Selling your home in the current market can be a challenge. Especially with median home sale prices over $394,000 and rising mortgage rates. Flat rate Realtors charge a flat fee, while traditional Realtors charge a 5% to 6% commission on the sale price. A Realtor will help you get the best possible price for your home and also minimize your costs.
Flat Fee MLS listing companies like Houzeo have a track record of good customer service. Houzeo’s affordable packages offer sellers essential services for which a traditional agent charges a hefty commission.
Rankings: 7 Best Flat Fee Realtors and Companies
We’ve spent thousands of hours reviewing and rating America’s best Flat Fee Realtors and companies. These rankings reflect our assessment of important factors for home buyers and sellers.
Flat Fee Realtor & Company | Listing Fee | Buyer Rebate | Max Savings | Hidden Fees | 100% Online | 5-Star Rating |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. Houzeo | $379 | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
2. Beycome | $399 | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ |
3. SimpleShowing | $2,500 | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
4. Homie | $5,000 | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
5. Houwzer | 1% of sale price | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
6. List With Freedom | $295 | ❌ | ❌ | 0.25% | ❌ | ❌ |
7. Homecoin | $95 | ❌ | ❌ | $450 | ✅ | ❌ |
Reviews: 7 Best Flat Fee Realtors and Companies
1. Houzeo.com
Houzeo offers 4 Flat Fee packages.
- Bronze Package – $99+: This package gives home sellers a Houzeo.com listing only. Home sellers get a listing period of 6 months + submit MAX photos.
- Silver Package – $379: With this plan, list for 6 months and submit 24 photos for the MLS. The plan includes syndication to real estate websites like Redfin, Zillow, and Trulia. Get unlimited listing changes, a listing management tool, and much more.
- Gold Package – $379+: It is Houzeo’s signature MLS package and includes all the technology Houzeo is known for Houzeo Showings, Houzeo Offers, and DigiTransact.
- Platinum – $349+: It includes the assistance of a licensed broker to help you with negotiations, disclosures, and closing.
👉 Our Take: We recommend the GOLD plan. You’ll have access to Houzeo tech, making managing showings and offer negotiations easy!
» Houzeo Reviews: Houzeo is 100% online. You can finish listing formalities in less than 60 mins.
Houzeo is America’s #1 Flat Fee service because of 4 reasons:
- Max Exposure: Houzeo MLS packages give you access to the MLS, Zillow, Trulia, Realtor.com, Redfin, and 100s of other websites.
- 5-star Customer Service: Houzeo has a fully staffed customer service desk available 6 days a week. Chats and emails are open 7 days a week. This is rare in today’s world.
- 100% Online: Houzeo is high-tech. For you, this means easy listing, fast changes, online showings, and online offers. Buyers can use the Houzeo Mobile App for home shopping.
- No Listing Commission: In most states, you’ll be paying just a small flat fee to list on MLS. Houzeo covers 47 states + DC! And remember, all fees are disclosed upfront, so there are no Houzeo hidden fees.
There are no deal breakers with Houzeo.
» Houzeo Reviews: Houzeo is rated “Excellent” with a 4.9 out of 5-star rating by 4,523 home sellers on Google Reviews and Trustpilot!
Houzeo is rated 4.9 out of 5 stars by thousands of home sellers on Google & Trustpilot.
» Houzeo Reviews: Check out how Team Houzeo has addressed all Houzeo complaints from home sellers.
Houzeo is a Flat Fee MLS listing service that lets you sell your home without any agent commission. It offers maximum savings, advanced technology, 5-star customer support, and listing exposure.
Houzeo’s Bronze package is priced at $379. The Silver package is priced at $399, and the Gold package is priced at $379 + 0.5% (minimum $999) at closing. The full-service Platinum package is priced at $349 + 1% (minimum $999) at closing.
- 👉 Pricing varies by state. Click here to get the price for your state.
2. Beycome
Beycome Brokerage Realty LLC offers Flat Fee MLS listing packages for homeowners and cashback to buyers.
For Home Sellers
- Basic Package – $99: This package will get you listed on the MLS with unlimited changes to your listing. This package is available in all the 10 states they cover.
- Enhanced Package – $399: You get a yard sign, a featured listing on Beycome’s website, flyers, brochures, and one key lockbox. You can also add a virtual tour video to your listing. This package is available only in 8 states.
