7 Best Flat Fee MLS Kentucky Listing Services (2023)

7 best flat fee MLS companies in Kentucky | What to consider before using a flat fee MLS service | Other ways to save on realtor commissions

When selling a house for sale by owner (FSBO) in Kentucky, posting on the multiple listing service (MLS) greatly increases the number of buyers who will see your listing. Agents use the MLS to find properties for their clients, and listings are automatically syndicated to real estate sites like Zillow, Redfin, and Realtor.com.

While a traditional listing agent charges 2.5–3% to sell a home, a flat fee MLS service will list your house on the local MLS for just a few hundred dollars.

However, you'll need to consider the trade-offs before paying for this type of service.

Who should use a flat fee MLS listing service?

A flat fee MLS listing can work particularly well if you have the time and experience to sell a house on your own. 

If you decide to sell FSBO, you have plenty of flat fee MLS listing services to choose from in Kentucky.

However, if you haven't sold FSBO before, keep the following in mind:

• You'll essentially be your own agent. You'll handle pricing, showings, negotiations, paperwork, and qualifying buyers on your own. While some flat fee MLS companies offer limited broker assistance, it'll cost you a premium, and the level of service usually falls short of what a listing agent typically provides.

• You'll probably still need to pay a buyer's agent fee, since most buyers use an agent and other sellers won't make them pay for their agent out of pocket.

• The biggest potential downside of a flat fee MLS listing is that your home may sell for less than it would with an agent, despite all the time and effort you put in. Homes sold without a realtor sell for about 6% less on average, canceling any commission savings. That may explain why the majority of sellers who try the FSBO route end up listing with an agent.

If you want a less risky way to save money, you may want to consider hiring a reputable discount broker. You'll still save on real estate commissions, but you'll have a dedicated agent by your side.

» SAVE: Get a top local agent, pay half the commission

7 best flat fee MLS listing services in Kentucky

Do you need an MLS listing?

If you decide to sell without a realtor, the only way you can get on the multiple listing service is with a flat fee MLS company. The MLS is where most real estate agents find properties for their clients, and posting on the MLS is how your listing gets on home-buying websites like Zillow, Realtor.com, and Redfin. If you're not on the MLS, buyers will have a much harder time finding your property.

What to consider before hiring a flat fee MLS service

You’ll save on listing fees

Savings are a driver for many people who use a flat fee MLS company. You can pay a few hundred dollars to get your house listed instead of paying an agent thousands in commission. On a $350,000 home, the typical 3% seller's agent commission would be $10,500.

You'll still have to pay a buyer's agent to negotiate against you

A flat fee MLS listing helps you avoid paying a traditional listing agent's fee, but you'll still need to cover the buyer's agent commission. Almost all buyers work with an agent, and since buyers already have to pay cash for a down payment, agent commissions typically come from the seller's proceeds.

Unfortunately, buyer's agents often have the upper hand in FSBO sales, simply because they have more experience with these negotiations. The typical FSBO seller pays more in concessions and sells for about $120,000 less than the median sale price of homes sold through an agent.

You’ll have more control over the sale

In a typical real estate transaction, a listing agent acts as an intermediary between the seller and the buyer's agent. You're often in the dark about what's going on behind the scenes. Listing your home yourself means you know what's going on at every stage of the sale.

You may miss out on leads

Flat fee MLS listings don't always get as many leads as they should. Some agents prefer not to work with FSBO sellers and will deliberately steer their clients away from flat fee MLS listings. Whether fairly or not, many agents assume that FSBO sellers are inexperienced and will cause a slow or difficult transaction. Unfortunately, that means fewer buyers get to see your house.

Also, MLS rules require that your broker — which is the flat fee MLS company — be the main contact on your listing rather than you. So long as you have a service plan that includes automatic lead forward, this rule shouldn't be a problem. But if you don't, you’ll have to rely on the broker to manually forward buyer leads, which could cause delays and missed opportunities — as this Houzeo customer found out.

You can choose the services you need

Most flat fee MLS companies have different packages so you can choose the level of support you need to sell your home.

If you're not in a hurry to sell, you may not need much more than an MLS listing and a way for buyers to get in touch.

If you're on a tighter timeline or don't have much experience with selling real estate, you can choose a plan that features broker assistance with pricing, paperwork, and negotiations. While these plans cost more, they're typically still cheaper than a traditional real estate agent commission.

You'll likely encounter extra fees

Flat fee MLS companies are somewhat notorious for hidden fees, such as an extra percentage of the sale price charged at closing. Companies may also advertise a budget MLS listing, but then charge a premium for basics like listing changes, lock boxes, additional photos, and the ability to receive buyer inquiries and showing requests directly.

