Comparing Low Commission Realtors in 2026

What’s the actual difference between a “low commission” realtor and the agent your neighbor used last year? The answer (not surprisingly) has largely to do with realtor commission. 

The U.S. average real estate commission today is 5.70%, which on the median-priced U.S. home translates to roughly $20,000 to $25,000 split between two agents at closing.[1] A “low commission” realtor charges meaningfully less than that on the listing side, typically 1% to 2%, and the savings are real. On a $450,000 sale, dropping from a 2.88% listing fee to a 1.5% one keeps about $6,200 in your pocket.

The catch is that “low commission” covers very different service models:

• Some are matching services that connect you with full-service local agents at a pre-negotiated rate.
• Some are in-house brokerages with salaried agents and a team-based model.
• Others are flat-fee MLS listings where you do most of the work yourself. The wrong fit can cost you more than the savings. 

The rest of this article ranks the five low commission services we’d actually point a friend to in 2026, with state-by-state commission data, the exact questions to ask before you sign, and where each competitor outperforms our top pick. 

If you’d rather skip to a personalized recommendation based on your state and home price, the state matching tool below will get you there in about 30 seconds.

Top 5 low commission realtors in 2026

Top pick

Clever Real Estate

5.0

1.5% Listing fee

Snapshot

1.5% listing fees with top local agents, nationwide.

My take

Best option for most, with competitive rates, huge agent network, and excellent service.

Compare agents now

Runner-up

Redfin

4.0

1.5-2% Listing fee

Snapshot

1.5 to 2% listing fees with Redfin agents in most major markets.

My take

Decent alternative, with solid value for money, good agent selection, and tech-driven support.

Read full review

Also good

Ideal Agent

3.5

2% Listing fee

Snapshot

2% listing fees with top local agents in most major markets.

My take

Fallback option with high-quality agents, but less selection and higher rates.

Read full review

1. Top pick: Clever

Snapshot. Clever connects sellers with local real estate agents who agree to list for a flat 1.5% fee (with a $3,000 minimum) when customers sign up through the platform. Partner agents come from national brokerages and strong regional firms like Keller Williams or Century 21, and participation requires meeting performance and review standards. Clever operates in all 50 states plus D.C. and works with roughly 14,000 partner agents nationwide.[6]

How it works. After signing up online or by phone, you’re introduced to two or three local agents who’ve pre-agreed to the 1.5% rate. You interview them, compare pricing and service, request more matches, or walk away. Hire an agent and you get standard full-service listing support (pricing guidance, MLS listing, professional photos, showings, negotiation, and closing support), plus the reduced listing fee at closing. There are no upfront costs, and you don’t pay if your home doesn’t sell.

Customer reviews. Clever has a strong third-party review profile — 4.9/5 across 4,583 verified reviews on Trustpilot, Google, and BBB combined, with an A+ BBB rating. Recurring themes in positive reviews include agent responsiveness and the straightforwardness of the fee structure.[7][8]

Best for. Sellers who want to compare multiple agents before committing and want a predictable, locked-in listing fee.

Tradeoffs. The $3,000 minimum means sellers of homes priced below about $200,000 won’t see the full 1.5% benefit. Kristyn Grewell, Clever’s senior agent partnerships manager and a former licensed agent in Oklahoma, puts the threshold even more bluntly from inside the matching engine.

“There really isn’t a savings to the customer under 150,000,” she says. Coverage thins out in specific pockets, too. Grewell flags Vermont, Nebraska, and the Appalachia-adjacent area where Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, and Kentucky intersect as markets where matching is hardest, along with Upstate New York and the Virginia eastern shore beach towns, where agents are locked in at 25% commission splits and won’t accept Clever’s referral fee.

Service quality also depends on the individual agent you hire. And if you’re looking specifically for a cash offer on a home under $100,000, or a cash offer on a manufactured home, Clever is rarely the right tool.

“The economics of our minimum $1,000 referral fee don't make sense for an agent. They could be paying more to Clever than they are earning before their splits.”

Editor’s take: When I was selling agent-referred listings myself, I worked alongside Clever-matched agents in the Charleston market and saw the model work both ways. Sellers who interviewed two or three matches and asked direct questions about marketing plans and recent comparable sales got better outcomes than sellers who hired the first agent who picked up the phone.

Clever’s strongest feature is that it pre-screens for performance, but you still have to do the interview work yourself. Use the same script you’d use with any agent: ask for closed listings in your zip code in the last year, a written marketing plan, and the exact services included in the 1.5% fee.

You can try Clever here: It's free, with no obligation.

2. Runner-up: Redfin (Powered by Rocket)

Snapshot. Redfin is a discount brokerage with salaried, in-house agents and a technology-first selling experience. Listing fees start at 1.5%, but minimums vary by market, ranging from roughly $2,000 to $9,000. The effective rate on lower-priced homes can be meaningfully higher than advertised. In San Francisco, for example, the minimum is $9,000, so the 1.5% rate only applies to homes above $600,000.[9] Sellers who also buy with Redfin may qualify for a partial rebate. Redfin was acquired by Rocket Companies in July 2025 and now operates as Redfin Powered by Rocket.[10]

How it works. You get matched with a Redfin agent and manage most of the process through Redfin’s online dashboard. Sellers receive full-service support, including photography and listing coordination, though you’ll often work with a team rather than a single dedicated agent. Redfin covers 100+ markets. Agents aren’t available in Montana, North Dakota, or Wyoming, and rural areas within covered states are typically served by partner agents from outside brokerages rather than Redfin employees.