- Concierge Service – $599 + 1% Commission: This is essentially a virtual full-service package that includes assistance till closing. They charge 1% of the sale price at closing with this package. This package is available only in 6 states.
For Home Buyers
- Cashback Program: Buy a home with Beycome and get 2% cashback. The refund comes from the 3% buyer agent commission the seller pays to Beycome for selling a house.
👉 Our Take: Beycome’s prices are reasonable, and their technology is useful. We recommend their Enhanced Package priced at $399.
» Beycome Reviews: Is Beycome the right choice for you in 2023? Click to know.
Beycome offers good service in the selected states they are available in:
- Unrestricted Revisions and Edits: You can make unlimited changes in description, photos, or price adaptions in your listing. You can also easily switch to a full-service package anytime.
- Expert Assistance, if Needed: You can get expert assistance on all 7 days of the week in English and Spanish.
In our research, we came across some deal breakers with Beycome.
- You’ll Be Constantly Upsold the Title Service: Beycome also owns a title company, which will be pitched to you repeatedly.
- Limited Coverage: Beycome is only available in 10 states.
- Average Customer Reviews: Most customers had to manage logistics, price negotiation showings, and closing all by themselves. Customers also complained about the lack of customer support and the delay in resolving issues.
- Average Technology: Beycome technology helps you with listing your home on the MLS. Leads, home inspections, home appraisals, etc. are managed offline so the process can be cumbersome.
- Only for Experienced Sellers: You need to have a good handle on buying and selling real estate, including closing costs and seller disclosures.
Beycome has 4.6 out of 5 stars (509 total reviews) on popular review sites like Google Reviews.
» Beycome Reviews: Know why it is not the best way to sell with Beycome in 2023.
Beycome is headquartered in Florida and licensed in 10 states. It offers legal forms, seller disclosures, an open house scheduler, and customer support.
However, it won’t help you schedule and review home inspections, appraisals, and closings. You will have to manage leads manually outside the platform.
3. SimpleShowing
SimpleShowing is a licensed full-service brokerage in Florida, Georgia, and Texas. They offer the following packages:
For Homesellers:
- 1% Listing Fee: This package includes full-service support, with licensed agents handling all aspects of the sale. They also provide marketing, home showings, and negotiations to finalize the sale.
For Homebuyers:
- $5,000+ Towards Closing Costs: This package includes full-service support. Licensed agents will handle all aspects of the sale, including marketing, home showings, and negotiations to finalize the sale.
👉 Our Take: SimpleShowing is a good option if you are selling a high-end home. However, its $5,000 minimum listing commission makes it more expensive for lower-priced homes than other brokers.
Here’s what stands out about SimpleShowing:
- Market Exposure: Homes are listed on the MLS and various national websites, including Realtor.com, Zillow, Trulia, etc.
- No Upfront Costs: The listing fee is only paid at closing, deducted from the sale profit.
- Professional Guidance: Offers pre-listing consultation, ongoing support, and contract assistance throughout the selling process.
- In-House Photography: They have an in-house professional photographer to get the best photos and videos of the home for the MLS.
SimpleShowing has the following downsides:
- Minimum fees: Homes under $500,000 don’t benefit from the 1% listing fee because of a minimum commission fee requirement of $5,000.
- Limited Agents: They are a small team so you do not get to choose or change the agent in case of disputes.
- Limited Coverage: They have agents only in 8 cities: Miami, Dallas, Atlanta, Orlando, Tampa, Savannah, Fort Lauderdale, and Fort Worth.
SimpleShowing has 4.9 out of 5 stars on Google from over 110 reviews.
SimpleShowing offers its services in Florida, Texas, and Georgia. Its 1% listing fee gets you a home valuation, professional photos, and paperwork assistance.
SimpleShowing has a 5-star rating on Zillow and a team of experienced local agents. They help you manage your real estate transaction from listing to closing.
4. Homie
Homie serves as a comprehensive real estate solution:
- Listing Price ($ 5,000 to $10,000): Homie sellers pay a flat fee, which varies based on the price of the home. For sellers, it charges a flat fee rate.
👉 Our Take: Homie offers a single flat fee package to sellers and multiple in-house services to buyers. It benefits buyers with better mortgage rates, suitable insurance, and hassle-free paperwork. Hence, you may consider buying a house through a Homie instead of selling.
Below are the key advantages of choosing Homie for your home sale:
- Manage Buyer Tours: Coordinate buyer tours from anywhere, ensuring convenience.
