← Back to BlogMay 20267 minDan White
Assignment Fee Calculator — How Much Can You Make Wholesaling?
Your assignment fee is the spread between what your buyer can pay (their MAO) and what you have the property under contract for. Calculate it before you negotiate — it tells you whether the deal is worth pursuing at all.
Market Context
Live Market Data
Washington, DC Housing Market
Cool Market
Data through Mar 2026
Median Sale Price
$590,000
+0.8% YoY
Median Days on Market
44 days
lower = faster market
Sale-to-List Ratio
99.7%
buyers' market
Homes Sold
4,457
last reported month
Source: Redfin Data Center. Updated monthly. Data reflects Washington, DC residential sales.
redfin.comHow Assignment Fee Is Calculated
Assignment Fee = Buyer MAO − Your Contract Price
Buyer MAO = (ARV × 0.70) − Rehab. If buyer MAO is $175,000 and you get the property under contract at $148,000, your assignment fee is up to $27,000.
What Affects Your Fee Size
- How low you negotiate the seller: Every dollar below MAO is a dollar in your pocket
- ARV accuracy: Inflated ARV makes the deal look better than it is — buyers who pull their own comps will discount your package
- Rehab estimate: Conservative rehab estimate leaves more room for your fee
- Market competition: More buyers competing for deals means tighter fees
Calculate Your Assignment Fee Free
Freddie calculates buyer MAO, your potential fee, and generates a professional dispo package with Rentcast comps. Free.
Calculate My Assignment Fee →Typical Assignment Fee Ranges
- Light deal, thin spread: $3,000–$8,000
- Standard wholesale deal: $8,000–$20,000
- Strong equity deal: $20,000–$50,000+
- Major equity deal in high-value market: $50,000–$100,000+
Dan White is a licensed Virginia real estate agent at Pearson Smith Realty and founder of FreeDealCalc.com. He has been investing in real estate for 20+ years.