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Imagine you’re selling a $450,000 home. A traditional listing agent charging the average 2.82% fee will cost you about $12,600 before closing costs. If you also cover a buyer’s agent commission – which most sellers do – then total fees can easily climb past $25,000.
That sticker shock is why many sellers start looking at discount real estate agents. These brokers typically charge 1–1.5% to list your home, which can put thousands back in your pocket.
But lower commission doesn’t always mean the same experience. Some discount agents strip services to keep fees low, while others offer full-service support at a reduced rate. The difference can affect pricing strategy and how smoothly your sale actually goes.
Based on my years working in real estate and a deep review of verified customer feedback, I’ve put together a list of discount real estate brokers that balance real savings with reliable service. Let our guide help you decide which model actually makes sense for your situation.
🔬 How we evaluate discount real estate agents
Our rankings are designed to help home sellers avoid one of the most common and costly mistakes with discount real estate agents: saving on commission, but losing money through poor pricing, weak negotiation, or limited service.
This article was written by a former real estate agent who has helped buy and sell more than 30 homes, including transactions using traditional, discount, and flat-fee brokerages.
Each recommendation is grounded in firsthand real estate experience and independent research. We evaluate nationwide discount brokerages based on factors that directly affect seller outcomes, including listing fees, total potential savings, service scope, customer experience, and brokerage reputation.
To go beyond marketing claims, we interview real customers, analyze thousands of verified reviews, and mystery-shop local offices to see how these brokerages operate in practice. This helps us identify where lower fees come with meaningful trade-offs (and where they don’t).
Rankings are updated regularly as pricing models, service levels, and customer feedback change. If a company’s value slips, its ranking changes too.
Our goal is to help you choose the option that makes the most financial sense for your situation, even when that means recommending a competitor over Clever. Selling a home is a high-stakes decision, and paying less commission only matters if you still walk away with the best possible result.
Top 5 discount real estate agents of 2026
Listing Fee
Customer Rating
Editor's Take
Overview
Reviews
Clever Real Estate is the best option for most sellers looking for an agent. The company matches you with multiple full-service agents from local brokerages, including top brands like Keller Williams and RE/MAX. It offers a low 1.5% listing fee no matter which agent you choose.
Pros
- Get matched with top-producing local agents in minutes.
- Guaranteed 1.5% listing fee (half the usual rate).
- Free agent matching service with no obligation to commit to any realtor.
- Large agent network offers great selection compared to similar services.
Cons
- No guarantee you’ll get matched with a specific agent or brokerage.
- Add-ons like professional home staging and drone photography may cost extra.
Listing Fee
Customer Rating
Editor's take
Overview
Reviews
1 Percent Lists offers a solid combination of savings and full service. If you're located in one of its service areas, read customer reviews and check Zillow transaction data to ensure you don't end up with an inexperienced real estate agent.
Pros
- The 1% listing fee is among the lowest in the industry.
- You get full-service support, including professional photography, an MLS listing, and contract negotiation.
- You can list on multiple MLSs for more exposure.
Cons
- Not all brokerages offer home buyer rebate incentives (check with your local franchise if this is important to you)
Listing Fee
Customer Rating
Editor's Take
Overview
Reviews
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.
Pros
- Redfin's listing fee of 1.5–2% offers good savings.
- Clients who buy and sell with Redfin can save even more.
- You can easily manage your listing online or via Redfin’s app.
Cons
- Agents provide limited one-on-one service.
- Customer reviews have recently become more negative.
Listing Fee
Customer Rating
Editor's Take
Overview
Reviews
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.
However, you might not get to choose who you work with, since Ideal Agent usually has only one or two realtors in a given area. Even if you get a top-performing agent, there’s no guarantee that they’ll be the right fit for your sale.
Ideal Agent’s listing fee of 2% is a bit lower than the traditional rate. But if you want to save money, other brokerages offer even lower fees while still maintaining high-quality agents and service.
Pros
- It's easy to get matched with a real estate agent.
- The 2% listing fee is lower than the traditional rate.
- Customer service gets excellent reviews.
Cons
- You likely won't get to choose which agent you work with.
- There are no savings for buyers and limited savings for sellers.
- There's limited ability to manage your listing online.
Listing Fee
Customer Rating
Editor's Take
Overview
Reviews
Prevu offers savings for both buyers and sellers, but it offers the most value for buyers of high-value properties. Its buyer rebate of up to 1% is substantial, although the full 1% is only available on properties over $1.25 million.
Sellers can also save thanks to Prevu’s 2% listing fee — about half the traditional rate. But the company charges minimum fees that vary by market. If your home doesn’t sell above a certain threshold, minimum fees mean you’ll save less — and you could even end up paying more than you would with a traditional realtor.
Pros
- Eligible buyers get a rebate of up to 1%.
- Sellers can save with the 2% listing fee.
- The company offers significant savings on high-value homes.