Customer reviews: Redfin averages 2.6/5 across 1,476 third-party reviews, a notably weaker profile than the other options on this list.

It carries a customer rating of 1.14 on the BBB, and its limited Trustpilot profile averages just 2.3/5 from 30 reviews. Yelp shows a broader sample — 3.4/5 across 1,100 reviews — with communication and team consistency as the most common complaints. The Redfin app has a 4.8/5 rating from over 1 million App Store reviews, though this reflects the home search tool, not the brokerage's service quality.[11][12]

Best for. Sellers in large, competitive metro areas who are comfortable managing the process digitally and don’t mind a team-based approach.

Tradeoffs. The variable minimums can significantly reduce savings on lower-priced homes, and you’ll have less flexibility in agent selection than with a matching service. The team-based model means you may interact with multiple people across the transaction.

Editor's take: Redfin’s polish on the front end is genuine, but the team-based model is where most of the negative reviews come from. If you’re the kind of seller who wants to text one person about a showing and get an answer within an hour, this isn’t your service. Christina Rordam, a REALTOR with 21 years of experience at Florida Realty Investments in Orlando, puts the team-based concern this way: “You’ll talk to Dave today, you’ll talk to Miranda tomorrow, you’ll talk to Lorraine on Tuesday.”

That trade-off is real across team-based brokerages, not just Redfin. If your home is well-priced and the market is active, the team model works fine. If your sale runs into complications, the friction in the handoff matters more.

3. Also good: Ideal Agent

Snapshot. Ideal Agent matches sellers with a single high-performing local agent who agrees to a pre-negotiated 2% listing fee, with a $3,000 minimum on homes priced below $150,000. Its network is smaller than comparable platforms (roughly 2,000 agents) with a stated focus on top producers. The company claims nationwide coverage, though availability is thinner outside major metro areas.

How it works. After signing up, Ideal Agent connects you with one agent rather than multiple options. If you hire them, you pay the agreed listing fee at closing. There are no upfront costs.

Customer reviews: Ideal Agent has 6387 reviews with a 5/5 rating on Trustpilot, plus a 5.0 customer rating at the BBB with 117 customer reviews.[13] Overall, it has just under 7,000 total reviews. The vast majority of Trustpilot reviews are labeled "Invited," meaning the company actively solicits them after the transaction, which is standard practice but worth noting.

Best for. Sellers who want a strong agent recommendation without comparing multiple matches and whose home is priced above $150,000.

Tradeoffs. There’s only one agent match, and the 2% fee is higher than Clever or Houwzer. Availability and agent quality can vary significantly outside major markets. Some users in less active areas report being matched with agents who decline the engagement due to the reduced commission.

Editor’s take: Ideal Agent’s single-match model is a feature for some sellers and a bug for others. If you don’t want to compare three agents, this saves you that work. If you do, you’re better off with Clever. The 2% fee is the meaningful cost: on a $450,000 sale, you’d pay $2,250 more than you would with Clever or Redfin’s 1.5%. That gap can be worth it if the agent is materially better, but you have no way to know that from a single match.

Other discount realtors worth considering in 2026

4. Houwzer

Snapshot. Houwzer is an in-house brokerage that charges a flat 1% listing commission with no published minimum, operating in roughly 13 states plus Washington, D.C., including New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, Florida, Arizona, Colorado, and select metro markets.[14] Its parent company, Newfound, also owns Trelora.

How it works. Sellers are paired with a Houwzer in-house listing agent who handles pricing, marketing, photography, showings, and negotiation. Houwzer manages most coordination through an online dashboard, similar to Redfin. There are no upfront fees; sellers pay the 1% listing commission at closing.

Customer reviews. Houwzer has roughly 700+ reviews at an aggregate 4.7/5 across Google and Zillow. The platform’s review profile is smaller than Clever’s or Ideal Agent’s, which makes it harder to assess service consistency across a large sample.

Best for. Sellers in Houwzer’s covered Mid-Atlantic and metro markets who want the lowest published listing fee and are comfortable with an in-house team-based service.

Tradeoffs. Coverage is the biggest limitation: if you’re outside Houwzer’s roughly 13-state footprint, this isn’t an option. The in-house model also means less flexibility in agent selection compared with a matching service. And while the 1% fee is the lowest published on this list, the service depth at that price point is more comparable to a discount brokerage than a full-service matching match.

Editor’s take: A 0.5 percentage point gap between Houwzer’s 1% and Clever’s 1.5% is real money on a higher-priced home: $2,500 on a $500,000 sale. If you’re in one of Houwzer’s metro markets, it’s worth a real comparison rather than a default to Clever. The interview script in the “How to choose” section below applies just as much to Houwzer’s in-house team as it does to a matched agent. Ask the same questions about recent closings, marketing plan, and exactly what’s included in the 1%.

