10 Best Low Commission Real Estate Agents & Companies (2023 Rankings)
PropTech offers a simplified and clear understanding of how real estate markets work. Our team works tirelessly to provide reliable, consistent, and information-driven blogs that keep consumers ahead of the curve. This blog is going to compare some of the best low-commission real estate agents and companies in the US.
With the rise in home values over the last few years, traditional realtor commissions have seen a significant increase as well. In this case, Real estate agents who work on a low commission basis are exactly what the sellers require right now.
» In this guide, we’ll cover:
- Rankings: Best Low Commission Agents & Companies
- Detailed Reviews: America’s Best 10 Best Low Commission Real Estate Agents & Companies
- What are Low Commission Real Estate Agents?
- Most Important features of Low Commission Real estate Agents
- Can You Negotiate Real Estate Commission with your Agent?
- How Much Can You Save by Using A Low Commission Realtor
- Alternatives to Low Commission Real Estate Agents
- Final Word
- FAQs
Rankings: America’s Best Low Commission Real Estate Agents & Companies
Rank | Low Commission Real Estate Agents & Companies | Reviews |
1. | 🥇 Houzeo | -100% Online -High quality customer service -No hidden fees -Nationwide Coverage |
2. | 🥈 Redfin | -20-30% savings on commission fees -Advanced technology -Slow listing process -Average customer service |
3. | 🥉 SimpleShowing | -Mobile App -Qualified agents -Minimal savings -Average customer service |
4. | 🧑💼 Ideal Agent | -Qualified agents -Nationwide coverage -Marginal savings -Average technology |
5. | ⚙️ HomeLight | -Good technology -Decent agent coverage -No savings on commission |
6. | 💸 LisitngSpark | -Affordable upfront fees -Good A La Carte options -Slow listing speed -Limited coverage |
7. | 👉 Trelora | -Flat listing fee -Decent savings for low value homes -5 star reviews -No broad coverage |
8. | 💰 Houwzer | -Ideal for high value homes -Good listing speed -No personalized support -No broad coverage |
9. | 🤔 Redefy | -Decent listing fee -1% commission for homes with value $1M+ -Limited coverage -Non-refundable deposit of $500 |
10. | 🤷🏽 Homie | -Affordable listing fee -Good customer support -Inconsistent agent quality |
Detailed Reviews: America’s Best 10 Best Low Commission Real Estate Agents & Companies
1. Houzeo
Houzeo More
🥇 NO HIDDEN FEES | ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY
- Listing Fee: $329
- Available in 80+ U.S. Markets
- Listings Featured on Houzeo App
Houzeo is a cutting-edge technology-based real estate platform that allows home sellers to list their properties on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) for a low flat fee. You will save nearly half of the agent commissions as a result of this.
In addition, for a nominal fee, you can access a variety of additional features such as contract review, pricing assistance, professional photography, and more as part of the platform.
Home sellers who register will be given access to a personalized dashboard from which they can manage a variety of features such as receiving, reviewing, and comparing offers. Registration is free. Additional features such as counteroffers, contract review, lockbox and yard sign availability are included in the listing packages, as well as other benefits.
Houzeo is also the most technologically advanced For Sale By Owner (FSBO) platform in the United States, with processes that are completely automated.
Homesellers who want to save money on hefty Realtor commissions will benefit the most from this option.
Pros
- Nationwide coverage
- Listings get syndicated to Zillow, Realtor.com, Trulia, Redfin, and 100s of other sites
- Quick listing (within a day with concierge)
- Savings on commissions
- 100% online – easy listing, fast changes, online showings, and online offers
- Mobile app availability
Houzeo has a 4.9 out of 5 rating on Google & Trustpilot.
Houzeo is available nationwide.
2. Redfin
Redfin More
🥈 GOOD TECHNOLOGY | GREAT SERVICES
- Listing Fee: 1.5% of sale price
- Covers over 80 markets in the US
- Advanced technology
Redfin is one of the best Low Commission real estate brokerages available. You can save between 20% and 30% on commission fees when using Redfin. While Redfin claims to provide quick services, this constrains their ability to provide any level of personalised service.
