On a luxury double close, the spread becomes public record and the end buyer can read it
A structural issue worth thinking through on any luxury double close: both deeds record, and in states where sale prices are public, the end buyer or their agent can pull the in-price and the out-price and see the spread exactly. A $12k spread rarely draws attention. A $110k spread on a $2.1m house gives a buyer's agent a clear reason to try to blow up the deal and re-approach the seller directly. An assignment avoids the two recorded deeds, but the fee shows up on the settlement statement, which the buyer sees anyway. Both routes end up disclosing the number in some form. The more defensible approach at this price point is generally to disclose the fee up front and be prepared to explain the value being added, rather than relying on document structure to keep it hidden, since at luxury price points a sophisticated buyer's team is very likely to find it either way.