ZipRealty, a leading online-based, real estate brokerage, has rebated over $100 million to home buyers since the company was launched in 1999. Due to its efficient business model, which blends online home search tools with a high level of customer service from local and licensed agents, ZipRealty often passes savings onto clients without sacrificing quality service. In markets where permitted by law, the company rebates up to 20 percent of its commission in cash to buyers at closing. In addition, more than 95 percent of its clients indicate they were "satisfied" or "completely satisfied" with ZipRealty's service.

Of the 34 markets in which the company currently operates, ZipRealty buyers in the following five cities have received the most in rebates from ZipRealty: San Francisco, Los Angeles, Boston, Seattle and Phoenix. The company has also rebated more than $48 million to buyers across all of its California markets, which include San Diego, Sacramento, Orange County, Bakersfield and the Inland Empire.

"Giving $100 million back to our buyers is an unparalleled milestone for the real estate industry, and indicates that our full-service, non-traditional business model works for today's buyers and sellers," said Patrick Lashinsky, the chief-executive-officer and president of ZipRealty. "What's most impressive is that we've maintained a customer satisfaction rating that's well above the industry average at the same time."

In April, ZipRealty polled its past buyers to determine how they spent their rebate check. While 26 percent of buyers who responded to the survey used their rebate to cover closing costs and moving expenses, other buyers took a different approach. Twenty-seven percent indicated that they used the rebate to buy extras, such as furniture, home theater equipment and appliances, for their new homes while 18 percent said they used the funds to pay bills. Only 11 percent of those polled indicated that they put the money into savings accounts.