BREAKING NEWS: Post the NAR Settlement, Huston discount real estate brokers can save you almost the entire 6% commission. That translates to saving up to $19,914 in commission on an average $331,900 Huston home.
Whether you’re selling a house in Montrose or Riveroaks, the best discount real estate brokers in Huston will help you save on the 3% listing agent commission. And an additional up to 2.5% to 3% on the buyer agent commission! That’s a cool $19K on an average Huston home.
Rankings: Top 5 Huston Discount Real Estate Brokers
We’ve listed the top 5 discount real estate brokers in the Space City based on how much you can save on an average $331,900 home.
| Rank | Discount Real Estate Broker / Company | Listing Fee | Additional Charges | Max Savings | 100% Online | 5-Star Reviews* | Mobile App |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Houzeo | $399 Flat Fee | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| 2. | Leslie Lerner Properties | $4500 Flat Fee | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| 3. | Creekstone Real Estate | 1% commission | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| 4. | ListingSpark | $3,999 Flat Fee | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ |
| 5. | SimpleShowing | 1% of the sale price | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
Types of Real Estate Discount Brokers in Huston
There are two types of Huston discount real estate brokers:
- Flat Rate Discount Brokers: Also called Flat Fee MLS companies, these discount realty services let you list your home for a fixed upfront fee. A Flat Fee MLS Texas listing service costs between $399 to $4,000.
- Fixed Percentage Discount Brokers: These discount Realtors charge a fixed percentage of the home’s sale price. Typically, it is anything lower than the traditional 3% fee: 1%, 1.5%, 2% or 2.5%, etc.
Reviews: 2 Best Flat Rate Discount Real Estate Companies in Houston
1. Houzeo.com: Max Savings, No Hidden Fees
#1 Discount Real Estate Service
Listing Fee: $399+$350 at closing4.9/5
Houzeo is a top technology-driven real estate platform. It offers 4 different packages:
- Bronze Package ($399 + $350 at Close): List your house for 6 months. You can upload 24 house photos.
- Silver Package ($399+0.5% at Close): List your home for 6 months and post maximum photos. Unlimited open houses and listing modifications are included in this package.
- Gold Package ($429+0.5% at Close): This package offers all the benefits of the Silver package, as well as licensed broker assistance, contract review, and more.
- Platinum Package ($449+1% at Close): This package offers virtual full-service support with a licensed broker. You can list for 12 months. Brokers assist you in negotiations, disclosures, and closing.
👉 Our Take: We recommend Houzeo to all home sellers. The company has a stellar 4.9/5 customer rating. It also provides coverage in 47 states + DC, making it one of the few services with nationwide reach.
» Houzeo Reviews: Houzeo is 100% online. You can finish listing formalities within 60 minutes.
These are the key features that make Houzeo one of the top discount real estate brokers:
- Significant Commission Savings: You will pay just a small flat fee to list on the MLS. On average, Houzeo home sellers save $12,231.
- No Hidden Fees: All costs are disclosed upfront so you don’t have to worry about hidden charges.
- Near Nationwide Coverage: Houzeo operates in 47 states and DC, with ongoing plans for expansion.
- Max Exposure: Houzeo packages give you access to renowned MLS companies.
- Advanced Technology: Eliminate the hassle of extensive paperwork. E-signature and online forms make house listing quick and easy.
- 5-star Customer Service: Dedicated customer support addresses your every concern easily.
- Mobile App: Houzeo’s mobile app lets you manage showing requests from verified buyers and buyer agents. You can either accept, reject, or reschedule showings at your convenience.
- Home Value Estimator: Houzeo’s Home Worth Estimator is online and quick to know the FMV of your home. It provides free home value estimate within 30 seconds.
There are no dealbreakers with Houzeo.
» Houzeo Reviews: Houzeo is rated “Excellent” by 10,100+ happy customers on Google Reviews and Trustpilot!
Houzeo Reviews: With over 10,100+ happy customers, Houzeo is the most trusted discount real estate broker.
Houzeo is Houston’s #1 ranked real estate brokerage company. It provides an unbeatable combination of max savings, 5-star customer support, and cutting-edge technology.
2. Leslie Lerner Properties
BEST FOR MID-RANGE HOMES
Listing Fee: $4500 Onwards4.4/5
Leslie Lerner Properties is a Flat Fee full-service company.
Tiered Flat Fee Structure: Fees range from $4,500 for homes valued at $200,000 – $799,999, up to $50,000 for homes above $3,000,000. This includes listing, marketing, and additional features like social media marketing, contract negotiation, photography, lockbox, yard signs, closing assistance, etc.
👉 Our Take: Leslie Lerner Properties offers comprehensive services at set prices, saving sellers money compared to traditional commission structures, especially for mid-range homes.
