✏️ Editor’s Note: Realtor Associations, agents, and MLS’ have started implementing changes related to the NAR’s $418 million settlement. While home-sellers will likely save thousands in commission, compliance and litigation risks have significantly increased for sellers throughout the nation. Learn how NAR’s settlement affects home sellers.
Flat Fee Realty offers a cost-effective alternative to traditional real estate agents. The company offers a single MLS package that varies by state.
Editor’s Rating
User Rating
(7 Reviews)
Pros
- Local coverage
- Affordable packages
- Max exposure
Cons
- Sub-par technology
- 0.25% commission at closing
- Non-customizable packages
- Limited additional services
Flat Fee Realty is a Flat Fee MLS service. They offer services nationwide. They offer a single MLS listing package. Flat Fee Realty’s package price vary by state.
The single plan that flatfeerealty.com offers is affordable compared to other service providers. Their package lacks features like yard signs, showing services, and contract reviews.
It’s essential to note that they charge a 0.10-0.25% commission at closing. This commission comes out of your pocket.
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✍️ Editor’s Take: We recommend Houzeo over Flat Fee Realty. Houzeo offers better packages, cutting-edge technology, and stellar customer service. Compare Flat Fee Realty vs. Houzeo.
Is Flat Fee Realty Legit?
Yes, Flat Fee Realty is a legitimate company. It is a licensed brokerage in Connecticut. In the remaining states, they partner with licensed brokers to list your property on the MLS.
Flat Fee Realty LLC is owned by Fred Romano, who is the principal broker for the company. Additionally, Fred is also a member of the National Association of Realtors.
The company’s absence of credible reviews on platforms such as Google or Yelp raises questions about its legitimacy.
How Does Flat Fee Realty Work?
Flat Fee Realty offers services tailored as per needs of sellers. The process works in these simple steps:
- Choose a State: Select a state from an interactive map on the home page of their website.
- Select Add-ons: Choose optional services like photo upgrade that gives additional 25 photos.
- Enter Property Details: Fill in details of your property you want to list.
- Make Payment: Proceed with the payment to finish the purchase listing process.
Once you buy the plan, your broker will list your property within 1 business day after receiving all the details. It takes 1 to 2 days for your property to syndicate to real estate websites like Zillow, Trulia, and Realtor.com.
» What’s My Home’s Value: You can know your home’s market value with Houzeo’s free Home Worth Estimator. It helps you estimate the amount you will get upon sale.
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✍️ You Should Know: Houzeo lists your house within 24 hours from the time you submit your property details.
Flat Fee Realty Coverage
Flat Fee Realty is available in 50 states + DC. But their county coverage differ from state to state. Additionally, their coverage areas can change over time.
Flat Fee Realty might not always offer their services in all the counties mentioned on their website. Flat Fee Realty offers its services in the following states:
| Regions | States |
| Northeast | Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont |
| Midwest | Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Wisconsin |
| South | Alabama, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, Arkansas, District of Columbia |
| West | Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Washington, Hawaii |
Flat Fee Realty Cost
Flat Fee Realty offers a single service package to accommodate different real estate needs. The price of the package varies by state. Some of the standard services include:
Basic Package: $139-$349
| 👍 What We Like | 👎 What We Don't Like |
|---|---|
| ✅ Affordable listing plan | ❌ No yard sign |
| ✅ Easy cancellation | ❌ Low on tech |
| ✅ State disclosures forms | ❌ Broker retains 0.10 - 0.25% of buyers commission |
| ❌ Only 6 photos | |
| ❌ No open houses |
👉 Our Take: Flat Fee Realty’s coverage areas may change over time, so they might not have service available in all the counties listed on their site.
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💡 You Should Know: Flat Fee Realty offers two packages in the state of Connecticut priced at $199 & $249 respectively. In the Premium MLS $249 plan you can upload upto 40 photos on the MLS and unlimited open house alerts.
Flat Fee Realty Customer Reviews
Flat Fee Realty doesn’t have customer reviews on trustworthy websites like Google, Yelp. This makes it difficult for potential customers to assess the quality and reputation of the real estate service.
Whereas, Houzeo is rated 4.9 out of 5 stars by thousands of home sellers on Google & Trustpilot.
Flat Fee Realty Reviews: Pros and Cons
Let’s delve into the pros and cons to determine if they present an optimal choice for your needs:
👍 Pros of Flat Fee Realty
Flat Fee Realty offers the following benefits to home sellers:
- Cost-Effective: Flat Fee Realty offers an affordable flat fee listing package.
- Market Exposure: Your property will get syndicated on many local and national websites like Zillow, Trulia, Realtor.com, and many more.
- Free Changes: You can make changes to your listing without paying any additional fees.
- Easy Cancellation: You can cancel anytime and get a refund within 30 days of purchase. After your broker completes the listing process, there are no refunds.
- Free Disclosures: Flat Fee Realty offers free disclosures for all states.