The low-commission Realtor also offers additional services such as a professional photographer, MLS listing, open house schedule, and yard sign. While Redfin’s listing agreement is comprehensive, it takes nearly 18 days to get a property listed on the MLS.
When compared to other low-commission real estate companies, Redfin is known for its technology. They provide full-service brokerage through an excellent user interface and platform.
Apart from the Redfin “Full Service” package (1.5 percent commission), there is also a “Concierge” plan with a 2% commission fee.
🔍 Explore more: Redfin Reviews: The Reality of 1% Fees, Pros & Alternatives
Pros
- Excellent Technology
- Detailed listing agreement
- Detailed paperwork
- Holisitic services
- Rebate of 0.5% (in case of Full Service plan) if you buy and sell with them
- Cash offer feature available
- Full-service brokerage
Cons
- Listing process is slow
- Average customer service
- Limited agent selection
Redfin has an average rating of 3.9 out of 5 on Consumer Affairs.
Redfin covers over 80+ markets, giving a nationwide coverage.
3. SimpleShowing
SimpleShowing More
🥉QUALITY AGENTS | MARGINAL SAVINGS
- Listing Fee: 1% of sale price
- Restricted coverage
- Handles large volume of customers
SimpleShowing, like many other low-fee brokers, connects sellers with a network of Realtors. The platform charges 1% of the sale price, which is slightly less than the traditional Realtor listing fee.
The company operates on a minimum listing agent model, which means that an agent is responsible for a greater amount of work. This may be a cost-cutting measure for the business, but it undoubtedly results in a reduction in quality.
SimpleShowing provides a variety of services, including MLS listing, professional photographer, and home valuation.
🔍 Explore more: Negotiating Real Estate Agent Commission
Pros
- Qualified agents
- Low listing fee when compared with competitors
- Add-on features in place
- Mobile App
Cons
- Marginal savings
- Limited real estate agents
- Compromise on quality because of less number of agents
- Average customer support
- Restricted coverage
SimpleShowing has an average rating of 4.6 out of 5 on TrustPilot.
SimpleShowing is available in Texas, Florida, and Georgia.
4. Ideal Agent
Ideal Agent More
👍 GOOD CUSTOMER SERVICE | QUALITY AGENTS
- Listing Fee: 2% of sale price
- Top agents
- Nationwide coverage
Ideal Agent assists sellers in locating qualified, low-fee real estate agents. Ideal Agent charges a 2% listing fee, which results in only a marginal savings.
There is no obligation to work with the recommended low-cost real estate agents when using the free agent matching service. Additionally, the company has stringent selection criteria for agents (only top 1 percent sale producers).
People who want an agent must call a concierge who can help them. They need to call the number the agent gave them. As a result, it takes a lot longer to sell your home. Sellers who use Ideal Agent usually save about $3000 to $4000 when they list their home for sale.
🔍 Explore more: Ideal Agent Reviews (2022): Everything You Need To Know
Pros
- Qualified agents
- No obligation to choose an agent
- Add-on services like professional photos, and more
- Good customer service
Cons
- Marginal savings
- Single agent match
- Inconsistent agent results
- No customer dashboard
- No buyer savings
Ideal Agent has an average rating of 4.9 out of 5 on TrustPilot.
Ideal Agent is available throughout the U.S.
5. HomeLight
HomeLight More
☝️ GOOD AGENT COVERAGE | NO SAVINGS
- Listing fee: 2.5% of sale price
- Good Agent Coverage
- Available in Major Cities
HomeLight works with a lot of successful sellers and low-cost realtors to make guides and resources for selling a house that are tailored to your situation.
You can list your home and get offers for free, but the traditional 5-6% commission still applies, depending on the agent. Based on the real estate agent you choose, he/she would be able to list your property on the MLS. Although, there is no obligation to choose a recommended agent.
Using HomeLight, you can find the best real estate agents in your chosen neighbourhood. You can choose from full and limited service plans..
