10 Best Brokerages for Low Commission Realtors

10 Best Companies for Low Commission Real Estate Agents | How to Find the Best Realtors Near Me | FAQ

The easiest way to find a good low commission realtor is to work with a real estate company that offers discounted listing fees. This guide breaks down the top low real estate commission companies in 2023. Find out how much they cost, where low commission real estate agents are available, and who offers the best overall value.

At a Glance: Where to Find the Best Low Commission Realtors in 2023

What percentage do most realtors charge?

Most traditional realtors charge 3%, but some listing agents charge a 2% real estate commission or even 1.5%. As a home seller, you typically pay for both your listing agent and the buyer’s agent. So the total commission you pay is 6%, or 4.5–5% with a low commission listing agent.

A good low commission real estate agent can save you thousands (even tens of thousands) when you sell your house. But a bad low commission realtor can just as easily tank your sale, erasing any theoretical cost savings.

Best Low Commission Real Estate Companies That Offer Full Service

🥇 1. Clever Real Estate

✍️ Editor’s take: Clever is a solid option for most sellers. You’ll get matched with top agents from local brokerages and pay just a 1.5% listing fee. You can interview as many agents as you’d like until you find the right fit, or you can walk away at any time.

If you want to pay a lower commission without sacrificing service, we recommend Clever Real Estate. Clever lets you sell with top-producing agents in your area for just a 1.5% listing fee. Its agent matching service is free and available nationwide. It’s also been named the top real estate brokerage on independent review site Trustpilot.

How it works: You fill out a short form (or call its team directly) to help Clever understand your situation and preferences. Then Clever quickly sends you the profiles of partner agents who are a good fit for your situation. You can browse their reviews and sales history on sites like Zillow, Facebook, and Google and decide who you want to interview. 

Why it’s great: Clever lets you compare top-producing local realtors from major brands like Keller Williams, Compass, and Century 21. Each realtor in Clever’s network meets strict criteria for experience, customer ratings, and sales performance. Better yet, they’ve agreed to offer lower rates exclusively to Clever customers.

If you don’t like the agents Clever recommends, you can request more matches until you find the right fit — or simply walk away. Find top agents near you today.

👍 Pros

• You get to choose your own agent from top producers in your area.
• You get a 1.5% listing fee (half the usual rate) no matter who you choose.
• The agent matching service is quick, free, and no obligation.

👎 Cons

• Add-ons like professional home staging and drone photography may cost extra (agents will let you know exactly what’s included during listing presentations).
• There’s no guarantee you’ll get matched with a specific local agent or brokerage (but Clever’s network of 194,000 agents offers great selection compared to similar services).

2. Redfin

✍️ Editor’s take: Redfin gets you a lower commission and may get you a good outcome on your sale, but it can be a risky choice. Not all of Redfin’s agents are high quality. If you’re interviewing a Redfin agent, compare them against a few other options to ensure you’re hiring the best fit.

Redfin is one of the more established and well-known discount brokerages. Its 1.5% listing fees offer legit savings compared to what most realtors charge. But those savings bring some potential risks and drawbacks.

Redfin agents typically handle three times more deals at once than the average realtor, which may explain the common customer complaints about lousy service. And while Redfin has some solid agents, others are inexperienced.

With only a few thousand agents nationwide, Redfin may provide only one or two options to choose from in your area. Its minimum fees also vary by market (some exceed $8,000), so depending on your location and your home’s value, you could end up paying more than the advertised 1.5%.

👍 Pros

• The 1.5% listing fee offers solid savings.
• You get a 0.5% listing fee refund if you also buy with Redfin within 12 months of selling.
• Redfin offers a few legit extras, like a 3D walkthrough and premium placement on Redfin’s home search tool.

👎 Cons

• Agent quality and customer service are spotty.
• You have limited agent selection compared to other options.
• Minimum fees are very high in some markets.

3. Ideal Agent

✍️ Editor’s take: Ideal Agent is free, so there’s no risk in signing up to see who you get matched with. However, Clever offers the same free matching service but with better rates, the ability to compare multiple agents, and better coverage outside of major cities. Our recommendation: Start with Clever, and if you don’t find an agent you like, try Ideal Agent.

