California’s real estate industry is roaring back to pre-COVID-19 levels as the median home price sets a new record of $849K with a 10.1% MTM in Q1-2023. While we can’t guarantee housing affordability in the Golden State, we’ve listed California top brokers and brokerages to help you save the 3% listing fee.
👁️🗨️ Sneak Peek: California’s Top Real Estate Brokers
| Real Estate Broker | Specializes in | 100% Online | Experience (In Years) | Customer Ratings | Listing Fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Brandon Yager, Yager Realty | Flat Fee MLS, Virtual Full-Service | ✅ | 13 | 5/5 (45 reviews) | $349 Flat Fee |
| 2. Mauricio Umansky, The Agency | Innovative In-person Full-Service for super-luxury properties | ❌ | 15 | 5/5 (12 reviews) | 3% or more of home's sales price |
| 3. Coco Tan, Keller Williams Realty | Traditional In-person Full-Service, Short Sales & Foreclosures Specialist | ❌ | 30 | 5/5 (73 reviews) | 3% or more of home's sales price |
| 4. Christine Dosen, Coldwell Banker Best Realty | Traditional In-person Full-Service for home buyers | ❌ | 20 | 5/5 (61 reviews) | 3% or more of home's sales price |
| 5. Nancy Kogevinas, Berkshire Hathaway | Traditional In-person Full-Service for luxury commercial properties | ❌ | 27 | 5/5(5 reviews) | 3% or more of home's sales price |
What is a Real Estate Broker?
Real estate brokers and Flat Fee Realtor are used interchangeably, but they vastly vary in definition. A real estate broker is a licensed real estate professional who’s also a licensed real estate agent in their own right.
For a real estate agent to become a licensed real estate broker, they have to take additional training courses and acquire an experience of a certain number of years. The exact requirements to become a real estate broker vary by state.
The primary difference between a real estate broker and an agent is that a broker can start their own firm and hire real estate agents to work with.
While real estate agents focus on the sales aspect of the transaction, brokers specialize in the technical aspects, such as drafting purchase agreements, contracts, escrow arrangements, etc.
- 💡 FACT: Real estate agents need to work with a real estate broker to gain experience, and can’t work independently. When a real estate agent passes the broker license exam, they become a licensed real estate broker.
California Real Estate Broker Commission
California real estate agent commission ranges between 1% to 6% commission, and it is typically split evenly(50-50) between the listing and the buyer’s agent. Let’s look at the below example to understand how the average real estate broker commission is divided:
- 6% Real Estate Commission
- 3% Listing Agent Commission
- 1.5% Listing Agent Commission
- 1.5% Listing Broker Commission
- 3% Buyer’s Agent Commission
- 1.5% Buyer’s Agent Commission
- 1.5% Buyer’s Broker Commission
- 3% Listing Agent Commission
So, effectively, California’s real estate broker commission is lesser because it is split between the buyer’s agent and the broker. It is possible that the buyer agent may be a licensed real estate broker. In that case, they earn the full 2.5% to 3% broker commission.
» MORE: Will real estate commissions keep falling sharply in 2024?
💲 Save 3% Listing Fee by Selling FSBO
Save thousands in commission by listing on the MLS with Houzeo Technology!
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🏆 Reviews: California’s Top Real Estate Brokers
1. Brandon Yager, Yager Realty: Flat Fee Broker + Virtual Full Service
BEST OVERALL
Experience: 13 years
5/5 (out of 7 reviews)📌 Note: Brandon Yager provides an unbeatable combination of best-in-class savings, cutting-edge technology through Houzeo, and 5-star customer support. Skip the hassle, and begin listing paperwork on Houzeo.com.
👨💼 About Brandon Yager: Brandon Yager is a resident Houzeo Partner, as a listing broker, and firmly believes that sellers deserve to have control over their sales. Past sellers appreciate Yager’s responsive communication and politeness.
Brandon Yager is the founder and owner of Yager Realty, a flat-fee MLS service company that offers a variety of services for home sellers and homebuyers.
Yager enjoys helping home sellers list for a flat fee with Houzeo’s technology. It aids him in helping the home sellers save their hard-earned equity at a fraction of the cost they’d incur traditionally.
