A 4.5% real estate commission means you’ll pay 4.5% of your home’s sale price in total realtor fees, covering both the listing and buyer’s agents. That’s lower than the national average of 5.57% which could save you thousands at closing.
For example, selling a $350,000 home at a 4.5% commission rate instead of 6% would save you approximately $5,250.
Thankfully, you don’t have to sacrifice service to get a lower rate. Many reputable discount brokerages now offer 4.5% commission (or even less) and still provide full support from a licensed local agent.
Below, we’ll cover the best 4.5% commission real estate companies, how the savings work, and how to make sure you’re still getting top value.
⚡ Want to pay less to sell your home? Our free tool connects you with top local agents who offer a pre-negotiated 1.5% listing fee. Compare realtors from trusted discount brands and major brokerages like Keller Williams and RE/MAX — all in one place.
The best companies that offer a 4.5% commission (or less!)
| Brand | Listing fee | Locations |
|---|---|---|
| 🥇 Clever Real Estate | 1.5% (min. $3,000) | Nationwide |
| 🥈 Redfin | 1.5% (min. fees vary) | Nationwide (select markets) |
| 🥉 SimpleShowing | 1% (min. fees vary) | FL, GA, TX |
| 4. Ideal Agent | 2% (min. $3,000) | Nationwide |
| 5. Prevu | 1.5% (min. fees vary) | CA, CO, CT, MA, NY, PA, TX, WA |
1. Clever Real Estate
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Buyer Savings
Editor's Take
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Clever Real Estate is the best option for most sellers looking for an agent. The company matches you with multiple experienced, full-service agents so you can find the right fit, and it offers a low 1.5% listing fee no matter which agent you choose.
Clever Real Estate offers a simple way for sellers to save on commission without sacrificing service.
The company connects home sellers with full-service agents from top brokerages — including Keller Williams, RE/MAX, and Berkshire Hathaway — who have agreed to offer a pre-negotiated 1.5% listing fee through Clever’s platform.
Sellers provide basic information about their goals and then receive agent recommendations based on local market experience, performance, and fit. They are not obligated to choose a specific agent and can request additional options or walk away at any time.
Clever’s model ensures consistent savings without compromising on quality, giving sellers more control over both cost and agent selection.
Find top-rated agents from local brokerages and get a pre-negotiated 1.5% listing fee.
Clever's service is 100% free, with zero obligation. Interview as many agents as you like until you find the perfect fit — or walk away at any time.
2. Redfin
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Buyer Savings
Editor's Take
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Redfin is a reputable discount real estate brokerage that offers significant savings, particularly if you buy and sell with the brokerage. But watch out for high minimum fees, which vary by market and can be high in some areas. Redfin's agents also work with a lot of clients, and they don’t always have time to provide as much hands-on service as you may need.
Read the full Redfin review.
Redfin is a national discount brokerage with in-house agents who charge 1.5% commission for full-service listings.
Redfin sellers typically pay 4-4.5% in total commission when they offer a competitive buyer's agent fee. But, when you both sell and buy with Redfin, the company lowers the listing fee to 1%, bringing your total commission rate to 3.5-4%.
Working with Redfin vs. a traditional realtor can save you thousands of dollars, but you should know the trade-offs. Redfin agents handle many more transactions than a traditional realtor each year to compensate for the reduced commissions. This extra volume could limit the agent's ability to provide dedicated support throughout your sale.
3. SimpleShowing
Listing Fee
Buyer Savings
Editor's take
Pros & cons
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SimpleShowing offers significant savings, especially for sellers whose properties sell for more than $500,000. Its agents and customer service are also excellent. However, high minimum fees mean properties worth under $500,000 won’t enjoy maximum savings. Plus, you’ll get limited ability to choose your real estate agent thanks to the company’s small team size.
Read the full SimpleShowing review.
SimpleShowing is a discount brokerage offering 1% listing fees for a total commission of 3.5-4%.