5. UpNest

Snapshot. UpNest is a free agent matching platform owned by Realtor.com (acquired in June 2022)[15] with roughly 20,000 partner agents nationwide. Rather than offering a pre-negotiated listing fee, this competitive setup can surface discounted rates. Savings aren’t guaranteed and average around 2.5% on the listing side per UpNest’s own disclosures. The platform claims availability in all 50 states, though rural coverage depends on agent density in each area.

How it works. After signing up online and sharing basic details about your home, UpNest typically delivers two to five agent proposals within about 24 hours. You can review each side by side and decide which agents to contact. There are no upfront fees; you only pay the agreed commission at closing if your home sells.

Customer reviews: UpNest’s review footprint is concentrated on Shopper Approved, a platform used primarily by companies that actively solicit reviews at the point of transaction. Across Shopper Approved and Google combined, UpNest aggregates 299 reviews at 4.6/5.

One important flag: UpNest currently holds a 3.4 rating from the BBB due to unanswered complaints. Several third-party review sites still incorrectly cite an outdated A+ rating, so treat any source making that claim as stale.[16]

Best for. Sellers who want to actively compare agent pricing and service details and are comfortable evaluating multiple proposals on their own.

Tradeoffs. Listing fee discounts aren’t guaranteed; you’re relying on local market competition to drive rates down. UpNest also requires more hands-on comparison than fixed-fee platforms, and its third-party review profile is less robust than Clever or Ideal Agent.

Editor's take. UpNest can be a useful secondary option if fixed-fee services don’t deliver a good match. Go in knowing the savings aren’t locked in upfront, and verify the BBB rating yourself rather than relying on other review sites.

Honorable mention: Prevu

Snapshot. Prevu is a full-service discount brokerage with in-house agents operating in select higher-priced metro markets across 13 states plus D.C., including New York, Boston, Denver, Seattle, and parts of California, Texas, and Florida. The company charges sellers a 2% listing fee with minimums that vary by market and aren’t publicly disclosed.[17]

In NYC, that minimum is $12,500, so the 2% only kicks in above $625,000. Buyers get up to 1% cash back at closing in most markets, or up to 2% in NYC.

How it works. Sellers are paired with a local Prevu agent who provides full-service support plus extras like social media advertising and 3D virtual tours. The fee is paid at closing, with nothing owed if the home doesn't sell. Buyer rebates require a $10,000 minimum commission and lender approval, and are most meaningful on transactions above $1.25 million.

Customer reviews. Prevu has a smaller review footprint than the other companies here. Google shows 635 reviews at 5/5. Prevu has no BBB profile, no Trustpilot presence, and no Consumer Affairs listing. The small review volume and absence from major platforms makes it harder to identify patterns across a large sample of transactions.

Best for. Sellers and buyers in Prevu’s covered metro areas, especially those with higher-priced homes.

Tradeoffs. Prevu is unavailable in roughly 37 states, a non-starter for most sellers. The $12,500 NYC minimum and the $10,000 buyer-rebate threshold mean the value lands mainly on higher-priced transactions. The review base is too thin to draw reliable conclusions about service consistency.

Editor's take. Prevu's strongest play is on the buyer side in high-commission markets like NYC, where the rebate can be meaningful. For most sellers outside major metros, it isn't an option. Even within its footprint, confirm your home price clears the minimum before counting on the advertised rate.

How much can you save with a low commission realtor?

The savings depend on three things: your home’s sale price, your state’s typical listing commission, and which low commission service you choose. The calculator below uses Clever’s 2026 nationwide commission survey to estimate state-specific listing fees and compares them with the major low-commission options.

How much could a low commission agent save you?

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Calculate my savings

You could save up to $5,520 with a low-commission agent.

Same listing service. Same agent support. Lower fee.

That's $5,520 you keep at closing on a $400,000 sale in United States, where the average listing fee runs 2.88%. A low-commission agent delivers the same listing service and full support, then routes the difference into your closing check instead of out the door.

What you would lose by using a regular agent

Without a low-commission agent, you'd hand $11,520 to the listing side at closing in United States.

Plus another $11,280 if you cover the buyer's agent, which most sellers still do post-NAR settlement. That's $22,800 in commissions total.

Estimated commission costs

Company	Listing Fee	Commission Cost	You Save
Traditional Agent	2.88%	$11,520	—
Clever Real Estate	1.5%	$6,000	$5,520
Redfin	1.5%	$6,000	$5,520
Ideal Agent	2%	$8,000	$3,520

Listing fees vary by location. We use local data from Clever's nationwide commission survey to estimate typical listing agent costs in your state. Buyer's agent commission negotiable post-NAR settlement; many sellers still cover it.

Why pay twice as much for the same service?

Low commission agents can help you save thousands without sacrificing support.

Unlock your savings with a low commission agent

Based on Clever's survey of 533 U.S. real estate agents, updated February 2026.

The math gets meaningful fast. On a $400,000 sale at a 2.88% traditional listing fee, you’d pay $11,520. The same sale at Clever’s 1.5% is $6,000, a savings of $5,520. Houwzer at 1% would save $7,520. On a $700,000 sale, those gaps roughly double.

What the calculator doesn’t show is the buyer-side commission, which has gotten more complicated since the 2024 NAR settlement (covered in the next section). The national average buyer agent fee is currently around 2.6–2.7%,[18] and most sellers still end up paying some or all of it at closing, even though the rule changes mean they’re no longer automatically required to.