🏡 Annual Sales Volume: 72 sales in 2021, Yager closed $6,724,874 with Houzeo.
🤝 Affiliations: Brandon Yager is a Houzeo Partner, as a listing broker.
🏢 About Houzeo: A tech-centric company, Houzeo is building cutting-edge tools to simplify the home selling experience and make real estate convenient for homeowners. Founded in 2017, it is disrupting the real estate ecosystem with a flat fee MLS listing model.
💰 Affordability: You can work with Yager at a flat fee, usually $349, and avoid paying the traditional 3% listing agent commission. You get access to great technology for finishing the comprehensive paperwork, while the listing broker, Yager, handles the legalities.
Yager has access to Houzeo’s innovative tools, and sellers can leverage the Houzeo Advantage if they list via Houzeo.com.
Let’s look at the “Houzeo Advantage”:
- IntelliList Listing Management System: Lets you manage your listing 100% online.
- Lightning Fast Listing & Changes: Houzeo is 100% online. Listing can happen in under 60 minutes and any MLS listing changes are updated quickly.
- Houzeo Showings: Manage showing appointments online.
- Houzeo Offers: All offers are summarized online. You can view and compare offers, or counter any offer. In a multiple-offer situation, you can also call for the highest and best offers.
- Buyer Search: Buyers can contact you directly on Houzeo.com instead of going through a real estate agent.
- Houzeo Settlement Agent Platform: Guides you in ensuring the successful closing.
- Digital Transaction Management
- Houzeo ID Secure
- Pro Directory
- Houzeo Buyer Lead Manager
- Houzeo Mobile App: All features are at your fingertips with Houzeo mobile apps for iOS and Android.
Yager has a 5-Star rating on Houzeo.
Yager is a licensed listing agent and broker-owner in 24 MLS’ in California, and most likely covers your county. Yager holds a license to list homes for sale in:
Bakersfield MLS-CA, Calaveras MLS-CA, California Regional MLS-CA, Fresno MLS-CA, Greater Antelope Valley MLS-CA, Humboldt MLS-CA, Kings MLS-CA, MetroList MLS-CA, Plumas MLS-CA, Ridgecrest MLS-CA, Santa Barbara MLS-CA, Santa Ynez MLS-CA, Shasta MLS-CA, Siskiyou MLS-CA, South Lake Tahoe MLS-CA, Tahoe Sierra MLS-CA, Tehachapi MLS-CA, Tehama MLS-CA, Tulare MLS-CA, Tuolumne MLS-CA
- 💡 FACT: You don’t need to be a real estate broker to access Houzeo technology, and can list on the MLS within 8 business hours. Get started here to sell FSBO with Houzeo!
2. Mauricio Umansky, The Agency: Deals in Super-Luxury Homes
DEALS IN SUPER-LUXURY HOMES
Experience: 15+ years 5.0/5.0
(12 reviews)About Mauricio Umansky: Mauricio Umansky is Hollywood’s top real estate broker, and the Founder & CEO of The Agency, a billion-dollar brokerage. Past sellers love Mauricio’s unique approach to every property, and his instrumental negotiation skills have helped home buyers purchase a property at 20% lesser than it was listed for.
The Agency: Mauricio Umansky launched ‘The Agency’ in September 2011 with the hope to change the real estate industry by marketing lifestyles, instead of marketing properties. From its four founding partners, he has expanded it into a full-service, luxury real estate brokerage and lifestyle company with more than 150+ active agents in California and Tennessee.
For Home Sellers
- Huge Exposure: “The Agency” real estate brokerage works at a global level due to which the properties get exposure at the world’s prime markets.
- Expert Marketing Team: The brokerage team of Mauricio Umansky works collectively to provide the best service. They have a team of experts who understand the seller’s market well and benefit the sellers.
For Home Buyers
- Qualitative Approach: The Agency works to serve quality over quantity. They select agents accordingly who can serve the best legal advice and get the transactions done smoothly while buying.
- Innovative Strategies: The Agency, a billion-dollar technology brokerage uses innovative strategies to assist clients to achieve their real estate goals. They deal in luxury properties across countries and give the best deals to buyers.