- Expert Homie Agent: You will meet a dedicated agent who will guide you throughout the process.
- Home Value Report: Receive a personalized home value report to help you set the right price.
- Professional Photos: Homie helps you get high-quality professional photos to showcase your home.
- Social Media Marketing: Homie promotes your home on social media to reach more potential buyers.
Below are the Homie drawbacks:
- Limited Coverage: Homie provides services in Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, and Utah.
- Customer Support: As per the customer reviews, Homie agents cannot respond with proper guidance.
- No Advanced Tech: Some clients are disappointed with their slow and outdated technology.
Homie has a 4.4 out of 5 stars rating on Google.
» Is Homie Worth It? Read to know Homie benefits when selling your house.
Homie is a Utah-based company that was founded in 2015. It offers in-person agent support to home sellers. Additionally, it also has a user-friendly dashboard and a mobile app.
However, Homie has limited coverage and covers only 5 states. Many customers have also complained about its poor customer service and lack of experience.
5. Houwzer
Houwzer offers three different deals for home sellers and a cash rebate plan for home buyers.
For Home Sellers
- Flat rate – 1% Commission: Houwzer charges a 1% listing fee. This low commission Realtor is ideal for homes with a value above $1M.
- Buy & Sell Bundle: If you purchase a property along with selling your house, you will get a transferable refund of $2,500 on the listing fee.
- Convenience Offer: You will receive a cash offer from them. You get better offers from prospective buyers and pre-qualify for a mortgage on a home purchase.
For Home Buyers
- Cash Rebate of $2,500: Purchase a house Howzer’s title and mortgage services to get $2,500 cash back for purchasing a house.
👉 Our Take: If you’re looking for a low-commission real estate brokerage that’s easy on the wallet for high-valued properties, Houwzer is a good option for you. Home buyers should consider Houwzer provided they are willing to buy their title and mortgage services.
» Houwzer Reviews: Check out the customer reviews to know if they are the right choice for you.
Houwzer is a low-commission real estate brokerage based in Philadelphia, PA.
- List on MLS at a Low Commission: Houwzer allows home sellers to list on MLS at 1% of the sale price. Their services can highly benefit people with homes priced above $1M.
- Versatile Add-On Features: They offer good add-on features like virtual tours, high-definition photography, and closing assistance.
- Cash Advantage: Houwzer empowers buyers to make a cash offer on a house using Houwzer’s funds. The buyers should be pre-approved by Houwzer Mortgage to avail of the cash advantage option.
Houwzer has drawbacks we came across during our research.
- No Personalized Support: Due to high customer volume their agents might not give personalized attention to every customer. You will be left to fend for yourself.
- Not for Low-Priced Homes: Houwzer is only ideal for houses that are valued at $1 million or above.
- No National Coverage: Houwzer offers its services only in Florida, New Jersey, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Washington.
Houwzer has an average rating of 4 out of 5 stars from 46 reviews on Yelp.
» Houwzer Reviews: Check out the customer reviews before making your decision.
Houwzer was launched in Philadelphia, PA, in 2014. Its easy-to-navigate dashboard lets you chat with the agent and track your listings. Moreover, their add-ons, like photography and closing assistance, make your home-selling journey easy.
However, Houwzer’s agents handle multiple clients at once. They may not be able to provide you with personalized assistance.
6. List With Freedom
List With Freedom provides 3 Flat Fee MLS packages for sellers.
For Home Sellers
- Gold Package – $149: This package allows listing for 6 months and 6 photo uploads with unlimited changes.
- Platinum Package – $195: This is the most popular package that allows you to upload a maximum of 25 photos.
- Platinum+ Package – $295: With this plan, the listing term doubles with an online showing scheduler and maximum photo uploads. However, you must pay an additional 0.25% fee on Closing.
For Home Buyers
- ListWithFreedom is solely a Flat Fee MLS listing company. They do not provide any specific services to home buyers.
👉 Our Take: List With Freedom can be a decent choice for experienced sellers who do not require much assistance. We recommend the Platinum Package priced at $195 for easy listing.
» ListWithFreedom.com Reviews: Are they the right Flat Fee service for you? Click to know more.
List With Freedom is one of the oldest Flat Fee MLS services based in Florida. Here are some of their best features:
- List at Inexpensive Charges: Home sellers can list their properties at a small flat fee starting at $149.