Cons
- Only homes over $1.25 million qualify for the full 1% buyer rebate.
- Minimum fees undercut seller savings.
- Prevu has a small agent network, which means you could get stuck with a lackluster realtor.
How we ranked these discount brokers
🏆 Top pick: Clever Real Estate
Our top choice, Clever Real Estate stands out for its reliable 1.5% listing fee across the U.S. and its approach of matching sellers with multiple experienced, full-service agents.
Sellers enjoy substantial savings while still receiving full support from seasoned agents. Clever's high customer rating also further increases its credibility and customer trust, as it has a 4.9/5 rating across 4,431 online reviews.
Clever’s main trade-off is that the experience can vary depending on which local agent you’re matched with. While Clever vets its partner agents, you don’t select an agent directly, so service quality may differ by market and individual agent.
Clever also focuses on traditional MLS listings. It’s a weaker fit for sellers looking for alternatives like flat-fee MLS-only services.
For sellers who want full-service support at a lower-than-average listing fee—and are comfortable comparing a few agent options—Clever offers a strong balance of savings and service. Get matched with top-rated local agents and start saving today.
🥈 Runner-up: Redfin
With a variable listing fee of 1.5–2% (or 1% if you buy and sell with Redfin within a year), Redfin offers excellent value, especially for clients buying and selling with them.
However, in some markets, higher minimum fees apply. Our analysis of Redfin's online reviews also identified the potential for less hands-on service because agents handle many clients simultaneously. The average Redfin agent closed more than 23 deals in 2024, more than triple the count from agents at other brokerages.[1]
🏅 Other strong options
Known for its network of highly-rated agents, Ideal Agent charges a 2% listing fee and delivers excellent service quality. Still, the savings aren't as significant as with Clever or Redfin, making it ideal for sellers prioritizing top-tier agents over cost savings.
1 Percent Lists and Prevu are strong contenders with unique advantages in specific markets, but their limited availability and variable fees affected their overall rankings.
A note on reviews and averages
Ratings and savings figures listed above are based on aggregated data and customer feedback. They’re useful for spotting patterns, but they don’t guarantee a specific result. Agent quality, market conditions, and home characteristics can all affect your bottom line.
Discount brokers: What can go wrong?
Lower commission sounds appealing (who doesn't want to save money?), but a better result isn't guaranteed. In real-world sales, discount broker models may fall short in a few predictable ways.
Service levels can vary a lot. Some discount agents are fully hands-on, while others manage more clients to keep fees low, which can mean slower communication or less support during negotiations. You have to be very careful when selecting your agent.
Pricing is another common issue. Saving 1–1.5% on commission won’t matter much if the home is priced well below its fair value or sits on the market too long. We’ve seen sellers lose more on price than they saved on fees.
“With home prices and mortgage rates fluctuating, the margin for error is razor-thin," says Lee Davenport, Strategic Coaching Advisor at Real Estate Bees. "The cost of a single mistake—an incorrect legal description, a missed deadline—can now cost a client exponentially more.”
Negotiation support can also be thinner. This is especially true when deals get complicated or buyers push back. Some discount models rely more on process than active negotiation.
Not all “discount” means full service. Some companies cut back on marketing or guidance, or charge add-on fees that reduce real savings.
In the end, agent fit and overall service matters more than the headline fee. That’s why our rankings focus on overall value, not just the lowest commission.
Find a discount real estate brokerage near you
Sometimes, your best option is a local discount broker who offers lower commission rates in your area.
We've compiled comprehensive discount brokerage guides for all U.S. states. Use the table below to navigate your state and find the perfect discount broker.
What is a discount real estate broker?
A discount real estate broker is a licensed realtor who charges lower commissions than traditional agents, passing savings on to buyers and sellers.
According to NAR's 2025 data, FSBO sales are at a record low of just 6%.[2] The vast majority of sellers still seek the expertise of real estate professionals but increasingly look for lower-cost alternatives, such as discount brokers.
How much do traditional vs. discount broker fees cost?
Our research shows that the national average real estate commission is 5.57%, typically divided between the listing agent's commission (2.82%) and the buyer’s agent (2.75%). A recent Redfin analysis actually noted a slight rise in the average buyer’s agent commission, increasing to 2.43% for homes sold in Q2 2025, up from 2.38% a year earlier.[1]
Sellers usually cover this full cost, which on a $500,000 sales price could amount to over $20,000 in fees.
However, discount brokers like Clever Real Estate and Redfin offer a more affordable option, charging listing fees as low as 1.5%. This reduced rate can save you approximately $6,650 on a $500,000 home sale compared to traditional commission rates.
By choosing a discount broker, sellers can significantly reduce their real estate costs without compromising the professional support needed for a successful sale.