7 Best flat fee MLS listing services in Kentucky: Full breakdown

Mink Realty: Best for sellers wanting some help

Pros

• Mink Realty consistently gets top marks in online customer reviews.
• The Gold package includes free marketing materials.
• The Premium package offers broker assistance for a reasonable price.

Cons

• Plans are priced higher than what you can get elsewhere.
• You have limited flexibility for tailoring your plan.
• Mink Realty doesn't offer a no-frills plan for experienced sellers.

Mink Realty fees and services

Mink Realty operates throughout Kentucky and consistently gets very positive reviews online from past customers. Note that Mink Realty is the local realtor in Kentucky for Flat Fee Group, meaning that the two are essentially the same company in the state.

Mink Realty offers three packages, although the Silver package is mainly for land and lots and only comes with six photos. If you're selling a house, you'll want the Gold or Platinum package.

The Gold package is good value and comes with a six-month listing, up to 50 photos, and some items that other companies typically charge extra for, like a yard sign, agent feedback, an open house ad, and social media marketing. The Platinum package is worth considering if you're an inexperienced seller since you get a lot more broker assistance.

While both plans offer good support, they're also a bit pricey. You can get a better deal elsewhere if you're an experienced seller wanting a no-frills listing with a decent listing term and maximum photos.

Flat Fee MLS Realty: Best for novice sellers

Pros

• The company has a simple, easy-to-understand pricing plan.
• Broker assistance comes with your listing.
• This package is a good choice for novice sellers needing extra guidance.

Cons

• The company doesn't offer a no-frills MLS plan for experienced sellers.

Flat Fee MLS Realty fees and services

Flat Fee MLS Realty is a local realtor operating in Northern Kentucky. It offers a single plan, which costs $495 plus an additional $1,000 at closing. While that price is high, Flat Fee MLS Realty includes many services that make it a good deal.

In addition to getting a high photo limit, yard sign, and lockbox, you'll also get a lot more hands-on support. Showings, for example, are handled by the company's call center, and the broker assists with negotiations, inspections, appraisal, and closing.

In essence, you're getting a level of service closer to what a full-service realtor would provide, but you'll pay a flat fee for it. However, while that makes Flat Fee MLS Realty a good option for inexperienced sellers, it's probably not for you if you want a bare-bones plan where you handle most of the work yourself.

2% Realty: Best for customer support

Pros

• You get a comparative market analysis to help you price your home.
• You get dedicated customer service throughout the sale.
• The company offers unlimited open houses and an open-ended listing term.

Cons

• The closing fees are pricey, especially for high-value homes.
• There's only one plan for sellers with a single-family home.
• You have a limited ability to customize your plan.

2% Realty fees and services

Covering a handful of states in the South and Midwest, 2% Realty is a regional brokerage with good online reviews. It offers three different pricing plans. The cheapest plan is primarily for lands and lots, while the most expensive is for multi-unit housing.

That leaves most sellers with the Single Family Homes plan. Your home will be listed until it sells, and you'll get the maximum photo allowance, free cancellation, unlimited listing changes, unlimited open houses, and the ability to schedule showings online. Plus, you'll get a comparative market analysis to help you price your home and contract-to-close assistance from the brokerage.

These services make 2% Realty a good deal, although the price is still a bit high. In addition to the flat fee, you'll pay 1% at closing, which will likely add at least a couple thousand extra dollars to your final bill. That's still a reasonable rate for what you're getting, but if you're more of a DIY seller, 2% Realty is probably not a good fit.

Entry Only: Best for DIY sellers

Pros

• Entry Only provides one of the cheapest MLS listing plans in Kentucky.
• You get 25 photos and lead forwarding.
• There are plenty of add-ons to customize your plan.

Cons

• Choosing a lot of add-ons can make your plan less of a deal.
• There's no broker assistance option for inexperienced sellers.

Entry Only fees and services

Entry Only is a nationwide flat fee MLS service with excellent online reviews. With just one competitively priced listing plan, its service is good for sellers comfortable handling much of the real estate transaction.

While their plan, at $399 plus $250 at closing, is one of the cheapest in Kentucky, you still get quite a lot for the price. For example, you'll have a 25-photo limit, free cancellation, and lead forwarding. The plan is also more flexible than other companies, since you can purchase useful add-ons like maximum photos, a 12-month listing term, and a secondary MLS listing.

However, those extra services can quickly add up. Also, Entry Only isn't for you if you want broker assistance.

ISoldMyHouse.com: Best for no-frills plans

Pros

• ISoldMyHouse.com is one of the few companies offering no-frills MLS plans in Kentucky.
• Online reviews from customers are largely positive.
• ISoldMyHouse.com has helpful online videos for new FSBO sellers.

Cons

• The photo limit is very low for the entry-level plan.
• There are few add-ons available to customize your plan.
• Customer support is primarily online.