- Unlimited Listing Changes: You can make an unlimited number of modifications to your listings with any of their packages.
- Buyer Leads Forwarded: All buyer leads are directly forwarded to you with no agent involvement.
- Quick Listing: The MLS listing procedure is fast, and listings are quickly syndicated to other real estate websites.
- Near Nationwide Coverage: ListWithFreedom provides its services in almost all states of the US.
List With Freedom has two major drawbacks a seller should know about.
- Hidden Costs: ListWithFreedom charges between 0.1% to 0.25% at closing (over your one-time flat fee payment). This closing cost is not mentioned on their pricing page. Keep in mind that for certain states even a 0.25% additional commission can be pretty expensive.
- Average Customer Reviews: ListWithFreedom does not enjoy robust customer reviews. Past sellers said that their experience was just average thanks to the lack of pricing and negotiation assistance
- À la Carte Services: ListWithFreedom does not offer ShowingAssist, open houses, and virtual tours in their plans. These features have to be added and purchased at an additional cost.
List With Freedom Reviews has 4.3 out of 5 stars from 1,696 total reviews on Trustpilot.
» ListWithFreedom.com Reviews: Are they truly the right Flat Fee service for you? Read to know more.
List With Freedom has 18 years of experience in the real estate market. It is popular for its unlimited listing modifications in all its packages.
List With Freedom does not provide any pricing or negotiation assistance. It charges a 0.25% fee at closing.
7. Homecoin
Homecoin offers flat fee listing services to home sellers for a fixed fee.
For Home Sellers
- Flat Fee MLS Listing – $95: Homecoin will get you listed on the MLS. This plan DOES NOT include managing showings, offers, lockboxes, yard signs, or digital seller disclosures.
For Home Buyers
- Homecoin mostly caters to home sellers. We did not find any specific service that they provide to buyers.
👉 Our Take: We do not recommend Homecoin for most home sellers. The $95 MLS listing sounds great, but most sellers need additional services. Homecoin significantly overcharges for these services.
» Homecoin Reviews: Is $95 the only fee you pay to list on MLS? Read to know the truth about Homecoin’s flat fee.
There are 2 key advantages to Homecoin.
- MLS Exposure at a Flat Fee: A Flat Fee MLS listing via Homecoin will get you on the MLS and in front of thousands of buyers.
- 100% Online: Homecoin provides virtual services that ensure home sellers get timely updates and reminders about their property listing.
We really wanted to like this service, but in our research we found several issues with Homecoin.
- The $95 Listing is the Bait: Homecoin’s $95 listing includes just a basic entry-only listing in the MLS. Homecoin will charge you extra for features like showings management with a lockbox, ability to counter an offer, or request highest & best offer. You can end up paying thousands more for these.
- Upgrades are Overpriced: Homecoin’s yard sign is expensive at $69 + $97 (for the post), if you want to manage showings, you have to rent a lockbox for $125 + $120 desposit. A standard forms help package is $400.
- Key Features are Not Available: In many states, key essentials are missing in Homecoin’s offerings. Without these, you risk turning-off buyers and buyer agents. These essential features include a showing service to manage showings, inspections, appraisal, and closing. Broker contract review & support is also not available in many areas. Homecoin calls this “Seller Forms Help (Premium)”. It should be available if you need it. You also don’t have the ability to counter an offer, or request highest & best. These are essential services in our opinion.
- Limited Customer Service via Phone: Homecoin provides decent customer service over text and email. The service is difficult to reach via phone.
- Dashboard is Clunky: Homecoin does not auto-populate listing data from public sources. So you have to fill all the listing data manually. Sellers have complained that this can take a lot of time.
Note: Homecoin’s offerings vary by region. Our research was in 28025 zipcode.
Homecoin.com has a 4.6 out of 5-star rating from 53 sellers on Google Reviews.
» Homecoin Reviews: Is $95 the only fee you pay to list on MLS? Read to know the truth about Homecoin’s flat fee.
Homecoin is a For Sale By Owner website that offers a single MLS listing package priced at $95. It offers a rental lockbox, professional real estate photographs, and signposts at additional costs.
However, Homecoin’s technology is not up to par with the current industry standards. You will not be able to review and compare offers, counter an offer, or auto-fill listing data on their platform.
What Is a Flat Fee Realtor?