Average real estate commission by state (top 15 states)

State	Total avg commission	Avg listing fee	Avg buyer agent fee
Alabama	5.96%	2.96%	3.00%
Arizona	5.82%	2.90%	2.92%
California	5.47%	2.73%	2.74%
Colorado	5.71%	2.98%	2.73%
Florida	5.57%	2.75%	2.82%
Georgia	5.66%	2.80%	2.86%
Illinois	5.53%	2.81%	2.72%
Massachusetts	5.57%	2.90%	2.67%
New Jersey	5.20%	2.70%	2.50%
New York	5.69%	2.93%	2.76%
North Carolina	5.53%	2.80%	2.73%
Ohio	5.90%	3.10%	2.80%
Pennsylvania	5.77%	2.97%	2.80%
Texas	5.88%	2.93%	2.95%
Washington	5.90%	2.75%	3.15%
U.S. average	5.70%	2.88%	2.82%

Source: Anytime Estimate, 2026 nationwide commission survey. Figures update automatically when the underlying survey is refreshed.

How the 2024 NAR settlement changed commissions

The NAR lawsuit settlement, which took effect August 17, 2024, changed two things sellers care about. First, offers of compensation from listing brokers to buyer brokers can no longer be displayed on Multiple Listing Service platforms.[19] Second, buyer agents must enter into a written buyer agency agreement (BAA) with a buyer before touring a home, and that agreement must spell out the buyer agent’s compensation in specific terms.

In practice, this means sellers face a new dynamic at offer time. The buyer’s agent shows up with a signed buyer agreement that says they’re owed, for example, 2.5% of the sale price. The buyer has agreed to pay that, but most first-time buyers don’t actually have the cash to cover an agent commission on top of a down payment, closing costs, and inspection fees. So the buyer asks the seller to cover the buyer agent fee as part of the offer. Most sellers say yes, because the alternative is rejecting a qualified offer and going back to market.

David Baca, a REALTOR at Life Realty District in Henderson, Nevada, says the post-settlement reality is the opposite of what most sellers expected.

“We’re making more money now. This is so redundant. It’s so annoying. Because everyone’s like, ‘Oh my god, buyer agents aren’t going to get paid anymore.’ That is not true, remotely. We’re making more money now.”

Kristyn Grewell, who manages Clever’s Southeast agent partnerships network, confirms the same pattern from inside the matching engine. "From what I’m hearing from the agent, not much has changed. The seller still pays the BAC; they just have more paperwork.”

The practical takeaway: assume you’ll cover some or all of the buyer agent fee at closing, especially if you’re selling at a first-time buyer price point where the buyer doesn’t have cash reserves. Build that into your net sheet upfront. If your listing agent tells you the buyer side is the buyer’s problem now, find a different listing agent.

For a full breakdown of what changed, see the NAR commission changes guide.

What's a low commission real estate agent?

A low commission real estate agent is any agent willing to list and sell your home for less than the typical 2.5% to 3% listing fee charged by traditional agents in your area. The best low commission services offer the same full service for as little as 1% to 1.5%.

There are three main types.

• Full-service agents at a reduced rate are traditional realtors who offer comprehensive services (marketing, pricing, negotiations, closing support) but at a pre-negotiated lower fee, usually through a matching service like Clever. The 1.5% fee covers the same services a 2.5% or 3% agent would provide.
• Discount brokerages with in-house agents include Redfin, Houwzer, and Prevu. They employ salaried or team-based agents and run a more centralized process. Service is full but team-based, which can be a benefit (more support staff) or a drawback (less continuity).
• Flat-fee MLS services charge a fixed dollar amount (typically $200 to $1,000) to list your home on the MLS. They don’t provide showings, negotiation, or closing support. This is closer to FSBO with a listing assist than a low commission realtor.

What is the lowest commission a realtor will take?

The lowest commission you’ll find in 2026 is 1%, offered by Houwzer in its covered markets. Below that, you’re in flat-fee MLS territory rather than full-service representation.

The rate you can actually secure depends on:

• The type of agent. Full-service agents charge more than limited-service agents, regardless of brand. Compare apples to apples: a 1.5% Clever agent and a 1.5% Redfin agent should provide roughly the same scope of work.
• The property. Higher-priced and in-demand homes have more room for fee negotiation, because the agent’s effective dollar take stays meaningful even at a lower percentage. A 1% commission on a $1M sale ($10,000) is still a real payday.
• Local market conditions. Agents are more willing to discount during slower seasons or in oversaturated markets. In Henderson, Nevada, for example, Baca notes there are 18,000 licensed agents competing for 6,000 active listings, which is part of why discount-heavy brokerages have traction in that market.

For more on negotiating directly with agents, see how to negotiate realtor commission.

Who should use a low commission realtor?

Most home sellers benefit from a low commission agent matching service like Clever that connects you with top-rated agents at pre-negotiated rates. This is especially true given that 90% of recent sellers chose to work with a real estate agent rather than selling FSBO, per NAR’s 2025 survey.[20] FSBO has fallen to 6% of all sales, and FSBO homes sell for a median of $360,000 versus $425,000 for agent-assisted sales per the same NAR report.