SimpleShowing is a relatively small brokerage operating in select markets in Florida, Georgia, and Texas. It offers genuine savings, but you might have difficulty finding an agent that's a good fit thanks to their limited number of agents. If you do, you may still have to sacrifice some hands-on support throughout the sale. SimpleShowing agents handle 20–25 transactions each year — nearly double the volume of a traditional realtor.
4. Ideal Agent
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Editor's Take
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Ideal Agent is a solid option if you’re looking for a top agent. The company vets its realtors thoroughly, so you’ll likely get a quality agent. But you won't save as much on realtor fees as you could with other companies.
Read the full Ideal Agent review.
Ideal Agent is a discount real estate brokerage that offers a 2% listing fee. The company is known for matching home buyers and sellers with high-quality agents, and customers highly rate it.
Ideal Agent has strict criteria for its agent network. It only chooses agents in the top 1% of producers in their markets. However, this exclusivity has some drawbacks.
Ideal Agent's network is small compared to other discount brokerages. While some companies, like Clever, send you multiple agents, Ideal Agent matches you with only one. You might have difficulty finding the right fit, especially in small or rural markets.
Also, Ideal Agent's commission rate isn't as competitive as other discount brokers'. If you want the best deal, look for companies with a 1% or 1.5% rate.
» MORE: How to Choose a Realtor to Sell Your Home
5. Prevu
Listing Fee
Buyer Savings
Editor's Take
Pros & cons
Reviews
Locations
Prevu is a solid option if you're buying an expensive property. You can receive up to 1% of the home's purchase price as a rebate; the full 1% is only available on properties over $1.25 million. Sellers will pay a 1.5% listing fee (about half the traditional rate). But watch out for minimum fees that vary by market and can be high, limiting your actual savings.
Read the full Prevu review.
Prevu offers home sellers full-service support for a 1.5% listing fee. However, the company has high minimum fees that could leave you paying a much higher effective commission rate if your home is less expensive.
However, if you qualify for a 1.5% rate, you'll only pay 4-4.5% total commission when you offer a competitive buyer's agent commission. For sellers with high-value properties in one of its markets, Prevu offers great savings. But everyone else can find more value from other discount brokerages.
What's the average real estate commission?
Average real estate commission rates vary by market, but you pay 5–6% of your home's final sale price to the listing agent and buyer's agent in most places.
According to a Clever survey of 800+ partner agents, the national average real estate commission is 5.57%. That means a typical seller could pay anywhere from $10,000 to over $54,000 in commission, depending on their home’s price.
| Home price | Estimated commission* |
|---|---|
| $200,000 | $10,880 |
| $350,000 | $19,040 |
| $500,000 | $27,200 |
| $750,000 | $40,800 |
| $1,000,000 | $54,400 |
*Based on Clever’s 2025 survey of over 800 partner agents.
However, actual rates can vary based on location, property type, and the agents involved.
"My team usually asks for compensation in the range between 5% and 6% of the sales price," says realtor Cynthia Cummins, who has three decades of experience in real estate. "Yet, it's important to note that commissions are always negotiable and there's no set fee."
Cummins notes that many factors can influence her actual commission rate. "I almost always offer a lower rate for repeat and past clients," she says, "whereas I'll ask for a larger commission when a listing promises to be particularly complicated ([like] … hard-to-sell properties [and] tenant-occupied properties)."
"Every home listing is different," says Ken Sisson, an associate real estate broker with Coldwell Banker in Los Angeles. "I may lower my commissions if I feel a property will be easier to sell. Conversely, I probably wouldn’t lower my commissions on a home I feel will require more resources and expense to get it sold."
How much can I save with a 4.5% commission rate?
Reducing your total commission to 4.5% could save you thousands of dollars on realtor fees compared to the typical 6% realtor fee. For example, on a $400,000 home, you'd save as much as $6,000 in realtor fees.
Here's a breakdown of how much you can expect to save based on your home price.
| Home price | Estimated savings at 4.5%* |
|---|---|
| $200,000 | $3,000 |
| $350,000 | $5,250 |
| $500,000 | $7,500 |
| $750,000 | $11,250 |
*Compared to a 6% commission rate.
