If you're selling your home for sale by owner (FSBO) in New Jersey, 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 The Garden State is approximately 3%. Based on the median sale price for New Jersey homes, as of November 2019, that translates to about $9,660.
In contrast, typical rates for flat-fee MLS companies in New Jersey are in the $199 to $999+ range. 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 New Jersey 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 the state of New Jersey.
Top New Jersey Flat-Fee MLS Companies in 2020
NJ Real Estate Boutique
NJ Real Estate BoutiquePrice Range
$395-$995, or 3.5%
Number of Photos
25
Listing Term
6 months
- NJ Real Estate Boutique is a licensed, New Jersey real estate brokerage that specializes in flat-fee MLS listing services
- Offers two flat-fee and one full-service listing options
- You’ll pay buyer’s agent commission if buyer has representation (2-3%)
- Unlimited customer support, listing updates, and open houses on MLS and syndicated sites
- No cancellation fee (full refund available if canceled before listing is live)
- Listing is live within 24-48 hours after completion on necessary forms
- $395 - Essential Flat Fee MLS Listing Plan
- 6-month listing on the MLS
- 25 photos
- Listing syndicated to Realtor.com, Zillow, Trulia, and more
- For sale sign with 1-888-number that forwards directly to you
- No cancellation fee
- Unlimited customer support
- Unlimited listing updates
- Unlimited open house postings on MLS, Realtor.com, Zillow, and Trulia
- $995 - Agent Assisted Flat Fee MLS Listing Plan
- Same as Essential Flat Fee MLS Listing Plan, plus:
- Agent-assisted price negotiation
- Agent-assisted contract creation
- Professional photography
- Home staging
- Lockbox
- 3.5% Commission - NJ Full Service Listing Plan
- Same as Agent Assisted Flat Fee MLS Listing Plan, plus:
- Pay 3.5% total commission (2.5% to buyer’s agent and 1% to NJ Real Estate Boutique)
- Comparable market analysis (CMA)
- Color flyers
- Agent-hosted open houses
- Contract negotiation
- Inspection negotiation
- Appraisal negotiation
- Full support with legal paperwork
A-la-carte services available for purchase include agent-hosted open houses, price negotiation, contract creation, professional photography, home staging, and lockbox
Pros
- No cancellation fee plus full refund if you cancel before listing entered into MLS
- Unlimited customer support, open house postings, and listing changes
- Unlimited listing updates
- 25 photos with basic plan
Cons
- Does not service all 9 New Jersey MLSs
- Only Flat Fee MLS Listing Plans may cancel anytime
- No built-in home valuation or CMA with Flat Fee MLS and Agent Assist plans
As of January 14, 2020:
- 4.9-out-of-5-star rating for Yris Arpino NJ Buyer Rebate (broker) on Zillow (36 reviews)
Realmart Realty
Realmart RealtyPrice Range
$395-695
Number of Photos
6-25
Listing Term
6 months up to until sold
- Realmart Realty is a licensed, New Jersey and New York real estate brokerage that specializes in flat-fee and low-commission MLS listing services
- Set your own buyer’s agent commision (Realmart recommends 2%-3%)
- Unlimited listing changes, excluding photos
- Listing is live within 24-48 hours of completion of necessary paperwork
- Additional, a-la-carte services include legal advice, more photos, unlimited open house postings, lockboxes, staging consultation, professional photography, additional MLS listing, comparative market analysis (CMA), listing extensions, signs, and flyers
- Money-back guarantee through referral agreement
$395 - Flat Fee MLS Listing Plan
- 6-month listing on the MLS
- 6 photos
- Listing syndicated to Realtor.com, Zillow, Trulia, Homes.com, and more
- For sale sign
- Unlimited listing changes, excluding photos
- All buyer inquiries forwarded to you
$695 + 1% or $3,000 at closing - 1% Professional Agency Plan
- Same as Flat Fee MLS Listing Plan, plus:
- 12-month listing on the MLS, with free 12-month extensions
- Unlimited open houses
- 3D photo and floor model
- 12x7 live customer service with online appointment scheduling
- 1 for sale sign and 8 open house signs
- Digital lockbox
- Professional agent consultation on pricing, clean-up, repair, and staging ideas
- Full paperwork support and legal representation from contract review to closing
- Dedicated professional guidance/coaching on negotiation, inspection, appraisal issues, etc.
