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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 Santa Barbara, California, 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 9 discount real estate brokers active in Santa Barbara. These are the 5 best low commission brands in Santa Barbara right now, according to the data.
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 Santa Barbara, California
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Best Overall
Clever Real Estate
Agent Marketplace⚡ Compare AgentsListing fee: 1.5%
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Runner-up
Trelora Realty
Discount Real Estate BrokerView detailsListing fee: 1.0%
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Also Great
Help-U-Sell Capital City
Discount Real Estate BrokerView detailsListing fee: $6,950
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Also Great
Redfin
Discount Real Estate BrokerView detailsListing fee: 1.5%
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Also Great
Our Property Team
Discount Real Estate BrokerView detailsListing fee: $3,504
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 Santa Barbara, California
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Best Overall
⚡ Compare AgentsAgent Marketplace
Clever Real Estate
Claimed ✔Listing fee*1.5%Actual cost*$37,418Savings*$25,943SummaryPros & ConsFull ratingsCompany InfoClever Real Estate is our Top Pick 🥇 for Santa Barbara 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 more
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Runner-up
Discount Real Estate Broker
Trelora Realty
Listing fee*1%Actual cost*$24,945Savings*$38,415SummaryPros & ConsFull ratingsCompany Info -
Also Great
Discount Real Estate Broker
Help-U-Sell Capital City
Listing fee*$6,950Actual cost*$6,950Savings*$56,410SummaryPros & ConsFull ratingsCompany Info -
Also Great
Discount Real Estate Broker
Redfin
Listing fee*1.5%Actual cost*$37,418Savings*$25,943SummaryPros & ConsFull ratingsCompany Info -
Also Great
Discount Real Estate Broker
Our Property Team
Listing fee*$3,999Actual cost*$3,999Savings*$59,361SummaryPros & ConsFull ratingsCompany Info
What to know about discount real estate agents in Santa Barbara, California
- Santa Barbara 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 Santa Barbara realtor, you’ll typically pay a listing commission fee of about 2.5%
- Discount realtors typically deliver savings by charging lower listing fees at closing. The average listing fee among discount brokerages in Santa Barbara is 1.0% as of November 2024.
- That’s an average savings premium of $38,415 based on the median home sale price in Santa Barbara ($2,494,500), according to the latest available data (November 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 Santa Barbara, California $38,415, on average.
- You get expertise from a licensed agent who knows the Santa Barbara market.
- Some discount real estate agents offer full service, so you can get everything you'd expect for less.
Cons
- Some Santa Barbara 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 Santa Barbara 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 Santa Barbara 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 Santa Barbara housing market has picked up since this time last year, according to the latest data (September 2024)
- Santa Barbara is currently in a seller’s market, with buyer demand outpacing the inventory. At the end of October, there were 116 active listings (0.9%, year over year), with 47 new properties listed over the course of the month (-9.6%, year over year).
- The median home sale price in Santa Barbara last month was $2,494,500, up 46% from $1,328,688 last year.
- Santa Barbara properties spend a median 49 days on market — that’s 11 days slower than last year
- The average Santa Barbara home sells for 96% of its original list price, down 3.7% year over year.
- Santa Barbara houses are experiencing more price drops compared to last year. 31% of properties dropped their price last month. That's a 4.1% 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: Santa Barbara home sellers pay their agents an average listing fee of 2.5%, based on the median home sale price. That’s 150% more than the nationwide average discount listing fee of 1.0%.
- Seller closing costs: Santa Barbara home sellers typically pay an additional $6,427 in closing costs, based on the median home sale price. That’s 72% more than the nationwide average of $1,771.
All low commission real estate companies in Santa Barbara, California (9)
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 Santa Barbara charges a 1.0% listing fee and has a 4.9 out of 5 customer rating, 834 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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Best Overall
⚡ Compare AgentsAgent Marketplace
Clever Real Estate
Claimed ✔Listing fee*1.5%Actual cost*$37,418Savings*$25,943SummaryPros & ConsFull ratingsCompany InfoClever Real Estate is our Top Pick 🥇 for Santa Barbara 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 more
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Runner-up
Discount Real Estate Broker
Trelora Realty
Listing fee*1%Actual cost*$24,945Savings*$38,415SummaryPros & ConsFull ratingsCompany Info -
Also Great
Discount Real Estate Broker
Help-U-Sell Capital City
Listing fee*$6,950Actual cost*$6,950Savings*$56,410SummaryPros & ConsFull ratingsCompany Info -
Also Great
Discount Real Estate Broker
Redfin
Listing fee*1.5%Actual cost*$37,418Savings*$25,943SummaryPros & ConsFull ratingsCompany Info -
Also Great
Discount Real Estate Broker
Our Property Team
Listing fee*$3,999Actual cost*$3,999Savings*$59,361SummaryPros & ConsFull ratingsCompany Info -
Discount Real Estate BrokerFlat Rate Realty
Listing fee*1%Actual cost*$24,945Savings*$38,415SummaryPros & ConsFull ratingsCompany Info -
Discount Real Estate BrokerCalifornia Discount Real Estate
Listing fee*1%Actual cost*$24,945Savings*$38,415SummaryPros & ConsFull ratingsCompany Info
⚡️ Find top-rated low commission realtors in Santa Barbara, California
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Related guides and resources for Santa Barbara, California home sellers
How we research and rank discount real estate brokers
Data sources
Our research team identified and ranked 9 full-service, low commission real estate brokerages available in Santa Barbara. 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 Santa Barbara.
Methodology
Our team used public business directories to identify 9 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 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 Santa Barbara, California. 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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