Best 1% Commission Realtors to Save Big (2024 Update)

A 1% commission realtor works for a 1% commission (or close to it). That’s quite a bit less than traditional realtor commissions, which are closer to 3%. A seller could save as much as $10,000 on selling a $500,000 home by using a 1% realtor.

With the rise of online brokerages and the rising cost of homes, low-commission realtor models are becoming more popular. With that increase in popularity, they’re also helping drive increased transparency across the industry.

That said, low-commission realtors can have some drawbacks. Service can sometimes suffer, and sellers may find themselves doing more legwork than a traditional realtor.

» JUMP TO: What is 1% commission? | How much you can save | Best 1% realtor picks | How to choose

What is a 1% real estate commission?

A 1% real estate commission is simply a commission structure in which the listing agent receives 1% (or close to it) of the house's sale price as payment. Let’s break that down further for those unfamiliar with how real estate commissions work.

Basically, real estate agents typically work on commission—when a home sells, the agents involved get a percentage of the home’s sale price as the fee for their services. This fee varies, but typically averages 5–6%, split between the seller’s agent (or listing agent) and the buyer’s agent. That means each is getting 2.5–3% commission.

With a 1% commission, the seller’s agent sets their commission at roughly 1%, substantially lower than the typical 2.5–3%. However, it’s worth noting the buyer’s agent usually still gets a traditional amount, so the total commission might still be around 4% (1% for the seller’s agent and 3% for the buyer’s agent). The seller typically pays both of these commissions.

Some 1% agents charge slightly more than 1%, a common fee being 1.5%. However, they are typically still considered "1% agents."

How much can you save with a 1% realtor?

Savings can be pretty substantial when using a 1% realtor compared to a traditional fee structure. Here’s a basic example of the two on a $500,000 home sale:

In this example, you’d save $10,000 in fees by using a 1% commission realtor—pretty substantial. This is obviously very simplified, but it gives you an idea of the potential savings here.

Best 1% commission realtors of 2024

Choosing the right realtor can significantly impact your home-selling experience and the money you save. Here’s a comparison of our top picks for low commission realtors offering 1% commission or close to it:

1. Clever Real Estate

Commission rate: 1.5%, $3,000 minimum

Availability: Nationwide

What Clever offers: Clever aims to offer lower commission rates without sacrificing service or customer experience. You start with a short quiz, which helps match you with a group of vetted agents in your market. You can then choose the best fit from that group to sell your house.

What actual customers are saying online: Reviews for Clever Real Estate are overwhelmingly positive, with users praising the quality of service and the agents' experience. A few customers complain about poor service or rude agents, but they’re a very small minority.^[1]

Who Clever is best for: Clever is a great choice for home sellers looking to pay a lower listing fee without sacrificing quality.

2. Redfin

Commission rate: 1.5%. Sellers who also buy a home through Redfin can get a further 0.5% reduction to bring the listing fee down to 1%. Minimum fees apply and vary by market, from as little as $2,000 to as much as $9,000 in San Francisco. A full list of minimum fees can be found here.

Availability: Nationwide.

What Redfin offers: Redfin is a discount brokerage with a base fee of 1.5%, with minimum fees that vary by market (more expensive markets generally have higher minimum fees). You can also purchase a home through Redfin, and customers who both sell and buy with the company can save an extra 0.5% on their listing fee, bringing it down to 1%. The company also offers Redfin Premier, a service for buying and selling luxury homes.

What actual customers are saying online: Reviews of Redfin are somewhat mixed. Some customers have had an excellent experience, like Robert Iles, from Toluca Lake, CA, who said: "Redfin provided excellent service and achieved a higher sale price than expected. The entire process was smooth and easy to navigate, resulting in a sale price well above my initial hopes. Highly recommend for a hassle-free selling experience."

Others have felt that while the listing process was easy, the rest of the service could have been better. Kevin MacFarlane, of Seattle, WA, said: "Listing the unit with Redfin was easy, and their lower-than-standard commission saved me money. However, there were some delays in communication, and the refinishing work arranged through Redfin was not satisfactory. Overall, the listing process was convenient, but there were a few areas for improvement."

Who Redfin is best for: Redfin is ideal for customers who want to sell their homes and buy new ones through the platform. However, check the minimum fee in your market first, as it can be quite high.

» MORE: Clever vs. Redfin breakdown

3. Prevu

Commission rate: 1.5%, with varying minimum fees. The minimum fees aren't shared publicly, unfortunately.

Availability: Prevu is licensed to operate in the following markets:

• California
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• District of Columbia
• Florida
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• New Jersey
• New York
• Pennsylvania
• Texas
• Virginia
• Washington

What Prevu offers: Prevu offers both home selling and home buying services. Sellers pay a discounted commission rate of 1.5% (though minimum fees do apply). Buyers can take advantage of Prevu’s Smart Buyer rebate program. These rebates take the form of a check issued after closing. The company claims buyers get back an average of $25,000.

What actual customers are saying online: Prevu has outstanding overall reviews. Customers praise the quality of agents and the Smart Buyer rebate program, and describe the process of using Prevu as "quick and smooth."^[2]

That said, some customers note that the service is better for those who don’t mind (or even prefer) having less one-on-one agent interaction.