Here are some advantages of choosing Leslie Lerner Properties:
- Experienced Team: Leslie Lerner Properties have qualified agents who help sellers through the entire sale process.
- Market Exposure: It has a huge market coverage. It lists your houses on HAR.com, Realtor.com, Homes.com, Cyberhomes, Trulia, Zillow, Google, and the Galveston Daily News.
- Additional Services: The company also helps you with drawing contracts, repairs negotiation, and assistance at closing date.
Here are some red flags you should consider before choosing Leslie Lerner Properties:
- Tiered Pricing Structure: The Flat Fee increases significantly for higher-valued properties, which may be less cost-effective for luxury home sellers.
- Limited Photography: Only one photography session is included, which might not be sufficient for larger or more complex properties.
- No Mobile App: They do not provide any mobile application service to their customers.
Leslie Lerner Properties has a rating of 4.4 out of 5 from 10+ reviews on Google.
Leslie Lerner Properties has been around since the 1990s. They provide flat fee service to home sellers. They also have a buyer’s rebate program.
However, they are not fully online, making the process manual and time-consuming.
Reviews: 3 Best Fixed Percent Discount Brokers in Houston
3. Creekstone Real Estate
LOCAL EXPOSURE
Listing Fee: 1% Commission1.7/5
Creekstone Real Estate is a top flat-fee listing service in Houston, Texas, helping home sellers save on commissions without sacrificing quality.
- Creekstone Full-Service Agent – 1% Commission: This package provides full-service support, including professional photography and a yard sign.
Here are some advantages of choosing Creekstone Real Estate:
- Market Exposure: Your property features in real estate websites like HAR.com, Zillow, Trulia, and Realtor.com
- Expert Negotiation: Skilled agents will guide you through offer evaluations and negotiations.
- Listing Preparation: Professional photography, lockbox, and yard sign with listings ready in 48 hours.
In our research, we found certain red flags about Creekstone Real Estate:
- No Specific Services to Home Buyers: Despite being a brokerage, Creekstone Real Estate does not cater well to home buyers.
Creekstone Real Estate has 1.6 out of 5 stars on Yelp.
Creekstone Real Estate, a Houston-based discount brokerage, offers home sellers an affordable, full-service package with a 1% commission. While Creekstone excels in helping sellers save on commissions, their limited services for buyers make them a less ideal choice for purchasing a home. Sellers, however, benefit from substantial savings without sacrificing quality of service.
4. ListingSpark
LOCAL EXPERT
Listing Fee: Starting at $29954.6/5
ListingSpark is a renowned flat fee discount brokerage in the US. It offers 2 listing packages:
- Spark Plan – $2,995: This includes paperwork assistance and syndicated house listing on major real estate websites. You receive a Supra digital lockbox, professional photographs, escrow services, and a “For Sale” sign.
- Premium Plan – $3,999: This includes all the features of the Spark plan. You also get pricing support, open house signage, e-flyer blasts, and agent-on-demand support.
👉 Our Take: ListingSpark offers essential services for selling your home. However, their basic package may have hidden costs, such as a $975 fee for agent support, which can increase the total expense.
ListingSpark offers certain advantages:
- Quick Listing: It takes 20 minutes to fill out the details on the ListingSpark website. The listing will go live within 24 hours after the documentation is completed.
- Add-on Features: They offer benefits like professional photographs, a lock box, a yard sign, title insurance, and escrow services.
- Free Tools: ListingSpark also offers multiple tools such as comparative market analysis, and closing cost calculator.
ListingSpark offers certain disadvantages:
- Limited Coverage: ListingSpark offers services in only 3 regions: Texas, Atlanta, and Nashville.
- Non-Refundable Fees: ListingSpark charges an upfront fee of $395 and $995 for Spark and Premium plans respectively. These fees are non-refundable upon cancellation.
- Lack of Clarity: Key details such as listing duration, photo limits, and the number of permitted changes are not readily available on the ListingSpark website.
ListingSpark has a rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars on Google.
»Listing Spark Reviews: Does Listing Spark services provide real savings? Read more to find out.
ListingSpark is a real estate brokerage firm and For Sale By Owner platform. Owned by Aaron Jistel, the company also provides title and closing services under its title company, SparkTitle.
However, the coverage of ListingSpark is restricted only to Texas. Moreover, you must pay a termination cost if you decide to terminate your listing at any point.
5. SimpleShowing
1% COMMISSION
Commission: 1% of Sale Price4.9/5
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 is a full-service brokerage licensed in GA, FL, and TX. They use technology, such as their mobile app, to make the traditional home-selling process easier.
However, with their limited coverage and agents, they might not cover all your needs.
