Best Flat Rate Real Estate Agents of 2025

Looking to save on realtor fees? Two popular alternatives to traditional 3% listing agents are flat fee MLS services and full-service discount brokerages. Each option has pros and cons depending on how much help you want and how much you want to save.

If you want to save on realtor fees while still working with a dedicated agent, work with a full-service discount real estate brokerage.

• Discount realtors charge a percentage of your home's final sale price, usually between 1% and 2%. That's about half what traditional realtors charge, so you'll save thousands of dollars.
• Your agent will provide full support, including pricing guidance, negotiation assistance, and help navigating the closing process.
• One of the top options is Clever Real Estate, which pre-negotiates a 1.5% listing fee with top-rated agents from major brokerages like Keller Williams and RE/MAX. Your agent provides full support, including pricing strategy, marketing, negotiations, and closing guidance.

If you want to pay a true flat fee and sell your house without a realtor, use a flat fee MLS brokerage.

• Flat-fee MLS listing services charge a true flat rate, usually around $100-400 for a basic package.
• You won't receive any support from a real estate agent, so you'll essentially be selling your house for sale by owner.
• If you're not confident navigating the selling process on your own, a flat fee MLS service may not be the best fit.

If you’re deciding between these two routes, we recommend most sellers start with a company like Clever to get full service at a fraction of the cost. Get matched with top-rated, 1.5% real estate agents by filling out this form.

Best flat fee real estate brokers of 2025

Here are the best flat fee real estate brokers, broken down by type:

Best full-service discount brokers

Best flat fee MLS listing services

What are flat fee real estate brokers?

Flat fee brokers are companies or real estate agents that sell your house for a fixed fee. Traditional real estate agents charge a 2.5–3% commission rate, so the fee increases and decreases with the sale price.

Nowadays, there are very few true flat fee real estate brokers. Homie Real Estate, Help-U-Sell, and Assist-2-Sell are the only national real estate brokerages that charge a flat fee, and even many of their franchise locations have moved to a percentage-based model.

Flat fee MLS listing services are often confused with flat fee real estate brokers. These companies charge a low fee, usually around $100-400. But this price doesn't include support from a real estate professional.

Some flat fee MLS companies offer premium packages where you get more support from an agent. But these usually come with high fees and can exceed the cost of working with a discount realtor.

How do flat fee brokerages work?

Flat-fee realtors deliver some or all of the same services as traditional real estate brokers, but for a flat rate instead of a percentage of the final sale price.

Actual pricing models vary by company. Some, for example, charge a flat rate based on how much your house sells for. Others charge a mix of a flat rate plus a percentage, depending on the services you order.

The biggest differences are between flat fee MLS listing companies (which offer limited services) and full-service discount real estate brokers (similar to traditional realtors).

Flat fee MLS listing companies

Flat fee MLS companies will get your home onto the multiple listing service (MLS), a directory of homes for sale, for $100-1,000, depending on the services included. The MLS is how buyers’ agents find homes to show their clients, and its listings are automatically reposted to websites like Realtor.com and Zillow. Nearly 9 in 10 sellers use the MLS, making it the top listing method.[1] Studies have shown that MLS listings sell for close to 18% more than comparable homes sold off of the MLS.[2]

Because only licensed agents can post to the MLS, a flat fee MLS company allows sellers to access the MLS without hiring a traditional listing agent. These companies typically charge a one-time fee — often $100–400 — and may offer optional add-ons like yard signs, lock boxes, or offer negotiation assistance for an additional charge.

While flat fee MLS services can be a cost-effective choice for experienced sellers or those comfortable managing their own sale, they may not be the best fit for everyone. You’ll still be responsible for pricing, showings, paperwork, and negotiations — tasks typically handled by a full-service agent.

For less experienced sellers, the lack of professional support could result in a lower sale price.

Full-service discount brokers

Full-service discount brokers offer the same real estate services as traditional realtors but charge a flat rate instead of a percentage-based commission. The best discount real estate brokers, like Clever Real Estate and Redfin, provide all the same services as traditional agents.

Full-service discount realtors typically charge a reduced listing fee of around 1-2% (compared to the traditional listing fee of 2.82%).

In the past, some discount real estate brokers charged a flat fee of $3,000—$8,000. But today, most discount brokerages follow a percentage-based model.

While discount realtors are pricier than flat rate MLS companies, they're also less risky - especially for first-time or inexperienced sellers.