» MORE: How to find the best low commission realtors
How does a 4.5% real estate commission work?
A 4.5% real estate commission typically comes from working with an agent or brokerage that charges a 1.5% listing fee, compared to the traditional 2.5–3% commission that most agents charge.
In most real estate transactions, the commission is taken out of the home seller’s proceeds and split between the two real estate agents involved in the sale:
- The listing agent, who advertises the property for the seller
- And the buyer's agent, who brings their client to purchase the property
In a conventional transaction with a 6% fee, each agent collects 3% of the home's sale price.
Agents offer a reduced commission to help them attract more sellers in a competitive market. When shopping for a real estate agent, choose one who won't cut corners on service in exchange for a lower rate.
Why pay more in commission fees for less service? Clever offers you bigger savings without sacrificing the service you expect from a traditional realtor.
With Clever:
✅ You'll only pay 1.5% to list your home
✅ You'll work with a full-service realtor from a top broker
✅ It's free, with zero obligation — you can walk away at any time
Saving on realtor fees doesn't have to mean sacrificing service. Find a top local agent today!
Why does the buyer's agent fee stay the same?
The NAR lawsuit settlement removed the requirement for listing agents to offer compensation to buyer’s agents via the MLS. However, sellers can still choose to offer a buyer’s agent commission — and in most cases, they still do.
According to our research and interviews with agents, most home sales still involve the seller covering the buyer’s agent fee, which typically ranges from 2.5% to 3%.
Offering a competitive buyer’s agent commission is still the norm in many markets — and many buyers simply can’t afford to pay their agent out of pocket on top of their down payment and closing costs. Covering this cost as the seller can make your listing more attractive and accessible to more buyers.
Buyers can now more easily negotiate agent fees with their agent, but many will still expect sellers to cover the cost — especially in competitive or buyer-friendly markets.
» MORE: Do sellers pay buyer's agent commission?
Will the NAR lawsuit change how real estate commission works?
After losing a lawsuit over their practices in 2024, the National Association of Realtors agreed to change how real estate professionals do business.
As of August 2024, buyer's agents are required to sign an "agency agreement" before providing services to a buyer. This agreement has to specify what services the agent will provide, and how much they will get paid.
Real estate agents are no longer allowed to split commissions with one another. In the past, it was common for a listing agent to collect a 6% fee from the seller, and then split this fee with a buyer's agent who brought a buyer. Going forward, buyer's agents will have to negotiate their fee directly with the buyer they represent.
Learn more about how the real estate commission changes will impact buyers and sellers.
Other ways to get a 4.5% real estate commission
Aside from selling with a low commission real estate agent, there are a few other ways to lower your total real estate commission to 4.5%, such as looking into a 2% commission realtor. You can also try to negotiate a lower fee with your agent, or you can hire a limited-service real estate agent.
Negotiate a lower commission with your listing agent
It's possible to talk a traditional realtor into a lower commission, but getting them to cut their fee in half will be tough.
Agents pay for a lot of expenses out of their own pockets when they list a home — plus, they split their commission with their broker. If they lower their listing fee from 3% to 1.5%, they could actually lose money on the sale.
That's a risk many aren't willing to take. Still, you could have a shot at negotiating a lower commission if you check one or more of these boxes:
- You're selling an expensive home
- Your area has high buyer demand
- There's a lot of competition among agents in your area
- You agree to buy and sell with the same agent or brokerage
Hire a limited-service real estate agent
Some listing agents charge a 1-2% commission but offer fewer services and less support to their clients.
Many limited-service agents use an a la carte pricing structure. Instead of paying for an all-or-nothing listing package, a la carte pricing lets you pick and pay for only the services you want the agent to handle — you'll take care of everything else.
Experienced sellers who are comfortable managing portions of their own sale could save a lot of money by taking this route, sometimes paying even less than 1% commission to their listing agent.
