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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 Chicago, Illinois, 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 10 discount real estate brokers active in Chicago. These are the 5 best low commission brands in Chicago 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 Chicago, Illinois
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Best Overall
Clever Real Estate
Agent Marketplace⚡ Compare AgentsListing fee: 1.5%
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Runner-up
FSBOHOMES
Discount Real Estate BrokerView detailsListing fee: $3,900
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Also Great
Beycome
Discount Real Estate BrokerView detailsListing fee: 1%
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Also Great
iRealty Flat Fee Brokerage
Discount Real Estate BrokerView detailsListing fee: 1%
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Also Great
Prello Realty
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 Chicago, Illinois
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Best Overall
⚡ Compare AgentsAgent Marketplace
Clever Real Estate
Claimed ✔Listing fee*1.5%Actual cost*$5,250Savings*$3,990SummaryPros & ConsFull ratingsCompany InfoClever Real Estate is our Top Pick 🥇 for Chicago 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
FSBOHOMES
Listing fee*$3,900Actual cost*$3,900Savings*$5,340SummaryPros & ConsFull ratingsCompany InfoFSBOHOMES is a discount real estate broker based in Cedar Rapids, IA, United States, Iowa, with agents available in Chicago, Illinois. It advertises a very competitive flat listing fee of $3,900. FSBOHOMES has very good 4.8 average customer rating based on 260 reviews. It has strong recent performance, with 9 new reviews and a 4.8 average rating over the past 6 months. .
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Also Great
Discount Real Estate Broker
Beycome
Listing fee*1%Actual cost*$599Savings*$8,641SummaryPros & ConsFull ratingsCompany InfoBeycome is a discount real estate broker based in Miami, Florida, with agents available in Chicago, Illinois. 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 Great
Discount Real Estate Broker
iRealty Flat Fee Brokerage
Listing fee*1%Actual cost*$3,500Savings*$5,740SummaryPros & ConsFull ratingsCompany InfoiRealty Flat Fee Brokerage is a locally owned and operated discount real estate broker based in Illinois, with agents available in Chicago. It advertises a very competitive listing fee of 1%. iRealty Flat Fee Brokerage has very strong track record, with at least 14 years of verified activity. It has advertised listing fee includes premium services, like marketing materials. .
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Also Great
Discount Real Estate Broker
Prello Realty
Listing fee*1%Actual cost*$395Savings*$8,845SummaryPros & ConsFull ratingsCompany InfoPrello Realty is a locally owned and operated discount real estate broker based in Chicago, Illinois. It advertises a hybrid listing fee with $395 due upfront plus 1% due at closing. Prello Realty has very good 4.6 average customer rating based on 76 reviews. It has strong recent performance, with 12 new reviews and a 5.0 average rating over the past 6 months. .
What to know about discount real estate agents in Chicago, Illinois
- Chicago 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 Chicago realtor, you’ll typically pay a listing commission fee of about 2.60%
- Discount realtors typically deliver savings by charging lower listing fees at closing. The average listing fee among discount brokerages in Chicago is 1.20% as of December 2024.
- That’s an average savings premium of $5,141 based on the median home sale price in Chicago ($350,000), according to the latest available data (December 2024).
- 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 Chicago, Illinois $5,141, on average.
- You get expertise from a licensed agent who knows the Chicago market.
- Some discount real estate agents offer full service, so you can get everything you'd expect for less.
Cons
- Some Chicago 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 Chicago 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 Chicago 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 Chicago housing market has cooled since this time last year, according to the latest data (October 2024)
- Chicago is currently in a seller’s market, with buyer demand outpacing the inventory. At the end of November, there were 6323 active listings (-19%, year over year), with 2407 new properties listed over the course of the month (-0.6%, year over year).
- The median home sale price in Chicago last month was $350,000, up 7% from $325,382 last year.
- Chicago properties spend a median 58 days on market — that’s 1 days slower than last year
- The average Chicago home sells for 99% of its original list price, up 0.2% year over year.
- Chicago houses are experiencing more price drops compared to last year. 21% of properties dropped their price last month. That's a 1.8% increase compared to this time last year.
- The bulk of home seller costs is made up of realtor listing fees and closing costs:
- Listing fee: Chicago home sellers pay their agents an average listing fee of 2.6%, based on the median home sale price. That’s 157% more than the nationwide average discount listing fee of 1%.
- Seller closing costs: Chicago home sellers typically pay an additional $4,727 in closing costs, based on the median home sale price. That’s 63% more than the nationwide average of $1,769.
All low commission real estate companies in Chicago, Illinois (10)
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 Chicago charges a 1.20% listing fee and has a 4.4 out of 5 customer rating, 50 verified reviews, and at least 9 years of verified activity. These can be useful baseline criteria to help guide your search.
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Best Overall
⚡ Compare AgentsAgent Marketplace
Clever Real Estate
Claimed ✔Listing fee*1.5%Actual cost*$5,250Savings*$3,990SummaryPros & ConsFull ratingsCompany InfoClever Real Estate is our Top Pick 🥇 for Chicago 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
FSBOHOMES
Listing fee*$3,900Actual cost*$3,900Savings*$5,340SummaryPros & ConsFull ratingsCompany Info -
Also Great
Discount Real Estate Broker
Beycome
Listing fee*1%Actual cost*$599Savings*$8,641SummaryPros & ConsFull ratingsCompany Info -
Also Great
Discount Real Estate Broker
iRealty Flat Fee Brokerage
Listing fee*1%Actual cost*$3,500Savings*$5,740SummaryPros & ConsFull ratingsCompany Info -
Also Great
Discount Real Estate Broker
Prello Realty
Listing fee*1%Actual cost*$395Savings*$8,845SummaryPros & ConsFull ratingsCompany Info -
Discount Real Estate BrokerRedfin Chicago
Listing fee*1.5%Actual cost*$5,250Savings*$3,990SummaryPros & ConsFull ratingsCompany Info -
Discount Real Estate Broker
Redfin Chicago
Listing fee*1.5%Actual cost*$5,250Savings*$3,990SummaryPros & ConsFull ratingsCompany Info