Clever agents, for example, provide full support and guidance throughout the entire selling process, from pricing and marketing your home to negotiating offers and handling paperwork
🏛️ NAR settlement and realtor commissions
In 2024, the National Association of Realtors reached a settlement that changed how real estate commissions are disclosed and negotiated.
Buyer’s agents must now have a signed buyer-broker agreement in place before providing services. That agreement spells out what the agent will do and how much they’ll be paid. In practice, this means buyers now know upfront what their agent charges and how that fee will be handled.
Another major change is that buyer-agent compensation is no longer built into the MLS by default. Sellers can still offer to cover some or all of a buyer’s agent’s fee, but it’s no longer assumed or automatically advertised.
According to New Orleans–based agent Liz Wood, this has made commission conversations more explicit, not necessarily cheaper.
"It’s not ‘legal’ to show houses without the buyer agency agreement being signed, so the buyers know upfront that they're on the hook for the commission they agree to, regardless of what the seller offers in the transaction," says Wood.
This context matters when comparing discount brokers. While lower listing fees can reduce seller costs, the overall outcome still depends on pricing strategy, marketing quality, and how buyer-agent compensation is handled in a given deal.
Potential savings using a discount broker
Given that the typical homeowner spends over $50,000 to sell their home—primarily on realtor commissions—using a discount broker can lead to substantial savings.
Our research shows that using a traditional agent or a discount broker is also more profitable than selling without a realtor. Sellers who used an agent sold their homes for about $34,000 more than those who didn't, far outweighing the commission savings of going without a realtor.[3]
The amount you can save with a discount realtor depends on three main factors:
- Your home's estimated sale price
- Your discount realtor's listing fee (factoring in any minimum fees)
- Average real estate commission rates in your area
We'll cover the first two points — home price and listing fee — then discuss how savings can vary based on where you live.
This first table breaks down how much you'll save at different price points based on the listing fee charged by your discount realtor. Most discount real estate brands charge a flat fee of 1–2% (for context, the average listing fee nationwide is 5.57%). That can initially seem like a small discount, but it breaks down into a significant dollar amount, especially at higher price points.
How much you save based on listing fee paid:
| Home price | 2% listing fee | 1.5% listing fee | 1% listing fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| $250,000 | $2,050 | $3,300 | $4,550 |
| $500,000 | $4,100 | $6,600 | $9,100 |
| $750,000 | $6,150 | $9,900 | $13,650 |
| $1,000,000 | $8,200 | $13,200 | $18,200 |
Now, it's important to break it down by location. Average commission rates vary depending on where you're located.
For example, the average listing fee in New York is 3.00%. If you sell your $500,000 home with a realtor who charges a reduced fee of 1.5%, you'd save about $7,500 in realtor fees. A seller in Utah with a house priced the same would save $4,000 (based on Utah's average listing fee of 2.30%).
How to choose a discount broker
When choosing a discount real estate agent, consider which services are important to you and ensure the agent offers the ones that fit your needs.
For example, 23% of recent home sellers said they wanted an agent to help price their home competitively and effectively market it to buyers.[4]
Other useful services a discount agent may offer include:
- Helping you sell within a specific timeframe
- Advising improvements to make your home more sellable
- Assisting with paperwork, inspections, and negotiations
- Providing photography and video.
If you're still deciding about an agent after an initial interview, talk to a few more candidates. Pay attention to each agent's past sales and customer reviews.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Lower commission
- Potential for higher profits
- Full service available
Cons
- Variable service quality
- Limited availability
- Potential added fees
Discount real estate brokers save sellers money by charging lower commission fees (1-1.5%) than traditional brokers without sacrificing sale price or service. Many discount brokers offer comprehensive services like marketing and negotiation support, making them a cost-effective choice for sellers.
However, service quality can vary among discount brokers and individual agents. Availability of discount brokerages may be limited to certain regions, and high minimum fees in some areas can reduce overall savings. Additionally, sellers may still need to offer competitive buyer’s agent fees, which can impact total cost savings.
Discount real estate broker alternatives
If you're on the fence about selling with a discount real estate broker, you may be better off trying one of these alternative sales types.
| Alternative option | Description |
|---|---|
| Sell without a realtor or with a flat fee MLS company. | Save big on realtor fees. Good for people with real estate experience who don't mind a big time commitment. |
| Sell to a cash home buyer. | Sell in as little as a week. Good for homes in poor condition. |
| Sell to an iBuyer. | Sell in as little as a week. Good for homes in move-in ready condition. |
| Negotiate realtor fees yourself. | Pay a lower listing fee with an agent of your choice. May be an option if you're selling an expensive home in a hot market. |
The bottom line
Discount real estate brokers offer significant savings by charging lower commission fees, typically 1-1.5%, compared to traditional brokers. This can result in substantial cost reductions for sellers – without sacrificing service quality.
However, service levels can vary among brokers, and availability may be limited to certain regions. When choosing a discount broker, it's crucial to consider both potential savings and service levels.