You will get offers from real estate agents right away if you sign up for HomeLight. The process is quick, but only homes that aren’t on the market can be used.
🔍 Explore more: HomeLight Reviews: The Truth You NEED To Know
Pros
- Good technology
- Good agent coverage
- Digital listing packages
Cons
- Average listing speed based on agent selection
- No savings on agent commission
- Inconsistent agent quality
- Covers only major U.S. cities
On Sitejabber, HomeLight has an overall consumer rating of 4.51 out of 5.
HomeLight has coverage only in major U.S. cities.
6. ListingSpark
ListingSpark More
🥉 FULL-SERVICE BROKERAGE | GOOD SERVICES
- Flexible services
- Slow MLS listing
- Affordable upfront fees
ListingSpark, one of the top low commission real estate agents, is based on the feature of pay-per-day. You need to pay a certain amount ($7) per day to remain listed on the MLS and have access to different features.
Even though ListingSpark provides great services and is considered to be a decent low commission realtor, it still requires some manual processes to get the property listed on the MLS. This leads to a bit of delay in the selling process.
ListingSpark focuses on strong features and add-on services (open houses, showings, lockbox, yard sign, etc.) that make the job of sellers easy and comfortable.
The low commission realtor also provides a Premium plan that is fixed at 0.5% commission at closing and comes with more add-on features than “pay-as-you-go” plan.
🔍 Check out: Time it takes to sell a house
- Affordable upfront fees
- Flexible services
- Decent market analysis
- Thorough documentation for the selling process
- Closing calculator to aid in deriving the closing cost
- Full-service brokerage
- Slow MLS listing
- Limited coverage
- Add-on features are a bit expensive
ListingSpark’s averages 4.3 out of 5 on BirdEye.
ListingSpark has coverage in Texas only.
7. Trelora
Trelora More
🤔 GOOD ADD-ON FEATURES | MINIMAL SAVINGS
- Listing Fee: 2% of sale price
- Restricted coverage
- Low number of real estate agents
Low-cost brokerage Trelora comes with two “Full Service” packages that cost 1% and 2%. You can choose which one you want.
Trelora’s small number of agents serves thousands of customers, resulting in subpar customer service most of the time.
The platform does not assign a single agent to a seller, but rather provides assistance to the seller at various stages. This appears to be efficient, but due to the number of people involved, it could backfire. Trelora’s packages include add-on features such as professional photos, yard signs, marketing, and more.
🔍 Explore more: Trelora vs. Traditional Agents
Pros
- Good add-on features
- Commission rebate for buyers
Cons
- Average service due to low number of agents
- Minimal savings
- Restricted coverage
- Poor customer support
- Average technology
Trelora has an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 on Yelp.
Trelora covers only AZ, CA, CO, GA, MO, NC, SC, and WA.
8. Houwzer
Houwzer More
💰 BEST FOR HIGH VALUE HOMES | NO PERSONALIZED SUPPORT
- Listing Fee: $5000 flat fee
- Restricted coverage
- Ideal for 1M+ homes
If you’re looking for a low commission real estate brokerage that’s easy on the wallet for high-valued homes, Houwzer is a good place to start. With a $5000 flat fee, this low commission Realtor is ideal for homes worth more than $1 million. You may want to consider other options if you are looking for a low-cost home.
Houwzer, like most other brokerages, offers low commission real estate agents to help with the selling process. However, there is a disadvantage: the limited number of agents cater to thousands of customers, resulting in sometimes subpar service quality.
Professional photography, 3D virtual tours, social media and email marketing, MLS listing, and syndication on real estate websites are all services offered by Houwzer.
The platform is more of a full-service brokerage that meets the needs of sellers from beginning to end.
🔍 Explore more: What’s a fair Realtor commission?
Pros
- Low listing fee for high value homes
- Good listing speed
- Versatile add-on features
- $2500 rebate when property sold and bought from the platform
Cons
- Not ideal for low price homes
- Degraded customer service quality due to high customer volume
- No personalized support
- Limited coverage
- Average technology
Houwzer is rated 4.5 out of 5 on Yelp.