Our Take: We recommend Mauricio Umansky because he believes in serving quality over quantity and will provide a huge exposure.
- Ranked #1 Realtor in California by The WallStreet Journal
- Ranked #3 Realtor in America
- Ranked #97 on Swanepoel’s 2022 Power200, a prestigious list of top real estate executives in the U.S.
- He has sold 17 properties in the last 12 months.
Mauricio Umansky, The Agency: Mauricio Umansky has a 5 Star rating on Zillow.
Mauricio is a licensed real estate broker in California. The areas where he serves are:
- Beverly Hills, CA
- Los Angeles, CA
💲 You Don’t Need A Fancy Luxury Broker
You can sell your home yourself with Houzeo technology!
START YOUR MLS LISTING NOW
3. Coco Tan, Keller Williams Realty: Best for Short Sales & Foreclosures
BEST FOR SHORT SALES & FORECLOSURES
Experience: 30 years 5.0/5.0
(73 reviews)About Coco Tan: Coco Tan is a Certified Short Sale and Foreclosure Alternative Specialist. She has listed and sold many luxury properties in Cupertino, Mountain View, Palo Alto, San Francisco, etc. Past sellers appreciate Coco’s cross-functional communication, attention to detail, and meticulousness toward every sale.
Keller Williams Realty: An American licensed real estate company, Keller Williams Realty is one of the finest brokerages in the country. Their “interdependence” is infamous because it brings real estate agents closer to their mission of empowering home sellers and home buyers in the world without focusing on individual commissions & serve the larger goal.
For Home Sellers
- Best-In-Class Services: Holding a top spot in many aspects, the agents at Keller Williams Realty offer the best services to the clients. Whether it is technical or marketing aspect, the whole procedure of selling goes on smoothly.
- Property Valuation: Coco Tan is an approved REO vendor associated with many banks. She is an expert in basic property valuation by performing BPOs for various lenders.
For Home Buyers
- Property Management: After an investor client buys an investment home, Coco Tan helps in property management by fulfilling all the needs afterward on their behalf.
- Schedule Showings: Home buyers can schedule showings on the website by adding all the required information.
Our Take: We recommend Coco Tan because she is best known for property valuation, which gives you the best real estate deal.
- Ranked #73 Realtor® in 2021 by the WallStreet Journal
- Top 50 Realtor® Nationwide by the Wall Street Journal
- President, Chinese American Real Estate Association -(CAREA), 2014 – 2016
Coco Tan provides services in the following regions of California:
- Alviso
- Campbell
- Coyote
- Cupertino
- Livermore
- Los Altos
- Los Gatos
- Milpitas
- Mountain View
- San Jose
- Santa Clara
- Saratoga
- Sunnyvale
4. Christine Dosen, Coldwell Banker Best Realty: Best for Home Buyers
BEST FOR HOME BUYERS
⏳ Experience: 20 years
5/5 (61 reviews)👨💼 About Christine Dosen: Christine Dosen is California’s top producing agent and a member of Coldwell Banker’s exclusive International Society of Excellence. She operates Dosen Real Estate in Ridgecrest, California and, specializes in new locations, relocations, and has excellent reviews as a representation for home buyers.
Keeping relationships as the foundation of their careers, Dosen Real Estate has maintained numerous respected connections throughout the community. Christine offers a fresh perspective & vast marketing knowledge, benefiting the consumers and helping bring each transaction to a satisfying close
🏡 Annual Sales Volume: 299 sales in 2021, Christine closed $80,742,716. [1] [2]
🏅 Accolades:
- Ranked in the Top 0.07% of the 1.4 million total REALTORS® nationwide
- REAL Trends America’s Best Real Estate Professional Award – #1 in CA & #14 nationwide
- Coldwell Banker’s Top Producing agent
- Ridgecrest Association of Realtors Top producing agent
- Ranked #3 among the Top 10 Sales Associates in North America for total units sold out of 96,000 affiliated Coldwell Banker agents
- Bestowed with one of the most esteemed Coldwell Banker® honours, being named as 1 of the 40 qualified sales associates in the Coldwell Banker® system worldwide
🤝 Affiliations: Christine is affiliated with the Coldwell Banker Best Realty and can leverage the state-of-the-art technology, bespoke marketing strategies, and robust network of the brokerage.
