You can save a whopping $7,839 when selling a median-priced $261,300 home in Kentucky. But how? With a discount real estate broker in Kentucky, you can skip the hefty 3% listing agent commission. This allows you to list your home for as low as 1% or a flat fee and save thousands of dollars!
That’s not it! These brokers help you list your property on the MLS giving maximum exposure as 43% of buyers search properties online. In addition, discount brokers offer affordability with full service making them ideal for cost-conscious sellers.
Rankings: Top 5 Kentucky Discount Real Estate Brokers
As Kentucky’s real estate market continues to rebound post-Hurricane Idalia, home sellers are exploring ways to cut costs. With rising repair and insurance premiums, sellers want to retain more of their home sale profits.
One effective way to do this is to sell with a discount real estate broker in Kentucky. They offer lower commission rates and services compared to traditional Realtors. We’ve ranked the top 5 discount brokerages in the Bluegrass State for you to choose from.
| Rank | Discount Real Estate Broker / Company | Listing Fee | Max Savings | 100% Online | Mobile App |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Houzeo.com | $399 Flat Fee | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| 2. | Flat Fee Realty | Varies | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| 3. | Redfin | 1% Commission | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| 4. | Entry Only | $399 Flat Fee | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| 5. | Rocket Homes | 6% Commission | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
What Are the Types of Discount Real Estate Brokers?
Kentucky sellers can choose from two main types of discount real estate brokers. Each of these cater to the unique needs of the home sellers:
- Flat Rate Discount Brokers: Also known as Flat Fee MLS companies, they charge a fixed upfront fee to list your home on the MLS. A Flat Fee MLS service costs between $399 to $4,000. These services offer maximum exposure for a low fee.
- Fixed Percentage Discount Brokers: These discount Realtors charge a fixed percentage of the home’s sale price. Typically, this percentage is lower than the traditional 3%. Depending on the broker, these rates may vary from 1% to 2.5%.
Reviews: 2 Best Flat Rate Discount Real Estate Companies in Kentucky
1. Houzeo.com: Max Savings, No Hidden Fees
#1 Discount Real Estate Service
Listing Fee: $199Houzeo offers 3 FSBO MLS listing packages:
- Silver Package – $199: You can list your property on the MLS with 24 photos and for 6 months. It also becomes visible on Zillow, Trulia, Realtor.com, etc. You can also make unlimited changes to your listing.
- Gold Package – $249: You can post the maximum number of photos, avail licensed broker assistance, get access to seller disclosures, and a premium yard sign.
- Platinum Package – $299: You get virtual full assistance from a licensed broker and a 12-month listing term.
Based on the plan you choose, there's an additional 0.5% to 1.25% due at closing.
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 the #1 discount real estate broker in Kentucky. The company provides features like IntelliList management to simplify your listing process. Besides this, you get 5-star customer support, advanced technology, showings management, and offers all at your fingertips.
2. Flat Fee Realty
Affordable MLS Listing
Listing Fee: Starts from $199Flat Fee Realty provides a single MLS package, with prices varying based on the state.
- Package: In most states, the price starts at $199 + 0.25% listing broker fee at closing. The package includes a 6-month listing term with six photos. By paying an extra $50, you can add up to 25 photos.
👉 Our Take: Flat Fee Realty is affordable. However, the extra costs for upgrades and limited features may not fit all sellers’ needs. It can be a good option for land and lot owners.
Based on our research, the benefits of Flat Fee Realty are:
- Refund Policy: You can request a refund within 30 days of purchase, as long as your property has not been listed on the MLS.
- Affordable Plan: Their flat fee package is budget-friendly compared to competitors. It is a good option for land and lot owners.
- Disclosures: State-specific disclosures are included with every listing.
- Market Exposure: Your home gets listed on the local MLS and displayed on all major real estate websites like Realtor.com, Zillow, Trulia, etc.
In our research, we found some red flags of Flat Fee Realty, that could make your experience less satisfactory.
- Limited Reviews: Even though Flat Fee Realty has been here since 2006, it has no credible reviews.
- Fixed Package: No customization is offered beyond the basic listing package.
- Not 100% Online: It is not fully online, causing potential delays in listing.
- Additional Fees: You need to pay an additional $50 to upgrade your listing with extra photos.
