⚠️ REAL TALK: Is Hiding Your Assignment Fee Smart Hustle - or Just Shady?

Let’s be real, if you’re upset about a $30K spread, you’re probably not doing enough deals.

I’ve been wholesaling for years, and I’ve earned every dollar I made. We’re the ones negotiating with stressed-out sellers, lining up buyers, solving title issues, pushing deals across the finish line. If someone wants transparency, they can go list with an agent and wait 90 days.

I bring the deal, I create the value, I set my price. That’s not shady, that’s business.

​@MartinAM I'd love you to share your point of view here with everyone!

I believe assignment fees should remain private, it’s not about being shady, it’s about protecting the mechanics of how we run a legitimate, value-driven business.

Wholesalers aren’t brokers or agents working on commission; we’re principals in the deal. We’re taking on the risk, putting in the marketing dollars, building the seller relationships, negotiating under tough circumstances, locking up deals, and in many cases, solving complex title or timeline issues. That fee isn’t just a number, it’s the result of real work and real risk.

When you walk into a store and buy something, you don’t demand to know the wholesale cost or the seller’s profit margin. You pay for the value it brings you. Real estate should be no different.

If a buyer agrees to the purchase price, and a seller agrees to sell under certain terms, that’s a fair deal. Everyone made their decision based on their needs and timing, not on how much I’m making in the middle.

I appreciate the honesty in this post - this is the kind of debate we need to be having as the industry grows and comes under more scrutiny.

But let me be clear: I don’t agree with requiring wholesalers to disclose their assignment fee. Here’s why:

1. Wholesalers step in where traditional options don’t work. We take on the risk, the marketing, the negotiation, and the uncertainty. That’s real work. If I lock up a deal at a great price through skill and hustle, why should I be obligated to justify my profit to anyone?
2. The seller signed a contract they were comfortable with. If I made $30K on the deal, it’s because I brought value on both sides - to the seller and to the buyer. Nobody forced anyone to sign anything. Let’s not pretend like people don’t have agency. 
3. Experienced buyers don’t care about your fee - they care about the deal. If the numbers work for them, that’s all that matters. If they start nitpicking your assignment, it’s usually because they wish they’d gotten the same deal.
4. The idea that hiding a fee means you’re doing something “dirty” is a narrative pushed by regulators and agents who feel threatened. But the truth is, integrity is in how you treat people, not in how much you make.

Let’s not let outsiders define our ethics or dictate our margins. Instead of playing defense, we should focus on educating the market, sharpening our skills, and raising the bar within our own community.

We’re not here to apologize for being good at what we do. Let’s keep it real. 🔥

Regardless of your opinion, it seems apt for me to mention here:

When you are creating a property listing on Investorlift, we ask that you enter your purchase price, and we use that to calculate assignment fees. This number is absolutely private and is not shown to any buyer ever! But it is used for all kinds of cool data science widgets that we are building to make your life better and help you make more money! You would be amazed how many people enter their asking price in there, which would make their assignment fee a WHOPPING $0. 😎

I just wanna build cool stuff for you guys, but I need that sweet sweet data 💘 

I dont go to the grocery store asking them how much they are making on my groceries. Just imagine if every industry had to show how much profit they make. Sellers would not sell as much and buyers would not buy as much. If every one knew how much NIKE made on each pair of sneakers they would not sell as much. I think everyone should mind their own business and worry about what they need for their business instead of wanting to know how much margins everyone else is making.

We primarily focus on Commercial deals. Since we double close all our deals - it’s definitely the smart way to go especially on large spreads. It’s our preferred method just to keep the deal clean (since we are temporarily taking title) without having to worry about Seller or End-Buyer counting pockets. 

Absolutely love this insight from our data wizard!🧙‍♂️

Thanks for shining a light on how important accurate data entry is, ​@Bryce - especially when it directly fuels the tools we’re building to help you close more deals and boost those profits. 🙌

It’s not just about numbers - it’s about smarter tech, sharper comps, and features that actually work for our users!

​@Willie Owens jump in, it would be great to hear what you think about it! 👀

​@Marina Statsenko it would be amazing if you could share your point of view with everyone here too.