Houwzer covers only Florida, New Jersey, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Washington.
9. Redefy
Redefy More
🤔 IN-HOUSE SUPPORT | QUALITY RISK
- In-person support
- Listing Fee: $3500 flat fee
- Average agent service
Redefy charges a flat fee of $3500 for listing. However, when a house is sold for more than $1 million, the platform becomes prohibitively expensive. In this case, the selling fee is 1% of the total sale price.
The company does provide in-house support which helps sellers with accurate pricing and other features like staging home, etc.
Redefy, like some other low commission real estate agents, uses a process in which a small number of agents serve a large number of customers. This jeopardises service quality. Furthermore, Redefy operates on a team-based model rather than a single-agent policy.
Redefy offers services such as MLS listing, comparative market analysis (CMA), showing service, yard sign, lockbox, and more.
Redefy differs from traditional Realtors in that it does not offer open houses or printed flyers.
🔍 Explore more: Real estate facts you should know
Pros
- Decent listing fee for low value homes
- In-house support
- Flexible add-on features
Cons
- 1% commission for homes with value $1M+
- Average customer service quality due to high customer volume
- Limited coverage
- Non-refundable deposit of $500
Redefy is rated 4.5 out of 5 on Yelp.
Redefy covers only CO, FL, GA, IL, NC, SC, TN, TX, and VA
10. Homie
Homie More
🤷🏽 LOW LISTING FEE | NO IN-PERSON AGENT SUPPORT
- Restricted coverage
- Listing Fee: $3500 flat fee
- Mobile App
Homie, yet another low commission real estate broker, works with a $3500 flat fee listing. When compared to traditional Realtor commissions, this is very reasonable, but it may be significant for low-value homes.
Homie does not offer in-person support, so sellers must exert more effort to get their listing up and running. Having said that, Homie does provide remote low commission Realtor support, but it slows down the selling process.
The platform, like some other low commission Realtors, has a limited number of agents who serve a large volume of customers. This implies a reduction in quality. Furthermore, the add-on features included as part of the packages do not provide good value for money.
🔍 Explore more: Homie Real Estate: Reviews, Alternatives, and Everything You Need to Know
Pros
- Decent listing fee
- Good agents
- Rebate for buyers
Cons
- Compromise on quality due to lesser number of agents
- Remote agent support
- Limited coverage
- Low quality customer support
- Poor technology
Homie is rated 2.5 out of 5 on Yelp.
Homie covers only Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, and Utah.
What are Low Commission Real Estate Agents?
When you compare low-commission agents to traditional agents, they make less money from the sale than traditional agents do. Instead of charging you 6%, they may only charge you 3%. Many people like the idea of saving money when they sell their home, but choosing a low-commission agent does not set the commission for the whole process.
A minimal commission Realtors can operate in a variety of ways, from simply listing your property on the Multiple Listing Service to providing full-service brokerage. Low commission real estate companies typically define their services in terms of packages.
Full Service Low Commission Real Estate Agents
In-Person Full Service Low Commission Real Estate Agents
A full-service company from this list will provide you with an experience that is similar to working with a traditional agent, but at a significantly lower cost.
These low-cost realtors will provide advice on how to prepare your home for sale, as well as pricing strategy, professional photographs, and MLS listing and marketing services, among other things. They will also assist you with offers, negotiations, contracts, and other matters.
Even though they may have the assistance of a back-office team, your dedicated agent is responsible for personally overseeing the entire sale.
Ideal Agent helps sellers find good, low-cost real estate agents. Ideal Agent’s listing fee is 2%, which means that only a small amount of money will be saved.
If the sellers want an agent, they must make a call to a concierge at the phone number that the agent has been given. This does slow down the selling process. On average, when a seller lists with Ideal Agent, they save about $3000 to $4000.