Discount brokerages with in-house agents (Redfin, Houwzer, Prevu) are a slightly different fit. Consider one of these if any of these apply to your situation:

A matching service can’t find you an agent you connect with, you’re confident the in-house agent’s experience matches your sale, your home is in great condition and there’s strong buyer demand in your area, your home isn’t unusual in price, size, or features, you expect minimal negotiation, you’re an experienced seller comfortable with some DIY, or you’re willing to trade some personalized support for savings.

Regardless of which path you take, you should always shop around and compare options. The most important thing is finding the right agent for the job. You won’t save money on a 1.5% listing fee if the agent underprices your home by $20,000.

Pros and cons of low commission realtors

Choosing a low commission realtor can offer significant financial benefits, but it’s important to weigh both the advantages and potential drawbacks carefully. Here’s a detailed look at the pros and cons:

✅  Pros: Cost savings, full-service

The primary advantage of working with a low commission realtor is the potential to save thousands of dollars on real estate commissions. Traditional realtors typically charge a commission rate of 2.5–3%, but with a low commission realtor, you might only pay 1–1.5%. 

The savings can be substantial, particularly with higher-priced homes. For example, a 1% saving on a $1 million home equals $10,000, whereas the same percentage on a $350,000 home results in a $3,500 saving.

Despite these lower fees, many low commission realtors still provide a full range of services. They'll list your property on the MLS, coordinate showings and open houses, negotiate offers, handle all the necessary contracts and paperwork, and guide you through the closing process. Clever Real Estate exemplifies this, with numerous customers reporting significant savings without compromising on service quality.

Grewell pushes back on the common critique that low-commission agents have to cut corners to make the math work.

“It’s often a pretty broad-brush assumption that reduced commission automatically means reduced service, and honestly I think that can be a disservice to the agents themselves. Many of these agents see discounted listings as business they may not have otherwise had, or as part of a broader marketing strategy. They may reduce the commission, but they still gain a property to market, a sign in the yard, and future referral opportunities. At the end of the day, discounting commission is a business strategy, not necessarily a reflection of service level.”

Choosing a reputable low commission brand ensures you receive the same comprehensive support you would expect from a higher-priced agent, covering all aspects of the sale from start to finish.

❌  Cons: Some offer less-personalized service

Some discount services have less-personalized service. Team-based brokerages can feel less responsive than working with a single dedicated agent.

Coverage varies. Houwzer and Prevu only cover select states. Even Clever’s network is thinner in some rural markets, as covered in the Clever tradeoffs section above.

Agent quality varies within services. A discounted fee doesn’t guarantee a good agent; you still have to interview.

Minimums can erase the savings on lower-priced homes. Redfin’s $9,000 San Francisco minimum, for example, makes the “1.5%” pricing irrelevant under $600,000.

How to choose a low commission real estate agent

Choosing the right low commission real estate agent is more about finding the right agent than automatically defaulting to the lowest price point. Reputation matters: 35% of recent home sellers said an agent’s reputation was the most important factor in their decision, compared to just 4% who prioritized commission rates, according to NAR’s 2025 survey.[21]

I recommend you give the most weight to factors like customer ratings, service quality (and approach), agent experience, and personality.

Step 1. Research agents before you fill out any forms

Pull up each agent’s online presence: brokerage website, Zillow reviews, Google reviews, and recent closed listings on Zillow or Redfin. Look for two things. First, do they have closings in your zip code or directly comparable zip codes in the past year? Second, do their listings get strong photos, accurate pricing, and good description copy? An agent who can’t market other people’s homes well isn’t going to market yours well.

Red flag to watch for: an agent with five-star reviews but zero recent closings. The reviews may be from older transactions or from out-of-area buyers. Look for the closed-listing count, not the rating average alone.

Step 2. Interview and evaluate options

Don’t ask “What’s your marketing plan?” That’s a softball, and every agent has a rehearsed answer. Ask the specific questions below. The answers either prove the agent thinks like a strategist, or they prove the agent is winging it.

Remember that post-sale support can be just as important as the selling process. Confirm if the agent will help coordinate inspections, appraisals, and the closing timeline. Also, ask if they provide referrals for other needed services, which can facilitate a smoother transition after the sale.

Finally, discuss their commission structure and any additional fees that might apply.

Pro tip: Run your own comps first. Before you sit down with any agent, pull a free CMA on your home so you have an unbiased view of your potential home value. When the agent walks you through their comparables, you'll know whether they're cherry-picking the high comps to win the listing or working from a realistic range.

Step 3. Compare and choose an agent

After conducting thorough research, interviews, and evaluations, compare your findings to determine which agent best suits your needs. Consider all aspects from service quality to fee structure and from market expertise to post-sale support. 

This holistic approach will help you select a low commission realtor who will save you money and provide a stress-free and positive experience. 

Low commission realtor red flags (according to the experts)

Buying the listing. Some agents win the signature by telling sellers what they want to hear: a list price 10% to 20% above the comps, no marketing plan behind it. Once you've signed, the price drops start, and you're locked in for the contract term. Christina Rordam puts it plainly:

"The biggest red flag is somebody that just tells you what you want to hear. They don't have their own point of view, they don't have a real marketing plan. It's called buying the listing. If you're trying to sell for more than your neighbors in this market, unless there's a really good reason, it's unlikely."

