If you're selling your home for sale by owner (FSBO) in San Francisco, hiring a flat-fee MLS service can help you increase your listing's visibility without breaking the bank.
The average commission rate for full-service listing agents in the Golden Gate City is approximately 3%. Based on the median sale price for San Francisco homes, as of January 2020, that translates to about $40,350.
In contrast, typical rates for flat-fee MLS companies in San Francisco are in between $95-$999. Nationwide, the most basic plans can be as low as $50 to $99, while more comprehensive services range upwards of $1,000 to $3,000.
It's important to remember that every San Francisco flat-fee MLS service is different. When evaluating offerings, be sure to read the fine print: look at things like the length of the listing term (and how much it costs to extend); whether there's a fee to make changes to your listing; how many photos are allowed; the policy on buyer's agent commission; and more.
>> LEARN more about flat-fee MLS services and how to evaluate them.
To help you make the right choice, Clever has picked some of the top flat-fee MLS services across San Francisco.
Top San Francisco Flat-Fee MLS Companies in 2020
Fathom Realty
California Discount Real EstatePrice Range
$199-999
Number of Photos
10-32
Listing Term
3-12 months
- Fathom Realty is a licensed brokerage that offers flat-fee MLS services through CaliforniaDiscountRealEstate.com
- You choose the buyer’s agent commission (typically 2.5%)
- Listing goes live on the MLS within 24 hours
- Retain the right to sell FSBO
- No cancellation fee
- Flyer template provided
$199 - Basic Flat Fee MLS Package
| $999 - Ultimate Flat Fee MLS Package
|
Pros
- Cancel anytime with no fee
- Marketing support
- Wide variety of packages to choose from
Cons
- No CMA/pricing assistance provided
- Listing changes may have additional fees
As of August 5, 2020, Fathom Realty has an average rating of 4.7/5 based on 154 reviews on Google and Facebook.
Robinhood Flat Fee Realty
RobinHood Flat Fee RealtyPrice Range
$99-499
Number of Photos
10 to unlimited
Listing Term
3-12 months
- RobinHood Flat Fee Realty is a licensed real estate brokerage that specializes in flat-fee listing services for FSBO home sellers
- Set your own buyer’s agent commission (RobinHood recommends 2.5%)
- Listings typically go live on MLS within 1-2 business days after agreements are signed
- Cancel your listing any time with no additional fee
- Free, unlimited listing changes 24/7 access via Robinhood’s online dashboard (takes up to 1 business days for changes to appear on MLS)
- Buyer inquiries are forwarded directly to you
- Offers a money-back guarantee if a traditional real estate broker is deemed necessary to sell your property
$99 - Basic
| $599 - Plus
|
Additional, a-la-carte services:
- Open House Maximum Exposure - $29 for 2 open houses
- Brokers Tour - $29
- Transaction Coordination - $150 at sign-up, $445 at close of Escrow
- Contract Negotiation Package - $495
Pros
- Make unlimited changes to your listing or cancel any time with no additional charge
- Inquiries are forwarded directly to you — no buyer’s agent commission if you find your own buyer
- If your property doesn’t sell, RobinHood will refer a traditional realtor and refund you double your listing fee (up to $999) when your property closes
Cons
- Basic package does not offer home valuation or comparative market analysis (CMA)
N/A — as of August 11th, 2020, no third-party review information was available for RobinHood Flat Fee. We will update when this information becomes available.
Yager Realty
Yager RealtyPrice Range
$299-$999
Number of MLS Listing Photos
15-45
Listing Term
6 months up to until sold
- Yager Realty is a licensed real estate brokerage that offers flat-fee MLS listings and other for sale by owner (FSBO) services to sellers throughout California
- Downloadable contracts and disclosures included with basic plan (no advice)
- For sale sign and property flyer included with basic plan
- Requires minimum buyers agent commission of 2-3%
- Additional $150 to remove listing from MLS at closing
- Offers an array of a-la-carte services, including lockbox rental, extra photos, home valuations / market reports, open house advertisements, and more
$299 - Bronze Plan
| $999 - Gold Plan
$699 + .75% at closing - Platinum Pan
|
Pros
- Access to 84+ MLSs in CA
- 15 photos included with basic plan
- For sale sign and flyer included
Cons
- Requires minimum buyer’s agent commission of 2-3%
- No coaching or support included with base plan
- $150 fee to remove listing from MLS due at closing
As of August 6, 2020, Yager Realty has an average rating of 4.6/5 based on 50 reviews across Google and Yelp.