But keep in mind that you'll have to invest a lot more time and energy into the sale than you would if you hired a full-service realtor.
👉 Jump back to the best 4.5% commission companies
Alternatives to paying a 4.5% real estate commission
You don't have to use a real estate agent to sell your home. Several options offer more control, convenience, or speed compared to a traditional realtor — but each option comes with its own trade-offs.
Best savings | Most flexible | Most convenient | Fastest way to sell
Best commission savings: For sale by owner (FSBO)
Selling your home for FSBO allows you to handle the entire process yourself (and avoid any listing fees).
- You want to avoid paying a listing fee entirely
- You're confident you can handle the entire sales process yourself
- You aren't comfortable negotiating contracts or handling closing on your own
- You aren't sure what your home's listing price should be
- You don't have the time to manage everything on your own
» MORE: How to sell your house for sale by owner
Most flexible option: Flat fee MLS companies
Flat fee MLS companies list your home on the multiple listing service (MLS) — an agent-only local listings database — for a low fee.
- You're committed to selling FSBO but want your home to be as visible as possible to buyer's agents
- You want to avoid the negative stigma of FSBO while still handling the sale yourself
- You need more guidance and assistance from a listing agent than a simple MLS listing
- You plan on purchasing a lot of à-la-carte add-ons that can drive up the cost to nearly the same as a full-service realtor
» MORE: The best flat fee MLS listing services
Most convenient choice: iBuyers
iBuyers, like Opendoor and Zillow Offers, use technology to make all-cash offers on homes within specific markets.
- You don't want the hassle of listing your home on the open market
- You're fine paying hefty service fees (usually 5–15%) to get an all-cash offer within 24–48 hours
- You live in a rural area or a city where iBuyers don't operate
- Your home is older and doesn't meet an iBuyer's strict criteria for properties it would purchase
- Your biggest priority is saving money on realtor fees
» MORE: What is an iBuyer?
Fastest way to sell: 'We buy houses for cash' companies
"We buy houses for cash" companies make all-cash offers on nearly any home, no matter its condition.
- You need to sell your property quickly, no matter the price
- Your property is either distressed or difficult to sell
- You don't have the resources or desire to get your home ready for the open market
- You hope to get market value for your property
- Your home is in good enough condition to sell on the open market
- You have the time and opportunity to sell using another option
» MORE: Everything you need to know about "we buy houses for cash" companies
FAQ about 4.5% real estate commission
How much can you save with a 4.5% commission realtor?
You can save thousands of dollars on real estate commissions by working with a 4.5% commission realtor. The exact amount will depend on the price of your home.
Traditional real estate commissions are generally around 5–6% of the final sale price of your home — so you'll save around 0.5–1.5% by working with a 4.5% commission realtor.
This can translate to big savings, especially if you're selling an expensive home. For example, on a $500,000 home, you'd save around $7,500 with a 4.5% commission realtor. Find the best 4.5% commission brokerages near you!
What are the best 4.5% commission real estate brokers?
Our top picks among 4.5% commission real estate brokerages are Clever Real Estate and Redfin. Both are nationwide companies that provide the best combination of low rates, hands-on service, agent selection, and overall value for sellers. Other regional brokerages, such as SimpleShowing or Reali, may be a good choice for sellers in those specific areas, but they offer a more limited selection of agents.
Can you negotiate real estate commission?
You can always technically negotiate real estate commissions, but it can be difficult to talk a traditional realtor into reducing their fee. If you're selling an expensive home in a high-demand area, or if you're willing to buy and sell with the same brokerage, you may be able to convince your realtor to lower their fee. For most sellers, though, the best way to save on realtor fees is by working with a low commission brokerage.
What percentage do most realtors charge?
Most realtors charge 2.5–3% in real estate commissions. Sellers are responsible for paying a commission to two agents: the listing agent and the buyer's agent. In most traditional transactions, this will bring your total commission to 5–6%. But there are many discount brokerages that offer lower commission rates to sellers. Learn how to save on realtor fees without sacrificing hands-on service!