Pressure-test: ask any agent pitching an aggressive list price to walk you through the three to five comparable sales that support it. If they can't, the number is a sales tactic, not a price.

The "$500" trap. At the bottom of the flat-fee market, you'll find agents who'll list your home for a few hundred dollars and call the job done. The savings look great on the spreadsheet. The service usually reflects the price. David Baca is blunt:

"Anyone can stick a sign in the yard and be like, 'Here's my value. I'm only worth $500.' You'll get treated like a $500 broker. I promise you that."

Hold the distinction. A real flat-fee MLS service priced between $200 and $1,000 is fine if you're doing the marketing and negotiation yourself. A $500 "full-service" agent is a different product entirely, and the outcome usually shows it.

The handoff agent. Discount brokerages and high-volume teams often sell the relationship as "you'll work with our team." Sometimes that works because the team is well-organized. More often, the agent who closes the meeting isn't the one running your listing. Rordam sees the pattern regularly in Orlando:

"Somebody's offering a discounted rate and they sell 50, 100 plus homes. To do that volume, a lot of it is outsourced. You meet with one agent who's the face of the team, and then a junior agent who just got their license six months ago handles the negotiations of your contract."

Kristyn Grewell flags the same problem from inside Clever's matching engine: "Agents who run a large team are most likely to funnel leads to other agents, and the connection to Clever expectations gets watered down."

Pressure-test: get names, not "our team." Make the agent answer who specifically will run the comp analysis, the listing presentation, the showing schedule, and the offer negotiation.

Holding-cost math. Every month your listing sits, you're paying mortgage interest, taxes, insurance, and utilities on a house you're trying to leave. Those carrying costs quietly eat the commission savings, and then some. Baca breaks the math down:

"When your home sits on the market for 30 to 60 to 90 days, guess who's paying the mortgage? The seller. Let's say your mortgage is $2,400 or $2,500, and it's been on the market for three months. That's $7,500 the seller's losing because you have inadequate representation."

Pressure-test: ask the agent for their average days-on-market for closed listings in your zip code over the past year. If they don't have the number, or if it's meaningfully above the local MLS average, the savings on the listing fee are at risk before the home goes live.

Alternatives to low commission realtors

While low commission realtors can offer significant savings, they may not be the best fit for every seller. Here are some alternatives to consider:

Traditional real estate agents

Traditional real estate agents charge a higher commission rate, typically between 2.5% and 3% of the sale price (excluding the buyer's agent fee).

While this may seem like a significant expense, traditional agents often provide a high level of personalized service and may have more experience and local knowledge. They can offer in-depth market analysis, extensive marketing efforts, and dedicated support throughout the selling process.

Traditional agents argue for the value of their model over low-commission agents. Alexei Morgado from Lexawise explains:

Traditional commission structures motivate agents to secure the best sale terms, attracting experienced agents who invest heavily in marketing and client service. This comprehensive approach can expedite sales and achieve better prices.

While 6% commission is less common in 2026, some agents still justify it: “They provide elite marketing, renovation guidance, negotiation expertise, and concierge-level service. It’s a premium experience, and some clients still value that," says Dustin Parker, founder and CEO of The Parker Group (a brokerage in Delaware and Maryland with over $1 billion in residential transactions).

They provide elite marketing, renovation guidance, negotiation expertise, and concierge-level service. It’s a premium experience, and some clients still value that.

If you value a hands-on approach and expert guidance, a traditional real estate agent might be worth the higher commission fee. Remember that some low commission realtors, like Clever Real Estate, can provide these same benefits at a lower rate.

Selling without a realtor

For sellers comfortable managing their own sale, going the For Sale By Owner (FSBO) route might be a viable option. This method can significantly reduce or even eliminate commission costs.  

However, it's crucial to understand the challenges and risks associated with this route:

• Market trends: FSBO sales fell to a historical low of 6% in 2024, indicating that many homeowners feel more confident selling with professional assistance.[22]
• Financial considerations: Homes sold by agents typically fetch more on average compared to FSBO sales: one study found that FSBO homes sold for a median of $360,000, compared to $425,000 for agent-assisted sales.[21] Agents can often secure the full asking price or higher, whereas FSBO sellers may need to reduce their initial asking price to attract buyers.
• Negotiation challenges: Without a realtor's negotiating expertise, FSBO sellers might struggle to achieve optimal sale terms, potentially leaving money on the table. You may also find it hard to deal with all of the paperwork you need to sell without a realtor. 

One effective tool for FSBO sellers is using flat fee MLS companies, which allow you to list your property on the multiple listing service for a fixed fee, usually between $200 and $1,000. 

This approach helps you reach a broad audience of potential buyers by posting your home on Zillow and other top real estate websites. However, it's worth noting that flat fee MLS companies typically don't offer additional services like marketing or negotiations. 

If you're confident in handling showings, negotiations, and the closing process, and aware of the various risks, then selling FSBO with flat fee MLS listing support could be a cost-effective way to sell your home. 

Cash home buyers

Cash home buyers purchase your home directly, usually at a discount to market value. All-cash buyers pay an average of 10% less than financed buyers, per a UC San Diego study.[23]

All-cash buyers accounted for roughly 29% of home purchases in October 2025, a share that has remained consistently above one quarter of the market in recent years.[24]

The tradeoff is straightforward: you get speed (2 to 3 weeks to close, no repairs, no inspection contingencies) at a price discount. Cash buyers work in time-sensitive situations such as inherited properties, divorce-driven sales, or urgent relocations. For most sellers in normal market conditions, the discount is too steep to justify.

