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Top picks | Things to know | Compare agents ⚡
If you’re looking to sell your house and save on realtor commission fees in Birmingham, Alabama, you may want to consider a discount real estate brokerage. A good discount realtor provides the same general services and support as a conventional agent, but charges a fraction of the price.
We identified and ranked 7 discount real estate brokers active in Birmingham. These are the 5 best low commission brands in Birmingham right now, according to the data.
⚡Find top discount brokers near you. Take this 1-minute quiz to compare local realtors who offer 1.5% listing fees through our platform.
Our Team spends hundreds of hours each month researching discount real estate brokerages and agents across the country so you don’t have to. We look at a wide range of factors to calculate our rankings including:
- Customer ratings: Does the company consistently deliver good outcomes and experiences for customers?
- Pricing & fees: Are the rates and potential savings competitive with other options in the area?
- Service scope: Do you get the same, more, or fewer services than listing with a conventional realtor?
We continually refresh existing data, add new companies to our library, and look for new ways to make our pages more useful. See our full methodology.
At a glance: Low-fee real estate companies we recommend in Birmingham, Alabama
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Best Overall
Clever Real Estate
Agent Marketplace⚡ Compare AgentsListing fee: 1.5%
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Runner-up
Beycome
Discount Real Estate BrokerView detailsListing fee: 1%
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Also Good
Redfin
Discount Real Estate BrokerView detailsListing fee: 1.5%
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Also Good
Flat Fee Real Estate Birmingham
Discount Real Estate BrokerView detailsListing fee: $2,900
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Also Good
Justin & Bethany Russell at 1 Percent Lists Legacy
Discount Real Estate BrokerView detailsListing fee: 1%
Our take: Most home sellers should try an Agent Marketplace like Clever before reaching out to individual discount brokerages. Clever’s free platform lets you compare multiple agents from different brokerages — discount and conventional, like RE/MAX and Compass — and you pay a pre-negotiated 1.5% listing fee at closing, regardless of who you choose. That’s up to 50% of the agents’ typical rates.
- Why this matters: Thanks to the wider selection of agents and pre-negotiated low rates, you can focus on hiring the best agent for the job without worrying about the price tag. It’s faster, easier, and safer than reaching out to individual discount brokers yourself. Plus it’s free with no obligation.
Top 5 low commission real estate companies in Birmingham, Alabama
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Best Overall
⚡ Compare AgentsAgent Marketplace
Clever Real Estate
Claimed ✔Listing fee*1.5%Actual cost*$3,000Savings*$1,740SummaryPros & ConsFull ratingsCompany InfoClever Real Estate is our Top Pick 🥇 for Birmingham home sellers looking for a great realtor and solid commission savings. Clever isn’t actually a discount real estate brokerage, but an agent marketplace that negotiates lower rates on your behalf. This gives you more choice and control over who you work with: Clever’s nationwide agent network includes 19,000+ realtors from top regional brokerages and major brands like Keller Williams, RE/MAX, and Compass. But you also get competitive built-in savings: Clever sellers pay their agent just a 1.5% listing fee at closing, on par with leading discount brands like Redfin. Clever’s agent matching platform is fast, easy to use, and free with no obligation. Clever is also currently the number-one rated real estate company on Trustpilot with 3,100+ 5-star reviews. Read full review
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Runner-up
Discount Real Estate Broker
Beycome
Listing fee*1%Actual cost*$599Savings*$4,141SummaryPros & ConsFull ratingsCompany InfoBeycome is a discount real estate broker based in Miami, Florida, with agents available in Birmingham, Alabama. It advertises a hybrid listing fee with $599 due upfront plus 1% due at closing. Beycome has very good 4.4 average customer rating based on 873 reviews. It has strong recent performance, with 151 new reviews and a 4.4 average rating over the past 6 months.
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Also Good
Discount Real Estate Broker
Redfin
Listing fee*1.5%Actual cost*$3,000Savings*$1,740SummaryPros & ConsFull ratingsCompany InfoRedfin is a discount real estate brokerage with agents in Alabama, plus more than 803 other markets across 44 states. Redfin advertises a competitive 1.5% listing fee with a $3,000 minimum fee in Birmingham. Redfin offers an additional 0.5% refund if you also buy with a Redfin agent within 12 months of your sale. Redfin’s 1.5% fee gets you all the baseline expected services and support, plus some non-standard services like 3D Tours and virtual staging. Redfin sellers get a dedicated agent, but much of the process is often managed by a support team and Redfin’s technology platform. This can be a benefit or drawback depending on your personal preferences. Redfin has a 4.9 customer rating across 41,889 reviews nationwide. The Birmingham office has 13 years of verified activity. Read full review
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Also Good
Discount Real Estate Broker
Flat Fee Real Estate Birmingham
Listing fee*$2,900Actual cost*$2,900Savings*$1,840SummaryPros & ConsFull ratingsCompany InfoFlat Fee Real Estate Birmingham is a discount real estate broker based in Vestavia Hills, with agents available in Birmingham, Alabama. It advertises a tiered listing fee between $2,900 and $5,000, depending on your home value. Flat Fee Real Estate Birmingham has good 4.9 average customer rating based on 95 reviews. It has strong recent performance, with 9 new reviews and a 4.9 average rating over the past 6 months.