Discount Real Estate Brokers Texas: How Much Will You Save?💲
Texas discount brokers can help you save almost the entire 6% commission, depending on your home’s worth.
If you choose a 6% full-service Realtor, you’d pay $19,914 to sell an average $331,900 house in the Space City. But, if you choose a flat-rate broker company, you save thousands. With Houzeo’s Gold plan, you only pay $2,089 and save $17,826!
NAR Settlement Saves Sellers Thousands in Commission
The NAR Settlement went into effect on August 17, 2024. Buyer agent commissions can no longer be offered on the MLS. This means sellers will save thousands! But it also means there’s a lot more compliance and litigation risks.
Here’s what this means for you:
- Sellers Can Save Thousands in Commissions: You will likely be paying much less than the traditional 3% buyer agent commission. That’s because buyer agent commissions will be negotiated twice: Once when buyers engage Buyer Agents and again when sellers review offer contracts.
- Seller Priority #1 Will Be Paperwork (to Mitigate Compliance & Litigation Risks): Buyer agents mitigate all types of risks. From seller disclosures, offer contracts, contingencies, inspections, repair requests, appraisal, and closing – Buyer agents keep the paperwork tight. Their state licensing authorities, Realtor associations, and MLS’ audit paperwork compliance. Without buyer agents, sellers will have to learn and adapt. Or risk expensive litigation.
- Negotiations Can Now Feel Like Haggling: Buyer agent commissions will now be part of offer contracts and buyer agency agreements. Buyers may ask sellers to include commissions in the form of seller concessions. That means home buyers and sellers alike will be negotiating commissions. Sellers will need expert licensed brokers to help them with these negotiations.
- Buyer Agent Commissions Can Be Offered Offline: Buyer agent commissions can still be offered outside of the MLS. They just cannot be advertised on the MLS.
Discount Realtors in Houston: Pros and Cons
Even though cheap Realtors in Houston will save you thousands in commissions, you should consider the advantages and disadvantages of hiring one:
Pros ✅
- Sell Home for a Discounted Fee: You’ll pay less fees for a discount real estate listing in Houston than a 6% Realtor. Even if you only want to list your home on Texas MLS, you pay a much lower fee than the typical 3% listing agent fee.
- Receive Full-Service Realtor Services: Discount real estate agents in Houston will provide the basic services that any traditional agent would. This includes assistance with pricing your home, marketing, paperwork, and negotiations.
Cons ❌
- You May Become a Victim of Hidden Fees: Some discount brokerages in Houston may charge hidden fees or sell essential services a la carte. Beware of shady discounted agents who lure you in with significantly low fees. Do your research and look at the best discount realtors in Houston.
- Unreliable Service Quality: Discounted real estate brokers in Houston handle multiple clients at once to make up for the reduced commission rate. They may not be able to provide personalized assistance all the time.
- High Cancellation Fees: An Houston discount real estate broker can charge a minimum withdrawal fee within a specified period. Remember to carefully review the terms and conditions of the contract before signing.
Alternatives to Discount Real Estate Agents in Houston
Here are some options if you do not want to opt for a discount Realtor in Houston:
- Sell Your Home For Sale By Owner: In a FSBO sale, you’ll have to opt for “DIY” marketing strategies like using FSBO signs, word of mouth, open houses, etc. But your listing won’t be on Zillow, Trulia, Realtor.com, and Homes.com! Meanwhile, FSBO websites in Texas will help you list on the MLS and increase exposure.
- Sell Your House to Cash Buyers: Almost all cash buyers in Texas scour the MLS for Texas homes for sale. This includes iBuyers, investors, and home flippers.
- Sell With a Full-Service Realtor: If you are not interested in saving your equity, you can hire a full-service, in-person Realtor in Texas. You’ll end up paying a full 5% to 6% commission. That’s $19,914 on a $331,900 home gone!
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the best discount real estate brokers in Houston?
Houzeo.com and Leslie Lerner Properties are the top discount real estate brokers in Houston. Both provide an incredible combination of savings and technology. However, Leslie Lerner Properties has only 5 reviews while thousands of sellers have rated Houzeo as 4.9 out of 5.
» Houzeo Reviews: Find out why 15,000+ home sellers love Houzeo.
How much is the real estate agent fees in Houston?
On average, traditional agents in Texas charge 5% to 6% of the sale price as commission. On the other hand, discount real estate brokerage firms in Texas charge 1% to 3%.
How do I find a discount broker near me in Houston?
You could choose a discount broker, or list your home using Houzeo. With Houzeo, your home will be listed on the MLS within 24 to 48 hours.
Can you negotiate Realtor fees in Houston?
Yes, you can! Infact, post the NAR Settlement, you can now also negotiate buyer’s agent commissions.
