Discount real estate agents can help a typical Illinois resident save as much as $3,146 when selling their home — based on the median home value in the city.
There are different types of discount real estate brokers. Some offer full service for a reduced commission, while others offer only limited services — such as MLS listing services — flat fee.
Choosing a discount real estate agent, for home sellers in Illinois, is a great option — as you likely will be able to connect with a top agent while avoiding paying the typical 6% commission.
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How Do Discount Real Estate Brokers Work?
Traditional real estate agents in Illinois charge a 5-6% commission rate when selling you home. In contrast, discount agents offer home sellers rates as low as 4%, with some offering to list your home for a flat fee of $3,000 plus a buyer's agent commission of 3%. For the typical Illinoisan, that savings represents 4.84% of the median household income in the state.
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| City | Standard Commission Cost | Discount Commission Cost | Savings |
| Chicago | $14,816 | $10,408 | $4,408 |
| Naperville | $23,624 | $15,749 | $7,875 |
| Joliet | $10,600 | $8,300 | $2,300 |
| Champaign | $8,651 | $7,325 | $1,325 |
| Springfield Metro Area | $8,104 | $7,052 | $1,052 |
* Figures based on median home values data from Zillow
Those looking to buy a home in Illinois can also save by working with discount agents, as they may be eligible to receive a buyer rebate. These rebates can range from 0.5% to 1% of the home's sale price. For eligible sellers, that would translate to about $1,019-$2,038 for a typical house in Illinois.
Why would a realtor work for a discount?
Discount realtors offer reduced commission to connect with more clients. The rationale is that the increased volume of transactions, made possible by offering low commission rates, makes up for the difference in income by offering a lower commission.
Additionally, some traditional real estate agents opt to join referral networks, such as Clever, where they agree to work for a discounted commission in exchange for being connected with clients. This allows them to generate new business while avoiding the cost and effort of doing so, which accounts for a significant portion of most realtors' operating costs.
Discount Real Estate Agents in Illinois
We can connect you with top-rated, Illinois real estate agents who will list your home and let you save on commission. Clever Partner Agents sell your home for a flat fee of $3,000 for homes under $350,000 and 1% for more expensive homes. In Illinois this translates to a savings of $3,146 compared to the typical 6% commission rate, for a typical home.
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Why a Discount Real Estate Broker May be Right For You
The money saved by choosing a discount real estate broker in Illinois — which could be as much as $3,146 for a typical house — makes it a wise financial choice. The only caveat is that you need to make sure the realtor you choose is a good fit.
Finding a realtor with intimate knowledge of the Illinois real estate market and an excellent reputation, can have a huge effect on the amount of equity you get from your home's sale. Top realtors do this by determining the right listing price, and knowing the best ways to market your home.
Furthermore, every day your home sits on the market costs you money — in Illinois, this can add up to $2,063 over a one month span — the right realtor will make sure your home sells as quickly as possible to minimize these costs. Below, we've broken down the typical monthly costs for homeowner in Illinois:
- Mortgage Payment: $1,031
- Homeowners Insurance: $183
- Utilities: $363
- Property Taxes: $393
- Maintenance: $189
- Total Cost per Month: $2,063
As a home seller in today's real estate market, you have the power and leverage to dictate the terms of the deal. There were 47,225 Illinois real estate agents in 2019 (the most recent year data was available), this is 12% more than in 2015.
| Active listings in Illinois | Real estate agents in Illinois | Agents per listing in Illinois |
| 18,180 | 47,225 | 2.6 |
More realtors competing for your listing means that it makes less sense to pay a standard 6% commission rate when selling your home, as even top agents are working for reduced commission rates to remain competitive.
Additional resources for Illinois home buyers and sellers
Methodology
Estimated savings are based on home value estimates for Illinois from Zillow's home value tool. Discount agent saving estimates represent the cost difference between a listing commission rate of $3,000 plus 3% for the buyers agent, compared to the standard 6% rate. Information on the number of licensed real estate agents in Illinois come from the National Association of Realtors.
Data the estimated monthly cost of homeownership was sourced from the following: