How much can you save with a low-commission realtor?

Selling with a low-commission realtor can save you thousands of dollars. Realtor commissions are usually the largest expense associated with selling a house. Knocking even a few percentage points off your total commission — e.g., going from 6% to 4% by listing with a 1% commission realtor — can make a huge impact on your net sale proceeds and profit margins.

What is the lowest commission a realtor will take?

Currently, 1.5% commission companies like Clever Real Estate offer the lowest commission rates without significant service cuts and risks. If you have a pricier home (e.g., $1M+), Houwzer’s $5,000 flat listing fee could net you an even lower effective commission rate. Chances are you won’t be able to negotiate a 1.5% listing fee on your own, even if you have a super high-value home. The absolute cheapest real estate commissions come from limited-service realtors and flat fee MLS companies. These realtors and brokerages charge a low flat fee upfront to simply list your home on the MLS. You don’t get any other service or support. If you’re selling by owner and want an extra marketing bump, they could be worth considering. But even then, the price point vs. what you actually get often doesn’t make sense.

What percentage do most realtors charge?

Most realtors charge a commission of 2.5-3% at closing to list and sell a home. Buyer’s agents generally expect the same amount for bringing a qualified buyer who purchases the home. That means most sellers are on the hook for about 5-6% in total commission. The nationwide average total commission rate in 2022 is 5.45%. You can find the average commission rate in your state here .

Can you negotiate prices with realtors?

You can — real estate commission is always negotiable — but it’s generally not easy to do on your own. Agents have a lot of expenses to cover and generally won’t be willing to drop their rates too much, especially for one-off customers. You may have more luck if: You have a super high-value home: $1M+ is still going to be a big payday for the agent. There aren’t many people selling in your area: agents may be willing to lower rates to be competitive with other agents and secure new business. There’s a ton of buyer demand in your area: your home will likely sell fast and high, so that means less effort and time for the agent. The easier way is to go through a company, like Clever Real Estate, that negotiates lower commission rates with realtors for you. These brands have more leverage, because they send a steady volume of new business to the agents they work with at no upfront cost. That means you get lower rates without having to sacrifice service (or negotiating with a professional negotiator). You can learn more about negotiating real estate commissions here .

Jamie Ayers

Content Product Manager

Jamie Ayers is a writer, researcher, and frequent contributor on Anytime Estimate. He's currently a Content Product Manager at Clever Real Estate, and has been writing about real estate and proptech for the better part of a decade.

Prior to joining Clever, Jamie did research and content development for numerous companies across a wide variety of financial and technical industries. His work has been featured on industry-leading platforms like Inman, Bigger Pockets, Inc.com, Forbes, and more.

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