🏢 About Coldwell Banker LLC.: Founded in 1906, Coldwell Banker has changed the way people buy and sell homes in North America. Infamous for innovation and leadership, Coldwell Banker has become one of the most trusted brands in the world, with 3,000 offices in 49 countries and territories.
💰 Affordability: Working with an amazing listing broker like Christine will cost you the traditional 6% broker commission and can be even higher in most cases. Consumers can avail of discounted rates, but we don’t have any hard data.
In contrast, with a flat fee MLS platform like Houzeo.com, you can list your house on the MLS yourself and avoid paying hefty commissions.
Christine and her team provide one-on-one service for each and every listing supported by the extensive resources and global reach of the Coldwell Banker® brand.
Let’s look at the “Coldwell Banker Agent Advantage”:
- Coldwell Banker Suite of Technology: Innovative products for agents ranging from big data solutions to helping them price properties and identify buyers, marketing luxury properties, etc.
- Coldwell Banker eMarketing Center
- Listing and Post-Listing Presentations
- Enhanced Listing Syndication tools
- Calendar of Events
- Single Sign-on
- Email integration via MS Office 365 or Gmail
- DocuSign Rooms and ZipForm Plus
Christine Dosen offers services in Ridgecrest, California.
5. Nancy Kogevinas, Berkshire Hathaway: Best for Luxury Commercial Properties
BEST FOR LUXURY COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES
⏳ Experience: 27 years
5/5 (5 reviews)👨💼 About Nancy Kogevinas: Nancy Kogevinas is an esteemed REALTOR and has successfully represented home buyers and sellers for two decades. Nancy has consistently achieved Berkshire Hathaway’s highest awards for sales performance (Chairman’s Circle Diamond, Platinum and Gold awards) and closed over $1.4B properties.
Nancy specializes in commercial real estate and luxury properties in central California. Since 2008, Nancy has been the founding Director of Berkshire Hathaway’s Luxury Collection International. to represent the uppermost tier of Berkshire’s California listings.
🏡 Annual Sales Volume: 58 sales in 2021, Nancy closed $296,051,825.00. [1] [2]
🏅 Accolades:
- Ranked #3 Berkshire Hathaway Agent Nationwide Among 50K Agents
- Ranked #23 Individual Sales Volume Nationwide by WallStreet Journal
- Lifetime Sales Volume: $1.4 billion
🤝 Affiliations: Nancy is affiliated with Berkshire Hathaway and can leverage the company’s global elite connections, highly collaborative agent network, and specialized luxury marketing resources to bring exceptional properties to the attention of a highly sophisticated audience.
🏢 About Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties: Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties benefits from a globally respected reputation and a sound financial foundation. This is the first real estate company to be dignified with the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices brand name & aims to redefine the housing market.
💰 Affordability: Working with a luxury broker like Nancy will cost you the traditional 6% broker commission or more and can be even higher in most cases. Consumers can avail of discounted rates, but we don’t have any hard data.
In contrast, with a flat fee MLS platform like Houzeo.com, you can list your house on the MLS yourself and avoid paying hefty commissions.
As a Berkshire Hathaway Partner Broker, Nancy has access to the company’s exclusive proprietary tools built to make the home selling and buying process convenient for consumers.
Nancy primarily offers services in Montecito, California. She also offers services in other markets in central California.
💲 You Don’t Really Need A Real Estate Broker
You can sell your home yourself with Houzeo technology!
START YOUR MLS LISTING NOW
Difference between a Broker, REALTOR®, and Real Estate Agent
A real estate broker is a licensed real estate agent with additional training and licenses to employ other real estate agents in their brokerage firms. In contrast, a real estate agent is only licensed to assist a real estate transaction and cannot hire other agents or open a brokerage firm.
Realtors are real estate professionals who are members of the National Association of REALTORS®(NAR), the largest trade association in the U.S. Bound by the NAR’s Code of Ethics, Realtors promise to be transparent, honest, and uphold their clients’ best interests in all transactions.