• You’ll work with a licensed agent who can price your home accurately based on local market data. Homes priced incorrectly on the MLS (too high or too low) often sit on the market longer or attract lowball offers.
• Agents handle showings, negotiations, and paperwork, reducing the chance of costly mistakes. FSBO sellers often struggle with legal disclosures, counteroffers, and inspection negotiations, leading to deals falling through.
• Your home is more likely to sell for market value or higher. Our research has found that sellers using an agent sell for nearly $50,000 more on average than those who do not, outweighing potential commission savings.

In short, the upfront savings with flat fee MLS may come at the cost of your final sale price — whereas a discount agent offers full support and substantial savings compared to traditional agents.

Pros and cons of flat fee brokers

Pros of flat fee brokers

You save money on commission

A flat fee agent usually costs less than hiring a full-service real estate agent. Here's what each option would cost using a $400,000 home sale example:

Agent type	Commission rate	Cost
Traditional agent	2.5-3%	$10,000-12,000
Discount broker	1-2%	$4,000-8,000
Flat fee MLS service	None	$100-500

So you'll save money on real estate commission with a flat fee broker, though you’ll need to consider your home’s potential sale price.

If you are selling a high-value home, you’ll get the best savings with flat fee brokers. For example, a $5,000 flat rate on a $1 million sale represents just a 0.5% commission. However, on a $100,000 sale, that $5,000 fee equals a 5% commission.

You pay only for the services you need

Flat fee brokers, especially flat rate MLS services, are usually flexible about their real estate services. You can choose a cheaper, no-frills plan if you need fewer services. Or you can simply pick and choose the services you need and do away with the ones you don’t.

Tailoring your plan helps you save money for what matters most. For example, you may feel comfortable pricing and marketing your home, but want help with negotiations. In that case, you can choose a package that includes negotiation assistance.

With a full-service flat fee realtor, finding and choosing your own real estate agent is a major perk. Clever Real Estate, for example, lets you compare multiple agents to see which one offers the services you’re looking for and who feels like the best fit for your sale.

You control the sales process

Flat-rate MLS services, particularly, are geared toward experienced sellers who prefer to handle most of the sales process.

Using a flat fee MLS listing service, you can set your asking price, marketing strategy, and schedule for showings. You’ll also be able to negotiate directly with buyers and their agents instead of going through your listing agent.

Cons of flat fee brokers

You may make less money on your sale

If you use a flat fee MLS company, you risk selling for a lot less than you would with a real estate agent. Homes sold without real estate agents typically sell for much less than agent-assisted sales. The lower sale price could more than wipe out any savings you’d otherwise get by paying a low flat rate.

Listing agents are experienced negotiators who know what buyers pay for homes like yours. They can use that knowledge to push for a fair price. Also, a buyer's agent may try to avoid working with sellers who don’t have a real estate agent, fearing that it’ll be more work for them. The result is less competition for your house, making getting a higher sale price harder.

Some companies offer poor service

Many flat fee realtors offer excellent service that’s comparable to traditional brokerages. Many others have reputations for cutting corners and offering poor service quality.

Some companies, for example, take on more clients than they can handle. The result is that your flat fee realtor may be swamped with work and difficult to reach.

Other companies assign different team members to handle different steps of your transaction. That increases the chances of miscommunication and mistakes.

You’ll be largely on your own

While a DIY sale is enticing for some, the workload can be too much for many people. If you’re using a flat rate MLS company, you’ll largely be acting as your own realtor. The process can quickly become a full-time job.

Realtors handle pricing, marketing, showings, negotiations, and closing paperwork — tasks that can overwhelm FSBO sellers.

For most people, selling a house without a realtor is just too time-consuming — plus, it entails a heightened risk of legal problems or selling for less. Having a full-service real estate agent is often worth the investment in the long run.

What is a reasonable realtor fee?

The listing fee for a traditional realtor is around 2.5–3% of the final sale price of a home, which equals about $10,000 to $12,000 on a $400,000 sale. Combined with the buyer’s agent fee of another 2.5–3%, — total realtor commission is around 5–6%.

By contrast, flat rate options can range from a couple of hundred dollars for an MLS listing to around $8,000 or more for a full-service broker.

Remember that you may still be asked to cover the buyer’s agent commission - even with a flat fee agent.

How to choose a flat fee broker

To choose a flat fee broker, determine what level of service you need. If you're an experienced home seller and don't need much help, a flat fee MLS company like ISoldMyHouse or HomeCoin could be a good option.