Flat Fee Realtors charge a pre-determined fee to help you sell your house. Contrary to popular opinion, Flat Fee real estate agents are reliable and offer services with the same diligence as traditional Realtors.
Flat Fee Realtors vs. Traditional Commission Realtors
Here are some differences between traditional and commission Realtors.
Parameters | Flat Fee Full-Service Realtors | Traditional Commission Realtors |
---|---|---|
1. Significant Savings | $379+ | 5% - 6% commission |
2. Advanced-Tech Tools | ✅ | ❌ |
3. Home Listed on MLS | ✅ | ✅ |
4. Personalized Assistance | ✅ | ✅ |
5. Listing Paperwork | ✅ | ✅ |
6. Host Showings & Open Houses | ✅ | ✅ |
Types of Flat Fee Real Estate Services
- Flat Fee MLS Companies: Flat Fee MLS listing companies help get your property on the MLS at a fixed fee and save thousands of dollars.
- Flat Rate Full-Service Realtors: They charge a fixed fee for their real estate services. A flat-rate full-service Realtor offers cost savings, transparency, and predictable budgeting for sellers, decoupled from the property’s sale price.
- Low Commission Real Estate Agents: Discount real estate brokers will charge you a commission of 2% commission or less to sell your property.
- Virtual Full-Service Realtors: They use digital tools for their real estate services. Their tools will help you navigate the entire real estate transaction online.
✅ Pros of a Flat Fee Realtor
- Huge Savings: You can save on the 2.5% to 3% listing agent commission by paying a flat fee.
- Transparency: Flat Fee packages mention the listing period, number of photos allowed on the MLS, and other services in their package. This transparency allows home sellers to choose the right plan for themselves.
- Attractive Buyer Rebates: Flat rate brokers offer appealing cash rebates to home buyers that result in significant savings.
❌ Cons of a Flat Fee Realtor
- Hidden Fees: Some Flat Fee MLS companies charge additional fees at closing. They may charge a 0.5% fee at closing, which is not disclosed in their Flat Fee packages.
- Inexperienced Sellers May Struggle: First-time home sellers have to handle all the marketing, paperwork, showings, and negotiations, which can be daunting.
Cost to Work With Flat Rate Realtors
The cost varies on what type of service you require. Here is a breakdown of the costs you should keep in mind while working with a flat rate Realtor:
- Additional Service Fee: Flat Fee Realtors can charge you additional fees for listing changes, yard signs, contracts, etc.
- Closing Fee: Most Flat Fee real estate companies charge a fixed rate for their services. However, some companies may charge 0.5% -1% of the sale price at closing.
- Extra Charge for Paperwork: A traditional real estate transaction includes disclosures, contract reviews, and real estate forms. But most Flat Fee real estate brokers will charge you extra to assist you with the paperwork.
Is a Flat Fee Realtor Worth Your Time?
Yes, a Flat Fee Realtor is worth your time. They result in cost savings and provide you with tailored services. Evaluate your needs, the local market, and agent expertise to make an informed decision.
A full-service agent is not always necessary to handle a property owner’s sale. With a bit of research, you can sell your home with a Flat Fee Realtor.
Best Flat Fee Realtors Near Me
Eager to Know How Houzeo Works?
We’ve got you covered. Check out the following video to understand how Houzeo works and why it is one of the best For Sale By Owner websites in the U.S.
» NEED MORE CLARITY? Read these exclusive Houzeo reviews and learn why it is one of the best website For Sale By Owner in America.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is flat fee in real estate?
A flat fee in real estate is where a company or Realtor charges a flat rate or a fixed commission for the entire real estate process. Home sellers can save on high listing commissions, whereas home buyers can earn cash rebates from flat rate Realtors.
Are flat fee Realtors good?
Yes, flat fee Realtors and companies are good. They not only charge a lower fee, but also give the same services compared to traditional Realtors.
How do Flat Fee Realtors work?
Flat fee Realtors provide services as described in their listing packages. The companies provide full-service plans at low rates. It will include everything from listing agreements, paperwork assistance, and contract negotiations.
What is the disadvantage of flat rate Realtors?
The disadvantage of flat rate realtors and companies is the hidden fees and limited services. Many flat-fee realtors will charge you extra for additional services. Some companies also have hidden charges that may impact your savings.
Can you negotiate a rate with a Realtor?
Yes, you can negotiate real estate commission with your Realtor based on the location, market health, and condition of your house.