Ideal Agent is an agent matching service that pre-negotiates lower rates with vetted, conventional realtors across the country. That said, its 2% listing fees are higher than Clever’s 1.5% rates. Ideal Agent also has a much smaller agent network than Clever (2,000 vs. 14,000) and only provides one agent match, which means you have to take additional steps to compare options.

👍 Pros

• Ideal Agent only works with top-producing agents.
• It pre-negotiates 2% listing fees.
• The service is free to use with no obligation.

👎 Cons

• It’s more expensive than other low commission brands.
• The limited agent selection makes it hard to compare options.
• It may not have agents in smaller towns and rural areas.

4. Prevu

✍️ Editor’s take: If you’re in one of Prevu’s markets, it’s worth a look. Its 1.5% listing fees are solid, and the potential buyer savings are great if you qualify. Just remember, you’re hiring the agent, not the brand. Compare the Prevu agent with agents from a few other brands on this list so you can find the right fit.

Prevu Real Estate is a regional discount real estate brokerage. It currently operates in select higher-end markets in California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Washington. The company primarily focuses on home buyers and offers a pretty substantial commission rebate. But it also offers discounted 1.5% listing fees for home sellers.

👍 Pros

• Sellers get 1.5% listing fees.
• Home buyers can get up to 2% back after closing.

👎 Cons

• There are high minimum fees for sellers (though higher-end homes likely won’t be affected).
• It offers limited agent selection.

5. SimpleShowing

✍️ Editor’s take: If you’re in one of SimpleShowing’s markets and you find an agent you like, SimpleShowing’s commission savings are worth it. Just be sure to compare the agent it connects you with against a few others. Choosing the best agent for the job will impact your net sale proceeds more than saving 2% on commission.Also watch out for SimpleShowing’s $5,000 minimum fee. Sellers with homes below the $500,000 mark will pay more than the advertised 1%.

SimpleShowing is a brokerage that offers low commission for sellers in Florida, Georgia, and Texas. The company relies on technology to bring costs down, charging a 1% listing fee to sell your home. It also offers help with closing costs for buyers.

👍 Pros

• The low 1% listing fee can net you big savings.
• The company is transparent about costs vs. services.

👎 Cons

• You get limited agent selection.
• It’s available only in select cities in Florida, Georgia, and Texas.
• The $5,000 minimum fee could mean you pay more than 1%.

6. Houwzer

✍️ Editor’s take: Houwzer is especially worth considering for sellers with high-value homes. That’s where the potential savings are highest. Make sure you compare multiple agents to find the best one for the job. Saving $10,000 on commission is great, but if your agent underprices your home by $30,000 — there go your savings.

Houwzer offers a 1% listing fee, which is one of the lowest in the industry. It has a reasonable minimum fee of $2,500 and a maximum of $10,000. The cap on the listing fee makes Houwzer an especially good deal if you’re selling a home for $1 million or more.

But it has the same drawbacks as other discount real estate brokerages like Redfin and SimpleShowing. It has a relatively small number of agents, so you can’t be picky when choosing your realtor. And like SimpleShowing, Houwzer uses a high-volume, team-based model that can impact the quality of service you receive.

👍 Pros

• Houwzer’s 1% listing fee is one of the cheapest realtor commission rates in the industry.
• You can save a lot on homes over $1 million.

👎 Cons

• Your options are limited if you don’t like the first agent Houwzer sends you.
• Houwzer agents handle a high transaction volume, which creates service quality risks.

Low Commission Real Estate Companies That Offer Limited Service

Many low commission real estate companies provide full service just like you’d expect from a traditional agent, but others offer limited support.

Limited-service companies could be a fine option if you don’t mind a little DIY, you have a flexible timeline, and your home is in a hot market.

7. Trelora

Trelora offers a 1% commission, which is on par with our top recommendations for full-service agents. But the company cuts corners when it comes to customer service. Compared to the average realtor, Trelora agents handle up to 20 times more listings. You get support throughout the selling process, but the time and attention you get is limited.