One specific situation where a matching service like Clever won’t help much, per Grewell, is requests for a cash offer on a home under $100,000 or on a manufactured home. The economics don’t work for the agents on the back end, and the cash-side matching options are limited.

Next steps: How to find a low commission realtor

Your next best step is to speak with a few agents, compare your options, and secure a lower fee without compromising service.

1. Use the calculator to set your savings goal

• Plug your expected sale price into our savings calculator.
• Note the difference between a traditional fee and the low commission options on this page.
• Decide what “worth it” looks like for you in dollars, not just percentages.

2. Compare options

For the strongest results, line Clever up against at least one other brand on this list, such as Redfin or Ideal Agent. When you talk to agents, compare:

• Their experience with homes like yours
• Their marketing plan and pricing strategy
• The exact fee they'll charge you in writing

3. Interview and pick your agent

Talk to two or three agents before you decide. Ask:

• How many listings they have closed in your area in the past year
• How they would price your home and why
• What services are included in their fee, and what is extra

Choose the agent who gives you a clear plan, communicates well, and is transparent about commissions.

Final tip: Get the fee and services in writing

Before you sign a listing agreement, make sure it spells out:

• The listing commission you'll pay
• Any minimum fees or added costs
• What is included in their service package

If something is unclear, ask for changes before you sign. You can always walk away and interview another agent.

Anytime Estimate Methodology

Why you should trust us

Updated May 27, 2026

Steve Nicastro

Verified expert reviewer

Editor, Anytime Estimate

Former licensed real estate agent in Charleston, SC

Bought and sold 30+ homes as agent, investor, and FSBO seller

6+ years as personal finance writer at NerdWallet

Expert voices in this article

Jamie Ayers

Co-author

Director of Content Product at Clever Real Estate Research focus: evaluating agent matching services and discount brokerages Featured in Forbes, Inc., Entrepreneur, and BiggerPockets

Data

Kristyn Grewell

Senior Agent Partnerships Manager, Clever Real Estate

Former licensed real estate agent in Oklahoma City Manages Clever's 40-market Southeast agent partnerships network Tracks meeting rates and signed-agreement rates across thousands of seller matches

Quoted

Christina Rordam

REALTOR, Florida Realty Investments (Orlando, FL)

21 years selling real estate in Orlando REALTOR at Florida Realty Investments Quoted in this article on red flags, team-based brokerage tradeoffs, and post-NAR settlement reality.

Quoted

David Baca

REALTOR, Life Realty District (Henderson, NV)

Active REALTOR in the Henderson, NV market Operates in one of the country's most competitive markets (18,000+ licensed agents, 6,000 active listings) Quoted in this article on post-settlement seller costs, the "$500 broker" trap, and holding-cost math

Quoted

How we rank low commission realtors

Click any criterion to expand

Listing fee and minimums 25%

The actual out-of-pocket cost to sellers, including any minimum that applies in lower-priced markets. We compare the advertised rate against the effective rate once minimums are factored in, since a $3,000 to $9,000 minimum can erase the savings on a sub-$200K home.

Customer experience 25%

Patterns across thousands of verified reviews from Google, BBB, Trustpilot, and Consumer Affairs, with a focus on communication quality, negotiation outcomes, post-sale support, and how often sellers reported feeling pressured or misled. We score on patterns, not one-off complaints.

Service model 20%

Whether you work with a single dedicated agent, a team, or a matching platform, and exactly what's included at the stated fee. We flag where team-based or "you'll work with our team" models can mean junior agents handle critical parts of your transaction.

Agent quality and selection 15%

The size of the agent network, brokerage affiliations, and whether you can compare multiple agents or are limited to one match. Bigger, more selective networks tend to surface stronger local agents and let sellers walk away if the first match isn't right.

Fee transparency 15%

Whether pricing is clearly disclosed upfront, without hidden charges, variable conditions, or surprise costs at closing. Services that bury minimum-commission triggers or add-on fees behind a clean advertised rate get marked down here.

6

Services evaluated

5

Original expert interviews

23,000+

Reviews analyzed

50

States with our original commission data

Disclosure: Anytime Estimate is affiliated with Clever Real Estate. Clever ranks #1 here based on our criteria above. We earn a referral fee when readers connect with agents through Clever, but this does not influence our rankings.

Low commission realtor FAQs

What is a low commission realtor?

A low commission realtor is a licensed agent who charges less than the typical 2.5% to 3% listing fee, usually 1% to 1.5%, while still handling pricing, marketing, showings, negotiation, and closing. The national average commission is 5.70%, split between the listing side and the buyer's agent. Cutting your listing fee from 3% to 1.5% saves about $6,000 on a $450,000 home. The catch is service quality varies. Some discount brokers cap what they do (limited photos, no open houses, lighter negotiation support). Others run the same full-service playbook for less. Best practice: interview two or three before signing and ask exactly what's included.

Will I get less service than a full-commission realtor?