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Also Good
Discount Real Estate Broker
Justin & Bethany Russell at 1 Percent Lists Legacy
Listing fee*1%Actual cost*$1,687Savings*$3,053SummaryPros & ConsFull ratingsCompany Info1 Percent Lists is a discount real estate franchise with a local office serving Birmingham. Local offices are independently owned and operated. Justin & Bethany Russell at 1 Percent Lists Legacy charges a very competitive 1% listing fee. There’s typically no minimum fee, but make sure to confirm pricing and terms when you reach out to the company. 1 Percent Lists agents in Birmingham should provide all expected services, including pro photography, social media marketing, and in-person support through closing. Justin & Bethany Russell at 1 Percent Lists Legacy has a 5.0 average customer rating based on 5 total reviews, with verified activity dating back to 2024.
What to know about discount real estate agents in Birmingham, Alabama
- Birmingham discount real estate brokers offer a similar range of services and support as conventional realtors for a lower price.
- If you work with a conventional Birmingham realtor, you’ll typically pay a listing commission fee of about 2.8%
- Discount realtors typically deliver savings by charging lower listing fees at closing. The average listing fee among discount brokerages in Birmingham is 1.7% as of January 2025.
- That’s an average savings premium of $1,840 based on the median home sale price in Birmingham ($168,700), according to the latest available data (January 2025).
- Consider a discount realtor if saving on real estate commission fees is a top priority, but you still want a real estate agent to guide and support you through the process.
- Discount realtors sometimes handle more customers at once to offset their lower rates. Some sellers say this can lead to less hands-on, personalized service compared to a conventional realtor.
- We recommend sellers with more complicated properties or circumstances stick with conventional realtors with experience that fits their needs. (Try Clever: list with top full-service realtors, get up to 50% off their typical rate.)
- That being said, discount brokerage service models and customer experiences vary widely, which is why thoroughly interviewing and vetting any agent is so important.
Pros
- Discount real estate agents save sellers in Birmingham, Alabama $1,840, on average.
- You get expertise from a licensed agent who knows the Birmingham market.
- Some discount real estate agents offer full service, so you can get everything you'd expect for less.
Cons
- Some Birmingham discount real estate agents only provided limited service, and may charge extra fees for "add-ons" like professional photography.
- Discount real estate brokers sometimes charge upfront fees, so you'll have to pay out-of-pocket before your house sells.
- Stick with companies that offer in-person representation and "full service" (including an on-site comparative market analysis and professional photography). Avoid brands that only provide "remote" or "virtual" broker support.
- We recommend brands with success-based fees (you only pay at closing) and transparent pricing models. Watch out for upfront, nonrefundable fees and high minimums — some companies don’t make these easy to spot.
- Don't just rely on the advertised commission rate. Calculate your actual estimated commission fee based on your estimated home value. This is especially important for companies with flat fee models or high minimum fees to avoid paying more than advertised.
- Customer ratings are generally more important than small differences in pricing models. Look for companies with high average ratings based on large numbers of reviews.
- Be sure to interview the specific agent you'll be working with and evaluate them based on the same criteria you'd use to choose a conventional realtor.
- Clever Real Estate gets you special discounted rates from top, conventional realtors representing major brokerages like RE/MAX, Century 21, and Compass. Take our simple quiz to get personalized agent recommendations and save up to 50% on listing fees.
- You can try to negotiate a lower commission rate with a conventional realtor yourself, but this can be difficult to do (only about 22% of sellers who try to negotiate are successful). Negotiating is easier if you have a pricier home, are selling in a particularly hot market, or already have a buyer lined up.
- If you're selling for sale by owner and just want a marketing boost, a Birmingham flat fee MLS service may be a better fit. Basic flat fee MLS plans get your listing on the local MLS for around $150. Premium plans include more services, like pro photography, but can cost well over $1,000.
- If you want to sell your house fast or are listing a home in poor condition, consider a Birmingham cash home buyer company. Cash home buyers will purchase almost any home in any condition. You typically don't have to pay realtor commissions and many will actually cover your closing costs. And because they pay cash, they can usually close in a matter of days.
The Birmingham housing market has cooled since this time last year, according to the latest data (November 2024)
- Birmingham is currently in a seller’s market, with buyer demand outpacing the inventory. At the end of December, there were 848 active listings (8.7%, year over year), with 221 new properties listed over the course of the month (-0.5%, year over year).
- The median home sale price in Birmingham last month was $168,700, down 3.6% from $174,773 last year.
- Birmingham properties spend a median 48 days on market — that’s 5 days slower than last year
- The average Birmingham home sells for 96% of its original list price, down 1% year over year.