- 💡 FACT: Anyone who is a member of the NAR is licensed to use the REALTORS® trademark as part of their name.
There are thousands of licensed real estate agents and brokers across the nation with varying levels of service quality, so it is ideal to hire a local real estate broker to simplify the process of selling a house in California for the first time.
Selling a house by owner in California may seem like a daunting process, but technology tools like Houzeo.com have digitized the contingencies like listing paperwork and made the process seamless.
The best part—you don’t pay the traditional 6% real estate commission! You can use the 100% online platform to list your house, manage home showings, and counteroffers for a flat fee.
» Staging a Home to Sell: Check out what is home staging and how is it useful for you
Types of Licensed Real Estate Brokers in California
| Types of Brokers | Description |
|---|---|
| 1. Flat Fee MLS Brokers | A flat fee MLS broker has an upfront fee of $199-$999. They list your property on the MLS and provide customizable services on an ala carte basis. » MORE: Find Flat Fee MLS Brokers in America |
| 2. Flat Rate or Discount Brokers | A flat rate or discount broker offers all the services of a traditional broker for a discounted flat rate. This can range anywhere between $2000 to $8000. » MORE: Best Discount Real Estate Brokers in America |
| 3. Low Commission Brokers | A low commission broker charges a lower commission than a traditional broker. Even if the buyer agent commission remains standard, their listing broker commission ranges between 0.5% - 1.5% of the selling price. » MORE: Low Commission Brokers in America |
| 4. Virtual Full-Service Brokers | Virtual full service brokers provide all services from listing, documentation, negotiation, showings, to closing 100% online. They may have a set upfront fee or a commission. » MORE: Fine Your Virtual Full Service Partner Brokers |
| 5. Traditional In-person Brokers | A traditional in-person broker is a real estate professional that provides all services for the buyer and seller for a commission of 3%-6%. Luxury real estate brokers may charge more than 6%. » MORE: Know About How to get Preapproved for a Mortgage |
How to Find a Real Estate Broker in California?
Be methodical and check California’s housing market trends.
You will have to consider the basics of real estate transactions and evaluate costs, time, and efforts.
National brands offer nationwide coverage, but service quality may not be guaranteed in each office. You will be yet another lead in the marketing funnel while a real estate agent is assigned for your listing.
In contrast, if you choose a local real estate broker, you could substantially save on time and effort. However, real estate commissions still remain questionable and depend on the work done by the real estate broker.
If you are radical enough to adventure selling a house quickly for sale by owner, then flat fee MLS listing services like Houzeo are a great way to save time, and the 100% online platform makes the comprehensive listing paperwork seem seamless.
🏡 FSBO In The Golden State: Check out our guide to selling your house by owner in California.
💲 Save 3% Listing Fee by Selling FSBO
Save thousands in commission by listing on the MLS with Houzeo Technology!
START YOUR MLS LISTING NOW
👁️🗨️ Sneak Peek: Top California Brokerages + Companies
| Company | Specializes in | 100% Online | Founded in | Customer Ratings | Listing Fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Houzeo | Flat Fee MLS Platform, Virtual Full-Service Packages | ✅ | 2017 | 4.9/5 (out of 2,506 reviews) | $249 to $399 |
| 2. Beycome | Virtual Full-Service, Flat Fee MLS, Online Real Estate Brokerage | ✅ | 2016 | 4.4/5 (245 reviews) | $99 to $499 |
| 3. Compass | Traditional Full Service In-person Support | ❌ | 2012 | 4/5 (112 reviews) | 3% or more of home's sales price |
| 4. Coldwell Banker Realty | Traditional Full Service In-person Support | ❌ | 1906 | 3.9/5 (169 reviews) | 3% or more of home's sales price |
| 5. First Team Real Estate | Traditional Full Service In-person Support | ❌ | 1976 | 4.7/5 (19 reviews) | 3% or more of home's sales price |
🏆 Reviews: Top California Brokerages + Companies
1. Houzeo: Best Flat Fee MLS Platform
#1 Flat Fee MLS Service
Listing Fee: $3994.9/5
Houzeo is a high-tech platform with easy listing, fast changes, and online showings and offers.