In our research, we have not found any credible reviews for Flat Fee Realty.
Fred Romano owns Flat Fee Realty LLC. The company 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 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.
Reviews: 3 Best Fixed Percent Discount Brokers in Kentucky
3. Redfin
#1 Nationwide Brokerage
1% Listing FeeRedfin offers services in 100+ real estate markets across the country in 49 states.
- Redfin Full-Service Agent – 1% Commission: This package includes pricing assistance, listing paperwork, negotiation support, etc.
- Redfin Premier Agent – 1.5% Commission: This package is exclusively for luxury properties and includes everything that comes with the Full-Service package.
👉Our Take: When you opt for Redfin you might get their service 3x faster than the traditional method. However, you may not get personalized attention with less no. of agents for home staging, showings, etc.
Here are some advantages of choosing Redfin:
- Advanced Technology: Redfin is primarily known for its high-tech platform and mobile app.
- Near Nationwide Coverage: Redfin covers 49 states in the US.
- Easy Deal Closings: Redfin agents guide you through paperwork, marketing plans, and negotiations to make your closing easy and faster.
Here are some drawbacks of Redfin based on their customer reviews:
- Pricing Inaccuracy: Many sellers have complained that a lot area, a gated compound, or a city location are not considered during valuation.
- Slow Listing Process: According to Redfin’s listing agreement, a Redfin property takes 18 days to list on MLS. Services like Houzeo will list you on the MLS within 24 to 48 hours.
- Lack of Customer Service: There are a few negative reviews about the lack of personal attention by Redfin agents.
- Limited Agent Selection: As per customer reviews, Redfin lacks an array of agents. This means you get an agent assigned automatically without having any choice in the matter.
- Lack of Personalized Services: Due to agents handling multiple clients at once, customers have often complained that Redfin agents are not able to give personalized service.
Redfin has an average rating of 3.3 out of 5 stars on Yelp and an average of 3.7 out of 5 stars on Google.
» Redfin Reviews: Read more to make an informed decision before selling your home.
Redfin was headquartered in Seattle in 2002 by Mr. David Eraker. It covers 80+ markets in the US. They have an operating business license in New York as Redfin Real Estate.
It provides an elaborate listing agreement with a marketing plan for your home. However, this agreement specifies an 18-day timeframe for listing your property. Additionally, some customers have expressed concerns about the agent’s professionalism.
4. Entry Only
FLAT FEE MLS LISTING SERVICE
Listing Fee: $399Entry Only is a discount real estate brokerage with national coverage. They mainly cater to home sellers but have some services for buyers as well.
For Home Sellers:
Entry Only offers 3 flat fees MLS packages:
- Basic ($399): Includes a 6-month MLS listing, 20 photos, transaction coordination, MLS property flyers, buyer lead forwarding, and a yard sign.
- Enhanced ($699): All features of the Basic package plus contract review.
- Premium ($999): This is a full-service package. It includes all services of the Enhanced package as well as negotiations before/after inspections and closing assistance.
For Home Buyers:
- Buyer’s Rebate: The buyers who choose Entry Only as their representative get up to 50% of the buyer agent’s commission as a rebate.
Entry Only offers the following advantages:
- Buyer Lead Forwarding: All email inquiries will be forwarded to the sellers. In addition to this, Entry Only has a 24/7 receptionist service to redirect buyers and agents to sellers.
- Closing Assistance: Entry Only strives to make the closing process smoother by coordinating with buyer agents, lenders, appraisers, home inspectors, attorneys, and title companies.
- Buyer Services: Home buyers get assistance with property search, tours, offers, negotiation, contracts, and closing.
Entry Only offers the following disadvantages:
- Expensive Upgrades: Entry Only offers a significant number of listing upgrades. However, the ones that may boost the sale of your house, like expedited MLS entry, and secondary MLS listing, are steeply-priced.
Entry Only has a rating of 4.8 out of 5 on Trustpilot.
Entry Only is a part of the HomeZu network. With more than 20 years of experience, Jason Saphire, the managing broker, has cultivated an excellent reputation in the industry.
However, the company’s add-on services are not as competitively priced as their packages. Past sellers appreciate their low turnaround time and prompt service.