ISoldMyHouse.com fees and services

ISoldMyHouse.com is a well-known national brand with two no-frills pricing plans. The company generally gets positive online reviews and is a decent option if you're an experienced seller who prefers doing most of the work of selling a house yourself.

Both plans are very similar and include a 6-month listing, open house scheduler, online support, and lead forwarding. The only difference is that you'll only get a 6-photo limit with the Get LISTED! plan, whereas you'll get 25 photos with Get SOLD! Since photos are an important part of marketing your home, upgrading to Get SOLD! makes sense.

ISoldMyHouse.com is a good budget option, but it doesn't offer many add-ons if you want to customize your package. And while it offers some customer support, it's entirely online, which won't suit all sellers.

Unreal Estate: Best for discounted rates

Pros

• With the Starter plan, you only pay if your house sells.
• With Clever, you can get exclusive and highly competitive rates.
• Online customer reviews for Unreal Estate are positive.

Cons

• Only the Deluxe and Premium plans provide good photo limits.
• Unlimited listing edits are included only with the most expensive plan.
• Customer support is exclusively online for the two cheapest plans.

Unreal Estate fees and services

Unreal Estate is a nationwide company that offers some very competitively priced plans in Kentucky. Its Starter package is one of the few plans to get you on the MLS with no up-front costs — you'll only pay if your house sells.

However, we don't recommend the Starter or Basic plans because of their low photo limits. The Deluxe and Premium plans are better options, with pricing closer to what other flat fee MLS services in Kentucky charge for standard packages.

These upper-tier plans include high photo limits, listing edits, phone support, and call forwarding. The Premium plan even includes a 30-minute broker review if you want some extra help.

Unreal Estate's pricing can seem complicated, with a flat fee upfront and a 0.5% fee and a set rate at closing. However, by using code "Clever" with Unreal Estate, you'll get a simplified and competitive flat rate of $99–450 (depending on your plan) plus the $350 closing fee.

Houzeo: Best for online listing management

Pros

• You can manage your listing and showings using Houzeo's online dashboard.
• Customer reviews for Houzeo are generally positive.

Cons

• Only one package offers all the essentials for a competitive price.
• There are hidden fees and extra charges, especially with the entry-level plan.
• Some reviews complain about slow customer service and listing errors.

Houzeo fees and services

Houzeo is a recognized nationwide brand with a wide range of MLS listing plans. Overall, we only recommend the mid-tier Silver plan. All the other ones either don't provide enough value or their minimum fees are too high.

With the Silver plan, you'll get the essentials, including a maximum photo limit, a 6-month listing, unlimited listing changes, and unlimited open houses. At $399 (plus $250 at closing), it's also competitively priced with other flat fee MLS services in Kentucky.

However, there are some red flags to watch out for with Houzeo. While most online reviews are positive, some complain about slow customer service and hidden fees, especially for the entry-level plan. A few reviewers also noted that their listings contained serious errors, which Houzeo was slow to fix.

Kentucky flat fee MLS listing services by city

You'll find many flat fee MLS listing companies in Kentucky that only operate in specific counties and cities. These companies may be better options than nationwide companies since they tend to have more local expertise and flexible service.

How to get an MLS listing without a realtor in Kentucky

Top alternatives to a flat fee MLS service in Kentucky

Sell with a discount broker

Discount brokers are a good alternative to flat fee MLS companies if you want to save money but don't want to take on the extra work. The best discount realtors offer the same services as traditional realtors, but for as little as 1–2%. Traditional realtors charge around 3%.

Some discount brokers even offer flat rates, typically starting at about $5,000.

More discount realtors are becoming available, but not all offer the same level of service, savings, and value. That's why we recommend talking to realtors from a few brokerages before making a decision.

If you want to compare your options in Kentucky, Clever Real Estate may be a good place to start.

When you request an agent through Clever, you'll receive multiple agent matches from top local brokerages, like RE/MAX and Keller Williams. You can compare agents and choose the best one for you.

Clever's agent network includes 19,000 top-performing realtors across the country — who all offer discounted rates through Clever's network. When you sell your home, you'll pay a listing fee of just 1.5% (about half the typical rate).

Try selling 'for sale by owner' without an MLS listing

Technically, it's possible to sell your house without listing it on the MLS. But this method isn't likely to work all that well unless you already have a buyer lined up.

Without an MLS listing, fewer buyers will know your house is for sale. The MLS is the main way real estate agents find properties for their clients. It also guarantees that your listing gets on popular home-buying websites, including Zillow.

If you forgo an MLS listing, you'll have to rely on less effective sites like Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist. Or you can hope that a buyer sees the for sale sign in your yard.

» LEARN: FSBO vs. Realtor Facts and Statistics

FAQ about flat fee MLS listings in Kentucky