You can choose from 4 Flat Fee MLS packages:
- Bronze Package – $399+$350 at Close: This package offers a Houzeo listing only for 6 months with 24 photos.
- Silver Package – $399+0.5% at Close: This offers maximum photo upload and provides you with seller disclosures.
- Gold Package—$429+0.5 % at Close: This is Houzeo’s signature MLS package and includes all the technology Houzeo is known for, such as Houzeo Showings, Houzeo Offers, and DigiTransact.
- Platinum Package – $449+1% at Close: It includes the assistance of a licensed broker to help you with negotiations, seller disclosures, and closing.
👉 Our Take: We recommend the GOLD plan. You’ll have access to Houzeo tech, making managing showings and offer negotiations easy! Before you list, confirm all prices on your particular state’s pricing page.
» Houzeo Reviews: Find out why 10,000+ Americans love Houzeo.
Houzeo is America’s #1 Flat Fee MLS service because of 5 reasons:
- Max Exposure: Houzeo’s listing packages get your home on Zillow, Trulia, Realtor.com, Redfin, and 100s of other real estate 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.
- 100% Online: Houzeo is a high-tech platform with easy listing, fast changes, online showings, and online offers. Its powerful house search app makes your home visible to potential buyers on the go.
- No Hidden Fees: All fees are disclosed upfront, so there are no Houzeo hidden fees. You get to bypass the traditional listing agent commission.
- Free Home Value Estimator: Now, you can get a free home value estimate within 30 seconds. It helps you set a listing price.
There are no dealbreakers with Houzeo.
» Is Houzeo Legit? Houzeo addresses all Houzeo complaints from home sellers.
Houzeo is rated 4.9 out of 5 stars by thousands of home sellers on Google & Trustpilot.
» Houzeo Reviews: Houzeo is rated “Excellent“ by 10,020+ home sellers.
2. Beycome: Flat Fee Online Real Estate Brokerage
Flat Fee Online Real Estate Brokerage
⏳ Founded in: 2016
4.4/5 (245 reviews)🏡About: Beycome is the 100% online real estate brokerage disrupting the real estate industry with its simple yet impactful flat fee MLS offerings. The company uses AI technology to make home selling and buying simple and convenient for consumers.
For Home Sellers:
- Amplify exposure: Beycome helps increase your exposure by helping you list on Realtor.com, Zillow, Trulia, Hotpads, RE/MAX, Homes.com, Movoto, Coldwell banker, Apartments.com, MLS.com, IDX etc and targeting the 150 million+ monthly visitors they generate.
- No Agent, No Commission: Beycome provides you with legal forms and expert real estate support so you can close by yourself without an agent, & pay zero commission.
For Home Buyers:
- Technology: Beycome’s technology and their experienced team of real estate advisors guide you to finding your dream home through every step of the way; making it easier to search for properties, schedule viewings, making offers, counteroffers, and successfully closing.
👉 Our Take: Beycome makes home selling & buying affordable with its disruptive flat fee model. You won’t have to pay 3% real estate broker commission. The fees are typically between $99 to $499.
» MORE: Beycome Reviews
Beycome uses AI technology and provides 100% online tools for consumers.
Beycome is licensed to operate statewide in California, along with Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Minnesota, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, and Connecticut.
3. Compass Real Estate: Best In-person Support and Tech
BEST FOR IN-PERSON SUPPORT & TECH
⏳ Founded in: 2012
4/5 (112 reviews)🏢 About Compass, Inc.: An American licensed real estate company, Compass (formerly Urban Compass), is the first company to have built a proprietary mobile app for real estate agents. Compass agents utilize the Internet as a marketing medium, get access to a globally elite network of real estate professionals, and avail of best-in-class technology.
According to a RealTrends report, Compass is the 4th largest brokerage in the country with 225,000 transactions in 2021, and $6.4 billion revenue, growing 73% year-over-year. The real estate company operates globally with 300+ offices and 25K agents under its hood.