👎 Cons of Flat Fee Realty
During our research, we found certain limitations of Flat Fee Realty, which are:
- Availability of Services: Flat Fee Realty offers a service package with limited features.
- Non-customizable Packages: Flat Fee Realty’s listing package provides no scope for Customization. The package is a one size fits all plan. It doesn’t provide the flexibility to customize as per your need.
- 0.25% Commission at Closing: Flat Fee Realty charges 0.10 – 0.25% commission at closing. Even though they claim the buyer agent pays this, the entire commission comes out of the seller’s proceeds. Buyer agents will not willingly agree to this deduction.
- Limited Coverage: The company’s service availability may vary and is subject to change without notice.
Flat Fee Realty Competitors
» Jump to: Flat Fee Realty vs. Houzeo | Flat Fee Realty vs. Lake Country Flat Fee | Flat Fee Realty vs. List With Freedom
1. Flat Fee Realty vs. Houzeo
Flat Fee Realty offers a single package price of which varies by state. The company’s outdated tech means many basic features like showing scheduling and offer management are not available.
Houzeo is high-tech. For you, this means easy listing, fast changes, online showings, and online offers. Houzeo Mobile App is also very powerful. Moreover, Houzeo gets your property on the MLS for just $379.
| Listing Fee | ||
| Customer Rating | ||
| Coverage | ||
| Showings Management | ||
| Offer Management | ||
| Unlimited Listing Changes | ||
| Unlimited Open Houses | ||
| Request Highest and Best Offer | ||
| Home Inspection Dashboard |
2. Flat Fee Realty vs. Lake Country Flat Fee
Flat Fee Realty does not have customer reviews on reliable websites like Google and Yelp. This makes it difficult for potential customers to assess the quality and reputation of their real estate service.
Whereas, Lake Country Flat Fee enjoys robust customer reviews. Many customers said their experience was good and their team was quick to respond.
3. Flat Fee Realty vs. List With Freedom
Flat Fee Realty is a licensed brokerage in Connecticut. In the remaining states, your information will be referred to a third-party broker.
List With Freedom is a licensed brokerage in 46 states. They serve these states themselves and do not refer your listing to third-party brokers.
Best Flat Fee Companies Near You
We’ve compiled a list of the best Flat Rate MLS Listing Services in each state. Click on your state to check them out!
Other Options You Should Consider
- Sell to an iBuyer: iBuyers purchase homes needing minimal repairs in as-is condition. They can be a great option if you want to sell your house fast.
- Sell to Cash Home Buyers: Individual cash home buyers make all-cash offers, usually within 24 to 48 hours. They also let you skip listing on the MLS.
- Sell For Sale By Owner: For Sale By Owner websites help you list and sell a house yourself, saving thousands in agent commissions. Many FSBO websites will also help you with the paperwork.
Is Flat Fee Realty Worth it?
If an affordable plan is your priority, then Flat Fee Realty is a good option. However, in 49 states Flat Fee Realty functions as a referral service.
If you want to save money and need more hands-on support, Houzeo is your best option! Houzeo’s $379 plan is comprehensive compared to other real estate platforms.
With Houzeo, you can sell your home on your terms. You can list your property on the MLS, manage your showings, call for the highest and best offers, and even counter them.
» Houzeo Reviews: Check out why more than 6,140 home sellers have rated Houzeo 4.9 stars out of 5.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Flat Fee Realty legit?
Yes, Flat Fee Realty is a legitimate real estate service provider, offering MLS services throughout the nation. The company is a licensed brokerage in Connecticut. In the remaining states, they act a referral service.
Who is the owner of Flat Fee Realty?
Fred Romano is the owner of Flat Fee Realty LLC. He is also a member of the National Association of Realtors.
What is Flat Fee Realty
Flat Fee Realty is a website that offers Flat Fee MLS services. They offer a single Flat Fee MLS package that varies by state. In this package you get free listing changes and related disclosures.
Reviews
(7 Reviews)
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Lorae
Verified Reviewer
I’m sad to say, that this was apparently not a good choice for us. This might work great in your area of the US but not where we are at. We’ve had very little traffic to see our house. But I guess that’s the chance you take!
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Ron Billman
Verified Reviewer
You get what you pay for. Get yourself a good realtor and spend the extra money. You will be great full in the end. I will never use a flat fee listing company again.
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Samuel J Donahue
Verified Reviewer
In my area does not work ,local real estate brokers and agents shun the property ,do not get any activity
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Gary Armstrong
Verified Reviewer
Flat fee was the best thing I could have done when I sold my home, saved a lot of money I was guided the hole time by a broker and a VA. I will use It again.
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Mike
Verified Reviewer
Overall, very pleased with service and savings. Need to be careful on local requirements. Lack of knowledge could delay closing
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bill liles
Verified Reviewer
Not at all. They do not return phone calls or answer emails. They lie, make no repairs, and overcharge on auto pay.
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ANTON
Verified Reviewer
IT IS ALL PERFECT AND GREAT. THX