Who Prevu is best for: Prevu is a choice for home buyers who prefer a more hands-on or independent approach. However, you’ll have to be in one of its relatively small number of markets to take advantage of it.

4. Houwzer

Commission rate: Houwzer charges a 1% listing fee, with a minimum fee of $2,500.^[3]

Availability: Houwzer is available in the following markets:

• Delaware
• District of Columbia
• Florida
• Maryland
• New Jersey
• Pennsylvania
• Virginia

What Houwzer offers: Houwzer does both home sales and purchases and claims to provide "full-service realty for thousands less."^[4] The company also offers a rebate of up to half the buyer’s commission when you purchase a home.

What actual customers are saying online: Houwzer has largely positive reviews online, with many customers saying they had a great experience with the company. Most negative complaints center on the company’s business model and how it impacts service—in other words, some customers felt Houwzer agents were incentivized to sell homes quickly, regardless of price.^[5]

Who Houwzer is best for: Thanks to its low minimum fee, Houwzer could be a good choice for sellers of lower-valued homes.

5. SimpleShowing

Commission rate: 1%, with a $5,000 minimum fee.

Availability: SimpleShowing is only licensed in Florida, Georgia, and Texas.

What SimpleShowing offers: SimpleShowing offers both selling and buying services. Sellers can use a 1% commission rate (albeit with a $5,000 minimum), while buyers get $5,000 or more towards closing costs.

What actual customers say online: SimpleShowing is a smaller broker with relatively few online reviews. That said, what is there is very positive, emphasizing the professionalism of the realtors and the quality of service received (despite the discounted listing fee).^[6]

Who SimpleShowing is best for: SimpleShowing is best for sellers with homes worth over $500,000—these sellers can take full advantage of the 1% listing fee.

How to choose a 1% realtor

1. Compare the costs

The costs of using a 1% realtor are actually less straightforward than you might think. There are several things to keep in mind:

• While the listing agent’s fees might be 1%, they’re often a bit higher—closer to 1.5%. It’s just easier (and, frankly, sounds better) to refer to them as “1% realtors.”

• Many 1% realtors have a minimum fee that, depending on the price of your home, may come out well above 1%.

• Remember that the “1%” in “1% realtor” refers to the listing fee. However, sellers often pay the buyer’s agent fees, which could also increase the total agent fees to 3–4%.

• Some (though not all!) 1% realtors charge additional fees for services like staging a home. These can add up if you're not careful.

  
  

Ultimately, this means that you should compare costs between different brokers before committing and confirm all costs so there are no surprises.

2. Compare service levels

Discount realtors can be divided into two basic types: full service and limited service. Full-service real estate agents are the traditional agents most people think of—they’ll handle everything necessary to get your house sold, and often some extras on top of that, including:

• Negotiating with buyers and their agents.

• Providing advice on offers and counteroffers.

• Performing competitive market analysis.

• Coordinating professional photos of your home.

• Hosting open houses.

• Assisting with staging.

  
  

Limited-service agents are often less expensive but don’t offer one or more of these services (or charge an extra fee for them). However, these services can be vital not just for a good experience but also for getting the best price for your home. As such, sellers should generally avoid companies providing fewer services or little in-person support—the potential pitfalls are almost never worth the up-front savings.

3. Consider agent reviews

When choosing an agent, it is important to seek out reviews from actual customers. Agents will always paint themselves in the best light, but reality can sometimes look very different—past customers are the best source of truth about how an agent will conduct themselves.

Emily Dawson, a realtor with Coldwell Banker in Savannah, Georgia, says, “Look for agents that demonstrate honesty, integrity, and strong communication. The right agent will have the best interests of their clients in mind.”

She also cautions against realtors representing the buyer and seller: “One of my business values is to only represent one person in the same transaction—either the buyer or the seller. Both deserve full representation and the ability to walk away from the transaction knowing they were represented well.” It's hard to get that when there’s only one agent involved.

Finally, you should prioritize the reputation of individual agents over that of agencies or brands. A stellar agent at a mediocre agency will certainly be better than a mediocre agent at a stellar agency, because most real estate agents operate as independent contractors, even when affiliated with a brand.

4. Assess the agent's market knowledge

Knowledge of the local real estate market is one of the most important and valuable assets a realtor can bring to the table. It ensures that the seller can get the best possible price for your property.

Dawson says, “Understanding the markets that the agent serves is key on so many levels. If you are listing your home, you want an agent who is versed in keeping up with the market trends. Agents from other markets won’t know local trends, rules, codes, history, and neighborhoods. In other words, they won’t have the knowledge needed to provide top-tier service in markets they’re not familiar with.”

Experience also plays a role here. It’s not necessarily bad to go with a new agent (they have to start somewhere!), but one with years of experience may be more likely to get you the desired results. When choosing an agent, look for a track record of successful sales.

5. Evaluate communication and availability

Lastly, look for an agent that communicates well. Someone proactive and clear in communication can make selling your home much less stressful—few things are as frustrating as trying to chase down your realtor for information.

Availability is also important. An agent doesn’t necessarily have to be on call 24/7, but they should be available at the times you need them to be. Remember, the agent is working for you, and their main job, aside from selling the home, is to make your life easier during the process.