🏡 Annual Sales Volume: 225K transactions in 2021
💰 Affordability: Working with Compass agents will guarantee you sell your property at a top-dollar rate, or buy your dream home effortlessly. But these luxury experiences will typically cost you the full 6% real estate broker commission, or more. Consumers can avail of discounted rates, but we don’t have any hard data.
In contrast, with a flat fee MLS platform like Houzeo.com, you can list your house on the MLS yourself and avoid paying a 3% listing agent commission.
Compass is the first company to revolutionize the real estate market by using technology. These tools help Compass agents evaluate properties, price homes accurately, identify the best time to list, and connect agents to elite professionals globally.
Let’s look at the “Compass Agent Advantage”:
- Luxury Network: Access to a proprietary database of high net-worth sellers and buyers compiled over 20 years.
- Best-in-class Technology: Compass’ suite of tools helps price properties more accurately, the best time to list, etc.
- Compass Collections: The app allows users to create collections of properties they desire. Then it notifies the user with real-time alerts on price changes, etc. Clients can also push notifications to family members to view and comment on their collections. Listing agents get the chance to coordinate viewings easily.
- Marketing Center: A marketing department in itself, this space is preloaded with marketing collaterals for ads, social media, etc.
- Compass Markets: An real-time iOS app that shows historical trends of the housing markets for up to five years.
- Compass CRM: Streamlines communication between consumers and Compass agents. By leveraging AI, the tool can also provide insights to agents, for example, which properties are the consumers most likely to buy.
Compass has a 4-Star rating on Google.
Compass operates globally with statewide coverage in California.
4. Coldwell Banker: Best Full-Service Brokerage
MOST SUCCESSFUL INVESTORS
⏳ Founded in: 1906
3.9/5 (169 reviews)🏡About: Founded in 1906 out of the golden state, Coldwell Banker has changed the way people buy and sell homes in North America. They give sellers a variety of free tools, including a home value estimator, local market data, and fast cash offer alternatives.
For Home Sellers:
- Marketing: Coldwell Banker can help you determine a marketing strategy with the help of increased accuracy of market knowledge, advanced pricing tools, and access to comprehensive housing data.
- Local Agent: Agents with local expertise help you learn more about the current state of the housing market so you can price the house right to attract buyer interest.
For Home Buyers:
- Financing: From down payments to mortgage prequalification to understanding the type of house that will meet your needs and satisfy your wants, Coldwell Banker can help you make sure have your financial ducks in a row when preparing to buy a house.
👉 Our Take: Coldwell Banker has been recognized as a real estate leader in customer experience and overall quality. Their Full Service Marketing System shows that they are reliable, professional, and committed to providing a level of service that goes above and beyond what their customers expect.
» Flat Fee MLS Reviews: Pros, Cons, Alternatives
For every transaction, real estate agents affiliated with Coldwell Banker are supported by the extensive resources and the global reach of the Coldwell Banker® brand.
Let’s look at the “Coldwell Banker Agent Advantage”:
- Coldwell Banker Suite of Technology: Innovative products for agents ranging from big data solutions to helping them price properties and identify buyers, marketing luxury properties, etc.
- Coldwell Banker eMarketing Center
- Listing and Post-Listing Presentations
- Enhanced Listing Syndication tools
- Calendar of Events
- Single Sign-on
- Email integration via MS Office 365 or Gmail
- DocuSign Rooms and ZipForm Plus
Coldwell Banker has an average rating of 3.9 stars out of 5 on Consumer Affairs.
Coldwell Banker operates globally and offers statewide coverage in California.
5. First Team Real Estate: 98% Client Satisfaction Rate
BEST FOR HOME BUYERS
⏳ Founded in: 1976
4.7/5 (19 reviews)🏡About: First Team or Christie’s International Real Estate is a destination brokerage founded in 1976 and prides itself on a 45-year tradition of being #1 in total unit sales and #1 in luxury unit sales.
For Home Sellers:
- Sell for Cash Immediately: First Team Instant Offers provides a stress-free home sale, closing in days to get you cash in hand faster.
- Upgrade Home for profits: First Impressions Concierge will pay upfront for all renovations to help your house sell for more money.
- List with Local Pros: Work with an expert in your area to execute a winning sales strategy, never leaving money on the table.