Pros
- Buyer inquiries forwarded to you
- Offers money-back guarantee — if you decide to go with a full-service agent and Realmart Realty makes the referral
- Free listing changes (some will require an additional fee)
Cons
- No built-in home valuation or CMA with basic package
- Only 6 photos with basic plan — can upgrade to 25+ for an additional fee
As of August 12, 2020, Realmart has an average rating of 4.4/5 based on 173 reviews across Google and Trustpilot.
- Google: 3.5/5 (14 reviews)
- Trustpilot: 4.5/5 (159 reviews)
- BBB: A+
National Flat-Fee MLS Services & Brokers Operating in New Jersey
Flat Fee Group
Flat Fee GroupPrice Range
$199-999
Number of Photos
6-25
Listing Term
3 months up to until sold
- Flat Fee Group is a national network of independent brokers that offer flat-fee MLS services in New Jersey
- Set the buyer’s agent commission (broker recommends 2-3% in New Jersey)
- Pay no buyer’s agent commission if you find an unrepresented buyer
- Unlimited general changes
- Contracts, disclosures, and addendums included
$199 - Bronze
| $399 - Silver
|
Pros
- Work directly with the broker, not a referral service
- Pay no commission if you find an unrepresented buyer
Cons
- Free comparative market analysis (CMA) not included with Bronze or Silver plan
As of August 10, 2020, Qizhan "Jack" Yao, the New Jersey Flat Fee Group broker, has a 4.9-out-of-5-star rating on Zillow (120 reviews).
Houzeo
HouzeoPrice Range
$225-399
Number of Photos
6 to max allowed
Listing Term
3-6 months
- Houzeo is a flat-fee MLS referral service that connects you with New Jersey brokers and agents who will list your home on your local MLS for a pre-negotiated rate
- Draft your listing, upload photos, set your price, and sign MLS contracts via Houzeo’s online dashboard
- Autofills listing details using publicly available info about your home to expedite the listing process
- Home valuation not included in service
- Does not require that you offer buyer’s agent commission
- Listing is typically live within 24 hours of submission
$225 - Bronze
| $399 - Gold
|
Pros
- Free cancellation anytime (no refunds)
- Freedom to specify any buyer’s agent commission
- Listings typically go live within 24 hours
Cons
- Limited coverage in rural areas
- “Free changes” only apply to listing’s price, status, and property description; $10 for additional changes
As of August 10, 2020, Houzeo has an average rating of 4.8/5 based on 21 reviews on Google.
Flat Fee Realty
Flat Fee RealtyPrice Range
$199
Number of Photos
6
Listing Term
6 months
- Flat Fee Realty is a nationwide flat-fee MLS referral service, licensed in Connecticut, that connects you with New Jersey brokers and agents who will list your home on the MLS for a pre-negotiated rate
- You set buyer’s agent commission
- MLS photo upgrade available for $50
- State disclosures and forms available
- Unlimited listing changes
- Buyer leads forwarded to you
- Refund available within 30 days of purchase
$199 - MLS Listing package
- 6-month listing on MLS
- Syndicated to Realtor.com, Zillow, Trulia, and more
- 6 Photos
- Free state disclosures
- Unlimited listing changes
- No cancellation fee
- Buyer leads forwarded to you
MLS photo upgrade available for $50
Pros
- Unlimited listing changes
- No cancellation fee
- Free state disclosures
- Buyer leads forwarded to you
- Refund available within 30 days of purchase
Cons
- No built-in home valuation or market analysis
- Limited coverage in rural areas
As of August 11, 2020, no third-party reviews exist for Flat Fee Realty. We will update when this information becomes available.
Alternatives to Flat-Fee MLS in New Jersey
The New Jersey real estate market has increased steadily. According to Zillow, the median home value rose 1.8% over the past year and is expected to see an increase of 3.7% in 2020. 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