Not necessarily. The low commission model cuts what the agent charges, not what they do. The work is the same: pricing, listing, marketing, showings, negotiation, paperwork, and closing.

The catch is sorting good agents from bad. Some discount brokers cap services (limited photos, no open houses, fewer negotiations). Others run the same full-service playbook at a lower rate. Pre-vetted networks of experienced agents tend to deliver full service at the discount fee. A random 1.5% listing on Zillow is a different proposition.

Before signing, ask the right questions: marketing plan, communication cadence, and recent comparable sales.

How much can I actually save with a low commission agent?

Cutting your listing fee from 3% to 1.5% saves about $6,750 on a $450,000 home. Stretch that to a $700,000 sale and the savings hit roughly $10,500. The buyer-side commission (typically 2.5% to 3% before the 2024 NAR settlement, now closer to 2.6%) is a separate negotiation and not always paid by the seller anymore.

The catch is savings only show up if the agent actually closes the deal at a comparable price. A discount agent who underprices, undermarkets, or misses a negotiation can cost you more than the commission saved. Run your own numbers with a commission calculator before signing.

Which low commission company is best?

It depends on your home price, your state, and how much hands-on service you want.

For nationwide coverage and pre-vetted agents at a flat 1.5%, Clever Real Estate is the most consistent option. Full-service agents come from top brokerages like Keller Williams and RE/MAX.

For higher-priced homes (over $500K), companies that scale the fee with the sale (Houwzer, Prevu in select markets) can save more than flat-fee models.

For tech-forward sellers in metro markets, Redfin's salaried agents work well where the brand has critical mass.

The catch: the agent matters more than the company. Interview two or three before signing.

Are there any catches with low commission realtors?

There are 3 to watch out for:

First, service caps. Some discount brokers cut commission by cutting work: limited photos, no open houses, lighter negotiation. Read the listing agreement.

Second, agent quality. A discount brand only works if it routes you to an experienced agent. A 1.5% listing handled by a part-time agent who closes two homes a year is not a deal.

Third, buyer-side commission. After the 2024 NAR settlement, the buyer's agent fee is negotiable and not always paid by the seller. Confirm who pays what in writing before going live.

Ask each candidate to walk you through their marketing plan, recent comps, and what's included at their fee.

Are low commission realtors legit?

Yes. Low commission realtors are licensed agents required to hold the same state license, complete the same continuing education, and follow the same fiduciary duties as any full-fee agent. The difference is what they charge.

The skepticism usually comes from a brokerage name people haven't heard of, or a fee that sounds too low. Most low-commission brands are real brokerages or referral networks that pre-negotiate volume discounts with experienced agents.

The catch: legitimate is not the same as uniformly good. Some brands route you to full-service agents at a discount. Others route you to whoever signs up. Verify the specific agent's license, recent sales, and reviews. Average commission rates help anchor what you should expect to pay.

Can you negotiate prices with realtors?

Yes. Realtor commission is always negotiable, and the National Association of Realtors confirms this. Plenty of full-fee agents quote 6% as standard, but the national average is 5.70%  because sellers negotiate.

The catch is leverage. You have more of it on higher-priced homes, in hot markets, and when you bring a clean transaction (no repairs, flexible timeline). You have less of it on lower-priced homes or in slow markets, where agents face higher cost-per-deal.

What to say: "Other agents in my market are offering full service at 2% to 2.5%. Can you match that?" Get the answer in writing before signing the listing agreement.

As a seller, do I need to pay the buyer's agent fee?

Not automatically anymore. The 2024 NAR settlement changed the default. Before the settlement, sellers typically offered 2.5% to 3% to the buyer's agent through the MLS. Since August 2024, the MLS no longer publishes those offers, and the buyer's agent fee is negotiated directly between buyer and buyer's agent.

Plenty of sellers still offer the buyer-side commission as a concession. It widens the showing pool and keeps deals moving. The post-settlement average buyer-side commission sits around 2.6% to 2.7%.

The catch: skipping the concession can shrink your showing pool in some markets. Decide based on local norms, your timeline, and your pricing strategy.

What percentage do most realtors charge?

It varies, but most realtors earn between 5-6% total commission on a home sale, which includes both the buyer's and seller's agents. But it also varies by state and local market. Lower-fee markets tend to be high-volume metros; higher-fee markets tend to be smaller and less competitive.

Discount and flat-fee brands cut the listing side. Clever and Redfin sit around 1.5%. Houwzer and Prevu are closer to 1% in select markets. The buyer-side commission is a separate line item and a separate negotiation. View average commission rates here.

The catch: the headline rate is only part of the picture. Marketing budget, what's included, and the agent's experience all bend the math.

Do real estate agents get all of the commission?

No.

First, the brokerage takes its split. Traditional splits run 50/50 for newer agents up to 90/10 for top producers. Second, franchise fees. National brands like Keller Williams or RE/MAX skim a percentage off the top. Third, agent overhead: marketing, MLS dues, photos, transaction coordinators, and the agent's own self-employment taxes (they're 1099 contractors).

On a 3% listing fee from a $400,000 sale ($12,000), a mid-tier agent on a 70/30 split with a 6% franchise fee nets around $7,800 before taxes. Marketing and overhead typically eat another 20% to 30%.

The headline rate is not the take-home. See average commission rates for the gross number.

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