For Home Buyers:
- SneakPreview: All of the company’s off-market listings are searchable and available to their buyers in the SNEAKPREVIEW℠ platform. During this current housing shortage especially, it’s been a game changer.
- MarketTrends: MarketTrends tool has been built to help identify Southern California market trends as they evolve including supply and demand shifts.
👉 Our Take: First Team Real Estate has been trusted to represent over 250,000 home buyers and sellers as the largest privately held family-owned company in Southern California. The company has a 98% Client Satisfaction rate.
We couldn’t any hard data about the technology used at First Team Real Estate. As a brokerage that operates traditionally and offers in-person support, we assume some aspects of the real estate transactions happen offline. In contrast, Houzeo gives you full control over your sale with a 100% online platform.
First Time Real Estate’s team has a 4.7-star rating on Zillow.
First Time Real Estate has 24 offices in California and operates statewide.
Alternatives to CA Real Estate Brokers & Brokerages
If you feel that California’s top real estate brokers and brokerages won’t be ideal for you, then you can consider one of the following alternatives.
📈 Sell FSBO with Flat Fee MLS
Listing on the open market is the best way to maximize your cash offer because your MLS listing gets syndicated to other real estate websites like Zillow, Trulia, Redfin, Realtor.com, etc. & amplifies the exposure of your MLS listing.
You can get multiple offers and also compare the highest and the best offers from potential buyers. There is an opportunity to negotiate the sale price, closing costs, etc., and save substantially in commissions by choosing a flat fee MLS platform or low commission real estate agent.
» MORE: Flat Fee MLS California
📲 iBuyers
iBuyers are instant buyers, and these companies have created a level-playing field with full cash offers and technologically advanced platforms. You get a reasonably fair cash offer instantly, and you can close within a matter of a few days.
» MORE: Top iBuyers in 2024
🤑 Companies Buying Houses for Cash
If your house is in poor condition and you don’t want to spend thousands of dollars on repairs or closing costs, then you can choose “we buy houses for cash” companies. These companies help sell your house fast for cash, but they’ll pay 30% to 70% of your home’s market value.
» Cash for Homes California: Check out the top cash buyer companies in CA
💲 You Know Your Home Better Than Any Real Estate Broker
Trust your gut, and sell your home yourself with Houzeo technology!
START YOUR MLS LISTING NOW
California’s Brokers & Brokerages: Is the 3% Listing Fee Worth It?
No, you shouldn’t pay a 3% listing fee in California.
With flat fee MLS models and disruptive technology tools like Houzeo.com, you can list your house by owner in California for a flat rate in 2024.
The comprehensive paperwork that comes with listing a house has been intuitively digitized, and you can finish all listing formalities in under 60 minutes.
If you feel lost or need additional assistance during the process, you can check in with our 5-Star Customer Support team.
Find Your New Home in California With Houzeo
With thousands of property listings, Houzeo.com is one of the biggest property listing sites in the US. Find condos, townhouses, co-ops, and other types of homes for sale in California on Houzeo.
» Need More Clarity? Read these exclusive Houzeo reviews and learn why the platform is the best in America’s competitive housing market.
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 the best FSBO and Flat Fee MLS platform in the United States.
» NEED MORE CLARITY? Read these exclusive Houzeo.com reviews and learn why it is one of the best FSBO site in America.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is broker commission in real estate?
Broker commissions in real estate are the fees that the real estate broker charges for their services during property transactions. The average broker commission rates are 5% to 6% of the home's sale price. You can certainly negotiate the commission rates, but keep in mind that a lower buyer agent's commission rate can make them ignore your property. Typically, the buyer's agent commission is 2.5% to 3%.
2. How much do real estate brokers make in California?
California's real estate brokers typically make thousands with commission rates between 1% to 6% of the home's sales price. Indeed reports the base salary of a real estate agent in California is $113,076.
3. How to get California broker's license in real estate?
To obtain a real estate broker license in California, you need to qualify and pass an exam.
4. What do California real estate brokers do?
California real estate brokers are an intermediary between the seller and a buyer. Brokers have a couple of responsibilities such as marketing properties, managing showings for the home seller, negotiating offers and evaluating the best one, etc.