Generally, a basic flat fee MLS package is good value when it includes these services:

• 6–12 month MLS listing
• 25+ photos
• Unlimited listing changes
• Buyer and agent lead forwarding
• Free cancellation
• Optional add-ons like a lockbox, showing management, and contract review

If you need more help selling, look for a full-service low commission realtor. They provide these services:

• Pre-listing consultation
• Comparative market analysis and pricing recommendation
• Professional photography
• MLS listing, including a comprehensive property description
• Marketing plan
• Showing and open house management
• Assistance vetting offers and buyer financing
• Coordination of home inspections, appraisals, and title requirements
• Support with negotiations and closing paperwork

You can find discount realtors at local and national brands. Sometimes, local brokerages can provide more personal service and on-the-ground knowledge of what buyers want.

Also, consider contacting traditional realtors who don’t advertise flat rates. Some agents are willing to work for a flat rate, especially if the house is high value or relatively easy to sell.

Regardless of where you source potential agents, interview several of them. Interviews allow you to discover an agent's selling process and whether their experience and personality match you.

Calculate your effective rate to find the best savings

Whatever brand you choose, check to ensure you’re getting the best possible savings at your home’s price point. To do this, you’ll need to calculate your effective real estate commission rate — your listing fee represented as a percentage of your home's sale price — and compare the flat fee to the percentage-based listing fee you could get elsewhere.

For example, if you pay a $5,000 flat rate to your realtor, your effective rate at different sale prices looks like this:

In the above example, a $5,000 flat rate is great if you sell above $500,000. However, below that, you’ll pay more than 1% to your realtor. Given that discount real estate brokers offer fees as low as 1.5%, you'll usually save more if you go with one of them.

You can calculate your own effective rate by entering your desired sale price and a hypothetical flat fee below:

Beware of these key risks of flat fee realtors

These are the two most common issues we’ve spotted:

1. Hidden fees for listing changes

When comparing flat fee realtors and brokers, look for hidden fees and extra charges. Some flat fee MLS services charge more than $20 for each listing modification, meaning even a few changes could cost you hundreds of dollars.

Look for a flat fee realtor that lets you make free changes. Or work with a full-service real estate agent, who will typically handle changes to your MLS listing at no extra charge.

2. The claim that you'll pay no commission if the buyer doesn’t have an agent

Flat fee brokers often claim you can set the buyer’s agent commission or even avoid paying realtor commission entirely if the buyer doesn’t have an agent. While technically true, the claim can still be misleading, especially under the new NAR guidelines following the lawsuit settlement.

According to the new rules, sellers no longer set the buyer's agent commission rate, as it's now the buyer's responsibility. The commission rate is listed in the buyer's agency agreement, which the buyer signs before even viewing homes.[3]

While it’s possible to avoid paying a commission if the buyer doesn’t have an agent, the reality is that most buyers do (88% of buyers and 90% of sellers use an agent in their transaction).[4]

Finally, although you don’t set the buyer’s agent commission rate, you may still be asked to cover the fee during the negotiation process. This has become a common point of discussion between sellers and buyers.

Bottom line: Should you use a flat fee real estate broker?

Flat fee brokers can be an effective way of saving money on your next home sale. But you need to consider how much of the sale you want to handle yourself and how much your home will sell for. Flat rate options make the most sense for experienced sellers or high-value homes.

If you want to do most of the work of selling a house without a realtor, a flat fee MLS option will save you the most money. But the risks are high, and you could sell your house for way less than you would with a realtor.

The better option for most sellers is a full-service discount real estate broker like Clever. You still get a steep discount on your realtor commission, but you also get help from a top full-service agent in your area.

Methodology

The Clever Team filtered and ranked the top low commission real estate brokerages based on the following criteria: 

1. Service level: We only ranked full-service discount real estate brokerages, since they're the best option for most home sellers. These brokerages deliver the same essential services a traditional realtor provides, including in-person representation, showing assistance, and closing support.
2. Pricing: We reviewed each company's fee structure, cross-referencing current commission rates and home values to determine which companies offer the best overall value. We also identified hidden fees, high minimums, and up-front fees that could detract from overall seller savings.
3. Customer reviews: Verifiable customer reviews were integral to our evaluation. We considered various factors, including the total volume of reviews, average customer ratings, key positive and negative themes, and the relevance of these reviews to prospective customers making decisions today.
4. Sales activity: We examined available data regarding past transactions to gauge sales performance and market activity levels. We looked at the number of transactions and their recency to confirm that each brokerage was still active. 

Our research process involves thorough fact-checking, mystery shopping, and regular updates to ensure accuracy.

✍️ Editor’s note: We don’t disqualify a company based on limited or missing data, but we do lower the company’s overall ranking. We base our rankings on objective measurements and continuously strive to source missing data in order to update our rankings.

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