Virtual Full Service Low Commission Real Estate Agents
The name implies that all services will be provided virtually. They provide all of the traditional Real Estate Agent’s services. The low-fee realtor in this case provides all of the same services as a full-fee realtor, but at a lower cost.
While no personal visits will be made, the remainder of the services, such as offer contract preparation, price negotiation, and showing time, will be provided at no additional charge.
Houzeo.com is our top pick because it delivers an unbeatable combination of savings, tech features, and service of any virtual full service website we’ve reviewed.
Houzeo saves you the listing agent commission. In addition, Houzeo’s superb technology gives you access to tools only real estate agents have. You can counter an offer online, request the highest & best, and even manage your showings. If you ever need help, Houzeo gives you 5-star customer service – via chat, email, and phone.
Medium Service Low Commission Real Estate Agents
In general, medium-service firms provide the majority of the same services as a full-service realtor. However, your actual experience will fall short of what you would expect from a dedicated agent.
To save the most money, most companies in this tier combine their real estate services and don’t give you as much attention.
For example, most medium-service brokers don’t just rely on the help of one person. They work with a team. Others only give you help over the internet. Your agent will never come to your house.
When you buy a house with a low-cost realtor, you don’t do as much work as you would with an agent from Homie. They’ll help you online, but they won’t come to your house for price consultations or open houses. A lot of sellers don’t like Homie because it’s a risky choice.
It’s better to choose a full-service realtor than an agent who doesn’t visit your home, because they can help you sell it for the right price.
Limited or Flat Fee Real Estate Brokers
In order to get your house listed in the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), you’ll need to pay a one-time upfront flat fee to a registered agent or discounted broker. Rather than a percentage of the home’s value, the seller agrees to a flat fee with the broker who accepts it.
If you want to sell a $500,000 house, you can expect to pay a traditional agent 2-3 percent of the sales price. How much is that? You can expect to pay an average of $300 for a flat fee model, which includes both listing and marketing. However, if you decide to include additional services like pricing and buyer negotiations, you can save money.
Our Top Flat Fee MLS Pick is Houzeo.
As a flat fee MLS listing company, Houzeo ranks first on our list. Its trio of amazing features gives it an edge over all the other flat fee MLS service companies that we’ve reviewed. With Houzeo, you get more savings, advanced tech, and exceptional customer service.
In addition to saving on commissions, you get to use Houzeo’s state-of-the-art technology to make counteroffers and access Houzeo Showings, their showing management App. Houzeo provides excellent customer service via chat, email, and phone if you ever have a problem.
Most Important features of Low Commission Real Estate Agents
💰 Listing Commission | The seller is responsible for this fee. Sellers are more likely to join a platform if the minimum threshold is lower. Sellers are frequently on the lookout for real estate agents with low commissions who can also list their property on the multiple listing service (MLS). |
🪙 Savings | Based on the commission fee or flat fee paid, what are the savings when compared with traditional Realtor commission? |
📲 Technology | Technology aids in the home selling process by making most of the services automated and giving the sellers the required comfort. |
☎️ Customer Service | The low commission Realtors/companies should provide top-notch customer service. |
📍 Coverage | A good Real estate brokerages with lowest fees should cover as many states as possible. |
📱 Mobile App | A good low commission Realtor/company should have a good mobile app to access the platform on the go. |
Can You Negotiate Real Estate Commission with your Agent?
Yes ! When dealing with agents, it’s always worth attempting to negotiate commission rates and other services. In spite of this fact, there are a number of factors that can influence your ability to exert leverage in those negotiations
When selling a typical home in an expensive market, agents can expect to make a substantial amount of money. As a result, it is much more common for agents to lower their commission rate, knowing that they can still make a substantial amount of money on less than 6 percent commission.
Unless it is a flat rate discount company, you can definitely negotiate for minimum changes. The amount you lower will wholly depend on factors such as your property area, condition, the brokerage, among others. Low commission real estate companies like Houzeo save you thousands of dollars and work on reduced rates.