- Birmingham houses are experiencing fewer price drops compared to last year. 23% of properties dropped their price last month. That's a 0.7% decrease compared to this time last year.
- The bulk of home seller costs is made up of realtor listing fees and closing costs:
- Listing fee: Birmingham home sellers pay their agents an average listing fee of 2.8%, based on the median home sale price. That’s 181% more than the nationwide average discount listing fee of 1%.
- Seller closing costs: Birmingham home sellers typically pay an additional $2,290 in closing costs, based on the median home sale price. That’s 23% more than the nationwide average of $1,763.
All low commission real estate companies in Birmingham, Alabama (7)
What it is: Low commission realtors charge lower listing fees than conventional realtors but provide the same general range of services and support.
Who this is for: Any home seller interested in saving money on realtor fees but still wants a skilled agent to help guide them through the process.
How to choose: The average low commission real estate company in Birmingham charges a 1.7% listing fee and has a 4.9 out of 5 customer rating, 42 verified reviews, and at least 8 years of verified activity. These can be useful baseline criteria to help guide your search.
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Request agentDiscount Real Estate BrokerLocal Realty Flat Fee
Listing fee*$2,900Actual cost*$2,900Savings*$1,840SummaryPros & ConsFull ratingsCompany InfoLocal Realty Flat Fee is a discount real estate broker based in Alabama, with agents available in Birmingham. It advertises a tiered listing fee between $2,000 and $3,900, depending on your home value. Local Realty Flat Fee has solid track record, with at least 7 years of verified activity. It has better savings for pricey homes, offering a less-than-1% effective listing commission for homes above $300,000.
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Discount Real Estate Broker
1 Percent Lists Legacy
Listing fee*1%Actual cost*$1,687Savings*$3,053SummaryPros & ConsFull ratingsCompany Info -
Discount Real Estate BrokerBest Choice Flat Fee
Listing fee*$999Actual cost*$999Savings*$3,741SummaryPros & ConsFull ratingsCompany Info -
Discount Real Estate BrokerSold By List
Listing fee*$3,500Actual cost*$3,500Savings*$1,240SummaryPros & ConsFull ratingsCompany Info -
Discount Real Estate BrokerFlat Fee Group
Listing fee*0.5%Actual cost*$349Savings*$4,391SummaryPros & ConsFull ratingsCompany Info -
Discount Real Estate BrokerFlat Fee Realty USA
Listing fee*$3,500Actual cost*$3,500Savings*$1,240SummaryPros & ConsFull ratingsCompany Info -
Discount Real Estate BrokerOur Property Team
Listing fee*$3,999Actual cost*$3,999Savings*$741SummaryPros & ConsFull ratingsCompany Info
⚡️ Find top-rated low commission realtors in Birmingham, Alabama
See discount real estate brokers in other Alabama cities
Related guides and resources for Birmingham, Alabama home sellers
How we research and rank discount real estate brokers
Data sources
Our research team identified and ranked 7 full-service, low commission real estate brokerages available in Birmingham. We compiled and analyzed hundreds of publicly available data points tied to customer reviews, pricing models, and services to assess each company, determine our rankings, and choose our top picks in Birmingham.
Methodology
Our team used public business directories to identify 7 discount real estate services nationwide. We then manually verified pricing and services details for every company, categorizing them as either “full-service” or “limited-service.”
We did our best to ensure that only brands and product offerings that meet our minimum full-service criteria made it onto these pages. Limited-service brokers appear in our Flat-fee MLS Services Guides.
We fed pricing, services, customer ratings, and credibility data for each verified low commission real estate brokerage into our localized ranking methodology. We evaluate each company across three core areas, including:
- Customer Score measures how customers feel about their experiences and outcomes with the company over time. It’s primarily powered by average customer ratings across reputable, third-party review platforms. We weight our customer scores to account for sample size (e.g., 4.7 rating with 500 reviews is a stronger signal than a 4.9 rating with 5 reviews) and recency (e.g., reviews in the past few months matter more than reviews from 5 years ago).
- Pricing Score measures the company’s fee structure and price point relative to other discount real estate brokerages. We score pricing models using a proprietary “cost index” we derive by averaging the fee at five price points, anchored around a local median home sale price. This lets us score non-apples-to-apples fee structures (e.g., flat fee vs. percentage-based) and ensures scores reflect local market conditions (e.g., flat fee models will offer better value in pricier markets).
- Services Score measures the level of services and support you get for what you pay. If a company offers everything we’d expect from a full-service brokerage, they get a 4.0 (80%) services rating. A company will lose points in this category for each “expected service” we verify they don’t include with the base fee. A company will receive additional points for each “non-standard” service we can verify they do include with the base fee. If we confirm a company offers all expected and non-standard services with a base fee, they will get a 5.0 (100%) services rating.
We then combined these individual scores into a single Overall Score, which determined our top picks and general company rankings in Birmingham, Alabama. Customer Score is 50% of the overall score, because we think it’s the most important factor. Pricing Score and Services Score are each 25%.
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