8. Homie

As one of the cheapest real estate companies we reviewed, Homie charges a flat fee of $3,500 when you list. However, there are a few downsides to consider. For example, Homie agents won’t show up in person for a pricing consultation, and it’s available only in Utah, Phoenix, Las Vegas, Boise, and Denver.

9. ListingSpark

ListingSpark is an online platform that helps you sell your home, mostly DIY, for a flat fee. It’s available only in select Texas markets. ListingSpark has a few different pricing and service tiers. The package most similar to Trelora and Homie is the Premium Plan, which costs $2,999 — with a nonrefundable $500 due up front. You pay the remaining balance at closing. Be aware that ListingSpark offers no in-person support. It’s 100% virtual. Unless you have a lot of experience (and free time to manage your own sale), we don’t recommend it. You can get full service at the same or similar price points.

10. Flat Fee Group

Flat Fee Group is a nationwide flat fee MLS company with independent real estate brokers running each state office. Pricing and services vary by location, but in most places, Flat Fee Group provides basic MLS listings for about $300 and full-service packages for $1,000+. The company can save you a lot of money, but its brokers are busier than the typical agent, and they handle the entire transaction remotely. Also, you may not net as much as you would with a commission-based realtor who’s incentivized to get you top dollar for your home.

How Much Can You Save with a Low Commission Realtor?

When selling your house, commission fees from a traditional real estate agent can take a big chunk out of your profits. But low commission agents help to keep more of that money in your pocket without sacrificing service or quality.

Agents from low commission companies can offer a full range of real estate services just like what you’d get with a traditional realtor.

The average listing agent commission is around 3%, but a low commission agent charges just 1–2% to sell your home. That gets you around $4,000–8,000 in savings on a $400,000 house!

Keep in mind: You’ll still want to offer a buyer’s agent commission, which is typically 2–3% of your home’s sale price. Skipping this can deter agents from showing your home to prospective buyers, since the agent wouldn’t get paid for the sale.

Pros and Cons of Low Commission Real Estate Agents

How to Find a Low Commission Realtor Near You

The best way to find a low commission realtor is to use an agent matching service like Clever Real Estate, which matches you with multiple agents in your area and lets you decide who’s the best fit.

Keep in mind, the right real estate agent does more than just list your house. They work hard to market your home, negotiate with buyers, get the highest sale price, and provide exceptional customer service.

Companies like Ideal Agent and Houwzer also have great agents in their networks, but the agent selection is limited. To find an agent that lives up to your expectations, you want to talk to more than one.

Clever sends you two to three agents from well-known brokerages in your area. It also negotiates lower listing fees with the best real estate agents, so you can focus on selling your home for top dollar. You’ll get full service while paying just 1.5% in listing fees.

👋 Find the best realtors near you!

Alternatives to Low Commission Realtors

Low commission real estate brokers help you keep more money in your pocket and get many of the same services a traditional agent offers. But they aren’t the only option. You might also consider:

• Selling for sale by owner (FSBO): You take care of everything from setting the sale price and marketing to juggling showings and negotiating offers. We don’t recommend this option unless you have the time and experience to properly market and sell your home on your own.

• Selling to a cash buyer company: Often called “we buy houses” companies, these buyers give you a cash offer for your home. There’s no sale process or waiting for a buyer to come along. However, you’ll likely get offers that are much lower than fair market value.

• Using a traditional real estate agent: These agents are often more familiar with your neighborhood, but they charge much higher rates to sell your house compared to other agents.

• Hiring a flat fee MLS company: A flat fee MLS company lists your house on your local multiple listing service (MLS), ensuring more buyers see your home in less time. But that’s where the service ends. Flat fee MLS companies don’t help you market your home, manage paperwork, or negotiate offers unless you pay for upgrades.

Don’t Overpay on Realtor Fees

Choosing a real estate agent is a big decision. If you aren’t sure which method is best for you, consider working with a low commission real estate company. It’s a great middle-of-the-road option that gives you the best of both worlds — personalized service to sell your house and lower fees than the average agent.

We recommend trying Clever Real Estate. Its free service matches you with top local agents who work for a pre-negotiated 1.5% rate. Compare agents until you find the right fit, or walk away with no obligation.

👋 Get matched with top-rated agents and start saving today!

FAQ about Low Commission Realtors