Before you enter into a negotiation, determine your leverage. Example: The average real estate commission in Florida is 5.40 percent, which is lower than the national average of 6.25 percent. It’s possible that lowering your overall commission will be impossible. Negotiations can become much more reasonable once you have established your reference point.
How Much Money Can You Save by Using a Low-Commission Realtor?
When working with real estate agents, low commission real estate companies will negotiate a pre-determined fee with them. Furthermore, such agents frequently deal with multiple sellers at the same time, allowing them to recoup the difference in commissions from the sellers.
Companies like Houzeo make it possible for Realtors to sign up and serve sellers at a lower commission rate than traditional agent commission.
Other full-service brokerages employ agents who are exclusively hired by them and who work in-house for them. Such brokerages also have a streamlined sale process, which allows them to save money even when providing low commission services.
Alternatives to Low Commission Real Estate Agents
1. For Sale by Owner (FSBO)
FSBO (for sale by owner) is an option for those who prefer to be hands-on and have the time and resources. As a result of choosing this path, you will be responsible for all aspects of being a real estate agent, including everything from taking listing photos to scheduling showings.
It is possible to sell a house without using a real estate agent and save the standard 6 percent commission, but if you are a first-time home seller, this may not be the best option for you.
2. Sell to Cash Companies like We Buy Houses
Those looking for a quick sale should contact one of these companies, who will make you a cash offer for your property. To maximise their chances of making a profit on the sale, they frequently offer prices that are lower than the market value.
They typically sell properties that are in poor condition or that are on the verge of going into foreclosure. On the other hand, frequently complete the transaction in less than a month. Such may charge fees in addition to offering less money for your home despite the fact that they do not charge a commission.
👉 Explore More: To learn more about We Buy Houses <<CLICK>>
3. Discount Real Estate Brokers
Discount real estate brokers (also known as low cost real estate agents or discount realtors) are individuals who provide specific services for a reduced fee. As opposed to traditional listing agents, they work for less (such as 1% to 2 % commission or a pre-determined flat fee) and provide fewer services to the seller than the standard 3 percent commission.
The seller will almost certainly save money as a result of the reduced fee. When it comes to selling your home, working with a discount real estate broker is an excellent way to save money. You must, however, make certain that you are not sacrificing quality or service in the process of saving money.
If all you require is a discount company to handle paperwork and provide additional services, our top candidate – Houzeo – will provide you with incredible savings while also utilising cutting-edge technology.
📖 Read Best Discount Real Estate Brokers
Final Word
You would want to choose a Realtor from among the lowest commission real estate agents/companies who provides the greatest amount of services for the least amount of money. Real estate agents who work on a lower commission are specifically designed for this purpose.
» Note: Although, the traditional real estate commissions are declining, still the low commission real estate agents are favorites out there.
As a low commission Realtor service provider, Houzeo provides you with the flexibility you need while also providing you with exclusive features that no other low commission Realtor or company can match.
It is entirely online and digitalized in order to make the home selling process as smooth as possible. In addition, Houzeo is widely regarded as the best Flat Fee MLS and FSBO provider in the United States market.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a low commission real estate agent?
A low commission realtor will list and sell your home for a reduced fee. As opposed to traditional real estate agents, low commission real estate agents may charge you as low as 1% commission.
What are the best low commission real estate brokers?
For most home sellers, Houzeo, Redfin, and Ideal Agent are the best low commission brokers. To compare, these three national brands provide full service throughout the selling process, similar to a traditional agent.
What is the procedure for selling with a low-cost realtor?
Selling with a discount realtor is typically comparable to selling with a traditional agent, provided you choose a discount brand that provides genuine full service.
With full-service discount brokers, you get the same services as provided by a traditional real estate agent, such as an MLS listing, in-person consultations for pricing, full negotiation representation, and dedicated support throughout the home selling process.
Can I negotiate a Realtor®’s commission?
Yes, commission can be negotiated. A busy and successful agent, on the other hand, is unlikely to accept a lower commission.
Related: fsbo listing sites, where to list house for sale by owner, cash for homes near me, free mls listing for sale by owner, best real estate sites