How much do real estate wholesalers make?
Wholesale fees range from a few thousand dollars to $15,000 or more per deal, depending on the market and the property, and income is uneven because some months have no closings. Marketing, data and deposits come out of that fee, so profit per deal is lower than the headline number.
Fees are limited by the numbers: the buyer needs room to renovate and still profit. In a market with low prices and thin margins, fees tend to be smaller than where prices are high.
No outcome is guaranteed. Most income comes from running a steady process of lead follow-up, accurate numbers and a buyer list that actually closes.
Common mistakes
- Counting the headline fee as profit before marketing and data costs.
- Raising the fee until the buyer’s numbers stop working.
- Budgeting as if every month will have a closing.
More questions
What is a typical assignment fee?
Fees vary widely by market and deal; a few thousand dollars is common on lower-priced homes and more on expensive ones. The buyer’s numbers set the ceiling, not the wholesaler’s goal.
What costs come out of a wholesale fee?
Marketing to find sellers, property data, software, travel, earnest money at risk and sometimes transactional funding. Track them per deal so you know your real profit.
Is wholesaling a full-time income?
For some people it becomes one, but income depends on closing deals consistently, and many months can have none. Treat early deals as learning, not guaranteed income.