license here at no yearly cost.
- Earn on referralsRefer a client to any brokerage and collect a referral fee. On outside referrals, ePalm keeps 10% or $595 for sales ($100 for leases), whichever is greater, never more than the referral fee itself.
- Free in-house referralsRefer to another ePalm agent and pay nothing.
- Step up any timeReady to sell again? Move to the $595 plan whenever you like.
Meet your broker
Frank Farazmand has spent more than 25 years in California real estate across home sales, leasing, and mortgage lending. He also holds a law degree, so he reads contracts closely and explains them clearly.
At ePalm Realty, you work with him directly. No layers, no ticket queue.
- Broker, DRE #01099455
- Mortgage loan originator, NMLS #1926469
- 25+ years in real estate
- Juris Doctor
Switching is simpler than you think
Talk with Frank
A 20-minute call to answer your questions. No pressure.
Sign the agreement
A standard independent contractor agreement and the fee schedule you see above.
Transfer your license
We walk you through the DRE online transfer. Your pending deals can stay with your current broker.
Get set up
Portal access, templates, and your first file review, usually within a week.
Questions agents ask
Are there really no monthly fees?
Yes. You pay only when you close: $595 per sale side, and 10% of your commission ($100 minimum) per lease side, plus a $295 E&O fee per closed side. If you don't close, you don't pay.
Am I covered by E&O insurance?
Yes. Every file is covered under the brokerage's errors and omissions policy. A $295 E&O fee applies per closed sale or lease side, paid through escrow at closing, and may change when the policy renews. There's no separate E&O fee on referral-only deals. If a claim arises from a transaction you were involved in, you're responsible for the policy deductible, currently $5,000 per claim. Ask for the policy summary during your call.
Is there a transaction coordinator fee?
Every sale and purchase uses ePalm's in-house coordinator or a coordinator ePalm has vetted and approved. If you already work with a coordinator you like, they can apply for approval. The $650 coordination fee is disclosed to your client when they sign with you and is paid at closing by the client you represent, whether the buyer or the seller. It isn't an ePalm fee to you. If you'd rather cover it for a client, you can pay it from your commission. On loans that don't allow the buyer to pay it, such as VA loans, the seller or you would cover it. If you represent both the buyer and the seller, the fee is $650 per side, paid by each client.
Is there a surcharge on high-priced homes?
No. A $3 million sale costs the same $595 as a $500,000 sale.
Do I need to be a REALTOR®?
Yes. You'll join a local Association of REALTORS® where ePalm Realty is a member and pay your own dues, just as you would at most brokerages. In return you get zipForm, C.A.R. standard forms, member discounts, and the right to use the REALTOR® mark.
What if ePalm isn't a member of my local association or MLS?
We can add it. In year one, you cover the dues for both the brokerage and yourself. From year two on, ePalm may pick up its own share if the area brings in enough business. Agents who hold a broker license can belong to whichever association they like.
Can I just park my license or do referrals?
Yes, if you're in San Diego County, with no annual fee. On a sale referral you send outside the brokerage, ePalm keeps 10% of the referral fee you receive or $595, whichever is greater. On a lease referral, ePalm keeps 10% or $100, whichever is greater. Either way, ePalm never keeps more than the referral fee itself. Referrals to another ePalm agent are always free.
Do I earn anything for bringing in other agents?
Yes. You earn $50 from each closed sale by an agent you bring in, for their first 12 months with ePalm Realty.
I'm outside San Diego County. Can I join?
Not yet. We're onboarding agents in San Diego County first, so every agent gets close, hands-on support. We plan to expand to other areas. Send your details and we'll reach out when we come to yours.
I'm newly licensed or still building my business. Can I join?
Yes, if you work in San Diego County. Your first two closed sales go through the mentorship program at 20% of your commission, with Frank guiding each step. After that you pay the standard $595 per sale, and you stay on it for as long as you're with ePalm Realty.
Who skips the mentorship and starts at $595?
Experienced agents: at least 3 years with an active California license (verified with the DRE) and at least 5 closed residential sales in the last 3 years. Each side counts, so a deal where you represented both buyer and seller counts as 2. Leases and referral-only deals don't count. Once you're on $595, you stay on it for as long as you're with ePalm Realty. If you leave and come back later, you requalify.
Do I have to use the in-house lender?
No. Frank Farazmand Mortgage is an option for your clients, never a requirement, and you receive nothing for referring clients to it. Required affiliated business disclosures are provided whenever it's used.
What types of property does ePalm Realty handle?
Sales and leases (30 days or longer) of single-family homes, condos, townhomes, planned-development homes, and single vacant lots zoned for single-family use. Commercial and mixed-use property, buildings with two or more units, manufactured homes, agricultural land, business opportunities, and short-term or vacation rentals aren't handled here. If a client needs one of those, talk with Frank about referring them elsewhere.
What happens to my pending deals when I switch?
They generally stay with your current broker through closing. We'll talk through your situation on the first call.
Can I do residential leases?
Yes, for residential leases of 30 days or longer. The fee is 10% of your commission or $100, whichever is greater. Short-term and vacation rentals aren't handled at ePalm Realty.
Do I need to come into an office?
No. The brokerage is set up for agents to work remotely, with phone and video support from your broker.
Can I set my own commission with clients?
Yes. The only rule is that your commission must cover the brokerage fees on that deal.
Start with a conversation
Send your details and Frank will personally call you within one business day. Everything you share stays confidential.
Prefer to talk now? Call 858-663-6092.