5. Rocket Homes
COST EFFECTIVE
Listing Fee: $495 One Time Professional FeeRocket Homes is a one-stop shop for connecting with agents, browsing listings, and obtaining home finance.
- $495 One-Time Professional Fee: Sellers receive a full-service package including listing, selling, REALTOR® search, personal loan, and mortgage. They get back 0.5% of the sale price as a rebate after closing.
👉 Our Take: Rocket Homes is primarily an agent referral service. Sellers pay the standard $495 one-time professional fee and get just a 0.5% rebate. Buyers benefit more in terms of home financing and closing credits.
Rocket Homes offers the following advantages:
- Full-Service Agents: Rocket Homes gives access to a large network of full-service agents that take care of the home selling and buying processes.
- Nationwide Coverage: They have a nationwide network of trusted real estate professionals and cover all the States.
- Advanced Technology: It is a tech-based real estate service provider that eases transactions through the mobile app.
- Home Finance: They offer personal loans and Rocket Mortgage. Bundling the services can save thousands of dollars.
- Professional Guidance: A licensed advisor can help with legal documents, home inspection and appraisals, title resources, and closing arrangements.
Rocket Homes has a few drawbacks:
- Standard Commission: Sellers are expected to pay the full commission of 6% and get only 1% back. Discount real estate brokers offer the same services at a much lower rate.
- Negative Reviews: Some reviews on Google mention that Rocket Homes deserves a zero star and has been a very traumatic experience.
Rocket Homes has a rating of 4.6 out of 5 on Google.
Rocket Homes, a sister company of Rocket Mortgage, provides full service for a $495 one-time fee. Their network of agents spans 3,000 U.S. counties, ensuring broad exposure for your property.
However, the 0.5% rebate offers limited financial relief compared to traditional savings options. While their service is efficient, the rebate might not appeal to those seeking significant cost savings.
How Much Will You Save With a Discount Real Estate Broker in Kentucky?
You could save up to $6,104 when selling a median-priced $261,300 home with a Flat Fee MLS service in Kentucky.
However, if you pay a standard 3% commission fee, you’d have to pay a whopping $7,839 to your listing agent. But, with Houzeo’s Gold plan, you will only pay $249 with a 1% charge at closing.
| Details | Traditional Realtor (3%) | Houzeo’s Flat Fee |
| Median Sale Price | $261,300 | $261,300 |
| Listing Fee | $7,839 | $2,859 |
| Savings | $0 | $4,980 |
How to Find Discount Real Estate Brokers Near Me in Kentucky?
Here’s a list of the best discount Realtors in the most popular cities of the Bluegrass State:
| 1. Louisville, KY | Discount Real Estate Brokers in Louisville, KY |
Pros and Cons of Discount Realtors in Kentucky
Discount real estate brokers in Kentucky offer a great way to save. While this cost-saving option sounds good, it’s important to weigh both the pros and cons.
✅ Pros
- Lower Fees: You’ll pay less than a traditional 3% Realtor. Plus, you’ll get full access to features and tools for a low fee.
- Full-Service Support: Discount real estate agents in Kentucky offer all basic home-selling services. This includes assistance with how to price your home, marketing, paperwork, and negotiations.
- MLS Access: Discount brokers help you list your home on the MLS in Kentucky, providing exposure to a maximum no. of buyers.
❌ Cons
- Hidden Fees: Some discount brokerages in Kentucky may charge hidden fees for additional a la carte services. You must do your research and opt for the best discount Realtors in KY.
- Inconsistent Service: Some discounted brokers in Kentucky handle multiple clients at once, so personalized attention may be limited. They do this to make up for the reduced commission rate.
- High Cancellation Fees: A few of the discount brokers may impose a significant withdrawal fee if you cancel your agreement within a specific time frame.
Alternatives to Discount Real Estate Brokers in Kentucky
Here are some other options to consider for selling a house in Kentucky:
- For Sale By Owner Companies: In a FSBO sale, you have to handle every step from listing to paperwork. You can choose For Sale By Owner websites in Kentucky that provide MLS access.
- Cash Buyers: Cash buyers in Kentucky, including iBuyers, investors, and home flippers, actively search on the MLS for the listed properties.
- Full-Service Realtor: If you can’t handle the process yourself, you can opt for the traditional home-selling method. But, you’ll have to pay a 3% commission fee.