Homecoin
HomecoinPrice Range
$95
Number of Photos
Max allowed on MLS
Listing Term
12 months
- Homecoin is an online MLS listing platform that provide low-cost listing and selling services to California residents
- Listing is live in under 24 hours
- Free call forwarding
- Free cancellations
- Free CMA
- 10 Free Listing changes
- No mandatory minimum buyer agent commission (2-3% recommended)
$95 - List on the MLS
|
Additional a-la-carte services include: lockbox rental, sign rental, pro photography, and selling form assistance.
Pros
- Paperwork and listing can be completed fully online
- Homecoin platform allows for sellers to customize their listing directly from their smartphone or computer
- Unlimited photos to showcase all aspects of a home
Cons
- Prices may vary depending on specific home location
- No direct real estate agent support
As of August 1, 2020, Homecoin has an average rating of 4.9/5 based on 114 reviews across Google, Zillow, and Yelp.
National Flat-Fee MLS Services & Brokers Operating in San Francisco
ISoldMyHouse.com
iSoldMyHouse.comPrice Range
$299-399
Number of Photos
6-25
Listing Term
6-12 months
- ISoldMyHouse.com is a nationwide flat-fee MLS referral service, operated by Get Listed Realty, that connects you with local brokers and agents who will list your home on the MLS for a pre-negotiated rate
- You set buyer’s agent commission (recommend 2%-3%)
- Listing is live within 24 hours
- No cancellation fee
- Unlimited listing changes
- Buyer leads forwarded to you
- $299 - Get LISTED
- 6-month listing on MLS
- Syndicated to Realtor.com, Zillow, Trulia, and more
- 6 or 10 Photos
- Unlimited listing changes
- Buyer leads forwarded to you
- Contracts, disclosures, and other forms
- Seller-managed ISoldMyHouse.com listing
- $399 - Get SOLD
- Same as Get LISTED package, plus:
- 25 photos
- 12-month listing on MLS (in some states)
A-la-carte services include signs, lockboxes, and more
Additional fees may apply or services may differ if you live in a state with laws about minimum brokerage service requirements.
Pros
- Unlimited listing changes
- Buyer leads forwarded to you
- No cancellation fee
- Free online guides and articles for selling a home without a realtor
- Easy social media sharing on all the major platforms
Cons
- The network of affiliate brokers doesn’t cover every county in the country
- Only 6-10 photos in base package
- No built-in home valuation or market analysis
As of August 11, 2020, iSoldMyHouse.com has an average rating of 4.1/5 based on 8 reviews on BirdEye and has an A+ rating on the Better Business Bureau.
Fizber
FizberPrice Range
$295-395
Number of Photos
6-25
Listing Term
6 months
- Fizber is a flat-fee MLS referral service that connects you with local brokers and agents who will list your home on the MLS for a pre-negotiated rate
- Requires that you offer buyer’s agent commission between 1-3%
- Listing is typically live within 24 hours of submission
- Fizber also offers an array of free resources and online tools (including home valuations), as well as à-la-carte downloadable forms and guidelines, such as disclosures, contracts, counteroffers, and more
$295 - MLS Boost
| $395 - Premium MLS Boost
|
Fizber also offers two non-MLS listing options:
$0 - Free Listing:
| $95 - Digital Boost
|
Pros
- Basic package includes social media postings — premium package includes target social ads
- Listing appears on MLS within 24 hours of submission
- Refundable up to 30 days
Cons
- Listing expires after 6 months — can renew listing for a discounted rate
- Only 6 photos with basic MLS listing package
- Making changes to your listing may incur additional fees
As of August 5, 2020, Fizber has an average rating of 3.6/5 based on 88 reviews on Trustpilot and has a B- rating on the Better Business Bureau.
Alternatives to Flat-Fee MLS in San Francisco
The San Francisco real estate market is steadily cooling down. According to Redfin, the median sale price rose 3.0% over the past year and is expected to decline by 2.3% in the next year. To realize your home's full value (or ideally more), it's important to weigh all of your options for selling before making a final decision.
- Flat-Fee Real Estate Agents
- Discount Real Estate Agents
- Low-Commission Real Estate Agents
- 1% Commission Real Estate Agents
- Sell to an iBuyer