Discount real estate brokers charge reduced listing fees. Traditionally, agents charge about 2.5–3% of a home’s sale price, while most discount brokers charge 1–2%.
This can result in substantial savings—thousands of dollars, in most cases. For example, on a $400,000 home sale, a 3% traditional agent would cost $12,000. A 1.5% discount broker would cost half that, saving you $6,000.
As a result of these savings, companies like Clever Real Estate, Redfin, and 1 Percent Lists have been growing in popularity. We spent hundreds of hours researching these and other best discount real estate brokers to help you discover which companies offer great value.
Want to pay less in realtor fees? The top broker on our list, Clever Real Estate, can help you find vetted local agents who charge just 1.5%. You'll answer a few short questions, then get personalized recommendations sent to your inbox. This service is free, and there's no obligation to move forward with an agent.
Top 5 discount brokers
1. Clever Real Estate
Commission rate: 1.5% listing fee, with a $3,000 minimum.
Availability: Nationwide
What Clever offers: Clever gives home sellers a full-service experience at a reduced rate. The 1.5% commission is one of the lowest available, and the minimum fee is reasonable. The company also places a high value on quality service.
What actual customers say online: Clever reviews are overwhelmingly positive. Reviewers tend to focus on the smoothness of the process and the quality of the agents. Customers are also very pleased with the low commission. If there are issues, the company is very responsive in addressing them.
Who Clever is best for: Anyone who wants to sell a home without the high listing fees. Read our full Clever Real Estate review.
2. Redfin
Commission rate: 1.5%, down to 1% if you also buy a home with Redfin. Minimum fees are $2,000–9,000, depending on the market.
Availability: Nationwide
What Redfin offers: Redfin offers listing fees of 1.5% for home sellers. Customers can also purchase a home using Redfin, and if you do, your listing fee is reduced to 1%, which is excellent. Minimum fees can be rather high in expensive markets, though.
What actual customers say online: Redfin reviews are mixed. For example, Jennifer Vincent had this to say: “I sold and bought with Redfin in early 2022 during the craze. I highly recommend them as they not only get high traffic but will give you high-quality photos, 3D views, and listing priority. They did an open house, and that was that.”
However, she also cautions that you may not get the same personalized service level: “Cons include no hand holding. If you need that, maybe you want to go with a smaller agency.”
Who Redfin is best for: Customers looking to both sell and buy through the same platform, and who won’t mind doing a little legwork themselves. Read our full Redfin review.
3. 1 Percent Lists
Commission rate: 1% listing fee. Some agents charge a minimum fee, so be sure to discuss it with your agent before committing.
Availability: 1 Percent Lists operates in 19 states.
What 1 Percent Lists offers: 1 Percent Lists offers services for sellers and buyers. Sellers can take advantage of the 1% listing fee, one of the lowest in the industry. 1 Percent Lists is also a full-service realtor, so you get help throughout the process. You can then purchase a new home through the same service.
What actual customers say online: 1 Percent Lists earns extremely positive reviews online, with customers praising the agents for being knowledgeable, helpful, and easy to work with.
Who 1 Percent Lists is best for: Homeowners looking to sell and purchase a new home should have a good experience with 1 Percent Lists. Just make sure you’re in one of its markets—it’s not available nationwide. Read our full 1 Percent Lists review.
4. Ideal Agent
Commission rate: 2% listing fee with a $3,000 minimum.
Availability: Nationwide
What Ideal Agent offers: Ideal Agent matches sellers to agents using online forms and discussions with a representative. Agents charge a 2% commission, lower than traditional realtors but higher than many other discount brokers. However, the low minimum fee may help offset this somewhat on lower-valued properties.
What actual customers say online: Ideal Agent has very positive overall reviews. Most customers praise the quality of realtors and the level of service received. Complaints are rare and mostly focus on poor service from agents. That said, Ideal Agent seems responsive to these issues.
Who is Ideal Agent best for: Sellers who value good service and are willing to pay a bit more for it (although still less than traditional agents!). Read our full Ideal Agent review.
5. Prevu
Commission rate: 1.5% listing fee. Minimum fees apply, but aren't shared publicly.
Availability: Prevu operates in 13 markets.
What Prevu offers: Prevu offers sellers a solid commission rate of 1.5%. However, the company’s selling point is its Smart Buyer rebate program, which offers home buyers rebates when purchasing a home. The company claims the average Smart Buyer rebate is $25,000.
What actual customers are saying online: Reviews of Prevu are generally very positive. The company gets high marks for fast home sales and an easy process, and customers love the Smart Buyer rebates. However, some users note that you may not get the same level of individual service with Prevu that you would with a traditional agent.