I believe if you’re an honest person and doing everything to help the homeowner get out from difficult situation, have a great communication, clear the title, get to the finish line with a serious buyer, you earned the assignment. The intentions are good and there is nothing wrong to get a $30k assignment. If someone lies to the seller and doesn’t treat well, that’s the problem. As a wholesaler we are solving the problem on both sides, helping the seller get out from a difficult situation and get them something to walk away with rather than letting it go to foreclosure and they walk away with nothing. Also, we are giving the opportunity to the end buyer so he has a project to work on and make money on it. Win-win all around. By solving the problem, of course we have to get paid, it’s business and we don’t work for free. The laws are changing and now we need to be registered wholesalers, I didn’t like it at first, but because of the bad reputation from doing the wrong way we have to get over that do what is required. I thought to get a real estate license so I can do both, wholesale and list the properties if someone wants to list it with an agent. No matter what we do, we have to be honest and serve people around us.

Hi  "Team",

Thank you for sparking this important conversation — it’s one that truly reflects the pulse of our industry.

As someone who has worked closely with both distressed sellers and passionate end buyers, I genuinely believe 80% of wholesalers operate with good intentions. Many of us are on the front lines, helping families who are overwhelmed — facing foreclosure, probate burdens, code violations, or simply carrying the weight of a property they can no longer manage.

At the same time, end buyers play a critical role by restoring these homes, revitalizing neighborhoods, and creating housing that uplifts communities. We're all part of an ecosystem that functions best when each player stays aligned to purpose: delivering results tailored to individual needs — and doing so ethically.

✅ Here’s Where I Stand on Assignment Fee Disclosure:

I believe disclosure depends on context and intent — not fear. If a deal is structured fairly and every party walks away with a benefit that makes sense for their goals, then how much a wholesaler earns shouldn’t be a deal-breaker.

🔍 The Pros of Disclosing Assignment Fees:

• Builds trust and credibility with sellers and buyers
• Prevents last-minute fallout or emotional reactions at closing
• Supports transparency in an industry that often faces scrutiny
• Can help protect legally in tighter-regulated states

⚠️ The Cons of Disclosing Assignment Fees:

• May cause sellers to feel taken advantage of, even if the offer is fair
• Opens room for renegotiation or unnecessary tension
• Can limit negotiating leverage or allow others to circumvent you
• Some buyers will judge the fee — not the deal

At the end of the day, we live in a capitalistic economy, and those who consistently put in time, energy, and care to solve real problems and deliver win-win outcomes deserve to be compensated fairly. As long as integrity remains the foundation, how we structure deals should reflect the value we bring in, not just the numbers on a HUD.

Thank you again for opening the floor to this discussion. Transparency and integrity are not opposing forces when used wisely, they go hand in hand.

Warm regards,
Zoerene Antoinette Mitchell
B’ZAM Property Solutions
🌐 www.bzamcorp.com

Very well said ​@Zoerene !!! :)

🔥 Let’s Talk Real on Assignment Fees 🔥
 

This convo right here? Yeah, it’s one of those that separates the wholesalers from the hustlers, the entrepreneurs from the opportunists.

Let me say this straight up—I’ve always shot it straight in this game. Because here’s the truth: what’s done in the dark always finds the light. Whether it’s at closing, through title, or in a backchannel convo, it will come out eventually. And if you’ve been hiding your fee like it’s dirty laundry, you risk way more than losing a deal—you risk your reputation, your network, and your future plays.

Now with that said…

👉🏽 My assignment fee? That’s private.
I don’t care who’s asking—nobody’s out here counting your pockets when you sell a flip or rent out a unit. Why’s wholesaling any different?

I’ve seen buyers walk away from great deals just because they found out the wholesaler was making more than them. Ego got in the way of equity. And that’s wild to me. If the numbers make sense for your business model, why does my payday matter?

Here’s how I break it down:

• 💪🏽 A partner worked hard to lock it up.

• 🧠 I’m working hard to Dispo it.

• 📈 We’re all in this to make profit.

The real investors—the ones who’ve been around the block—don’t flinch at a $50K, $75K, even $100K assignment as long as the deal pencils for them. They signed the contract based on their numbers, their goals, and their strategy. If they win and I win? That’s a win-win. Period.

So to answer the big question:

❓ Should we legally have to disclose our fee?

Nah. But we should always move with integrity. If you’re lying, manipulating, or taking advantage of someone’s pain to get your check? That’s not hustling—that’s hustling backwards.

Run your business like a business. Stack your wins. And keep your name clean.

– Dispo Money Mike, signing out 🏡💼
“This ain't a side hustle, it’s a legacy move.”