Who Prevu is best for: Prevu is a great choice for home buyers, provided that you don’t mind the more hands-off service level. Read our full Prevu review.
Honorable mention: SimpleShowing
SimpleShowing is a solid broker with excellent online reviews. However, compared to our top picks, it’s smaller—only licensed in Florida, Georgia, and Texas. The minimum fee is also pretty high, at $5,000. Read our full SimpleShowing review.
What are discount brokers?
Most real estate agents earn money via commissions—usually a percentage of the home price. A discount broker is simply an agent or group that operates on a lower commission than the traditional amount.
The traditional fee structure is 2.5–3% for the seller’s agent (also called the listing agent) and 2.5–3% for the buyer’s agent, for a total of 5–6% of the home's sale price.
Discount brokers or low-commission agents have become increasingly popular in recent years. With the rise of the internet and digital platforms, brokerages have reduced overhead costs and made it easier for customers to find them, enabling them to offer lower rates and include more realtors in their network.
Thanks to the lower rates, discount brokers have introduced more competition into the real estate market, driving some traditional agents to reconsider their fee structures. Proponents of discount brokers might also argue that they’ve led to increased transparency about rates and more negotiation opportunities for consumers.
How the NAR settlement impacts discount agents
In early 2024, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) reached a settlement to end litigation of claims brought by home sellers.[1]
The lawsuits claimed that high commissions placed a financial burden on sellers. While the NAR denies this, the settlement and accompanying compensation rule changes could impact discount brokers and overall real estate commissions.
Relevant changes include:
- A new MLS rule: Offers of broker compensation can no longer be listed on the MLS. This should help improve the transparency of agent fees.
- New rules around agreements for services and fees: Additionally, the NAR will require MLS participants to enter written agreements with buyers that outline expected services and fees, further enhancing transparency.
Ultimately, these changes reinforce one of the core values of discount brokers—fee transparency.
Pros and cons of discount brokers
Pros
- Lower fees
- Transparent fee structure
- Can sometimes save more by skipping services you don’t need
Cons
- May not get to choose your agent
- Services may be limited
- Customer service and personal attention can suffer
The primary benefit of a discount broker is reduced agent fees. A typical listing agent might charge a 3% fee, whereas a discount broker might charge 1%. On a $500,000 house, that’s a savings of $10,000, which is nothing to sneeze at. Discount realtors are often more transparent about fees, as well.
The main potential downside of discount brokers is that service levels can suffer. Some brokers will offer limited services, with “extras” like staging or photographing a home costing additional money. Others may not be able to give each client the same level of attention.
Jay Mills, a realtor partner with the Hupman Group in Savannah, Georgia, put it this way:
“I believe all of us in real estate live by the motto ‘you get what you pay for,’ and a discount very often means a lack of something: experience, knowledge, resources, or time to work for you as a client," he says. "Ask questions on what a discount broker is offering and not offering, and don’t be afraid to interview two if you feel one is missing something.”
Because service levels can vary, it's important to compare your options. The top discount brokers, like Clever Real Estate, provide full service just like traditional agents. They also vet their agents to ensure high quality.
Alternatives to discount brokers
If you decide a discount broker isn’t for you, you’ve got alternatives.
Traditional agents
If your main concern is getting excellent service and a high price for your home, your best alternative is a traditional agent.
This will almost certainly cost more in realtor fees, but the upside is you may get an agent who can do more to get your home sold and may be more responsive. You can always try to negotiate a lower commission rate with traditional realtors.
iBuyers and cash home buyers
If you’re primarily focused on a quick sale, an iBuyer or cash buyer might be the way to go.
An iBuyer, or “instant buyer,” is a company that buys and resells homes quickly, often using search algorithms or other technology to aid the process. They usually have stricter criteria for the condition of homes they purchase.
A cash buyer is a company or individual investor who purchases homes outright without needing mortgage financing, often in as-is condition.
Either of these options can get your home sold within a week or two—possibly a day or two, with an iBuyer. The trade-off is that you’ll likely get a lower price.
Selling without an agent
Lastly, if you want to pay as little in fees as possible, selling your home yourself—also known as a for-sale-by-owner (FSBO) transaction—could be the way to go.
With this method, you’ll have little in the way of fees, but you’ll have to do all the work yourself, which can be difficult and time-consuming. A successful real estate transaction demands a lot of experience and knowledge.
Mills advises: “Many people think they can handle it themselves, especially in a favorable market. However, consider how much you really know about the real estate process. Are you up-to-date on all the laws, forms, and crucial details? One small mistake or unforeseen issue can cost you money and time, or lead to prolonged lawsuits. We all want to save money, but there’s no shame in seeking help from a professional, like a licensed and experienced realtor.”
