7 best flat fee MLS companies in North Carolina | 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 North Carolina, 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 MLS 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 North Carolina.
However, if you haven't sold FSBO before, keep in mind the following:
- 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 North Carolina
| Company | Price range | Avg. customer rating (1–5) | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carolina Realty Solutions | $399–549 | 5 (118 reviews) | Asheville, Charlotte, The Triad, Hickory/Catawba Valley, The Triangle |
| Flat Fee Multiple Listing Access (United Brokers LTD) | $99–775 | 4.9 (152 reviews) | All of North Carolina |
| Houzeo | $99–349 | 4.9 (3,048 reviews) | Nationwide |
| Homecoin | $95 | 4.8 (107 reviews) | Durham, Chapel Hill, Smithfield, Henderson, Cary |
| List With Freedom | $89–295 | 4.2 (1,852 reviews) | Nationwide |
| Clickit Realty | $299–995 | 3.9 (88 reviews) | All of North Carolina |
| Flat Fee Group | $295–995 | 3.9 (88 reviews) | Nationwide |
Why you should trust us
We spent dozens of hours researching flat fee MLS companies throughout the country. Our process included:
- Researching more than 140 national, regional, and local flat fee MLS services to compare services, contract terms, and fees
- Mystery shopping more than 20 flat fee MLS companies to understand the consumer experience
- Interviewing sellers and realtors who have direct experience with flat fee MLS real estate transactions
- Analyzing Google, Trustpilot, BBB, and Facebook reviews for each business
- Visiting user forums like Reddit and Bigger Pockets for additional perspectives on selling with a flat fee MLS service
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
Pros
- You'll save on listing fees.
- You'll have more control over the sale.
- You can choose the services you need.
Cons
- You'll pay a buyer's agent to negotiate against you.
- You may miss out on leads.
- You'll likely encounter extra fees.
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 a 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. Buyer's agents may caution their clients against pursuing these types of listings because they worry FSBO sellers will be hard to work with or need extra help from the buyer's agent, which could cause a conflict of interest.
Additionally, MLS rules require a licensed agent to post a listing. So your contact information will only appear in the Agent Remarks section on the MLS — not directly on sites like Zillow and Redfin.
Most of the time, you'll depend on your flat fee broker to forward you inquiries and showing requests. If your flat fee MLS listing agent manages a lot of listings, they may not forward leads promptly, 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
Some companies may draw you in with a flat fee offer, only to charge additional fees or a percentage of your sale price at closing. Some may even retain a portion of the buyer's agent commission, which will impact your bottom line.
Some fees aren't necessarily hidden but can quickly add up, like charges for listing edits, price changes, lockboxes, and additional photos. For example, this Houzeo customer found out that they'd have to pay an extra $140 for the ShowingTime app in order to receive showing requests from agents and buyers — which is pretty essential to selling a house.
Selling your home is difficult, even with a flat-fee MLS company to handle your listing. Add in hidden fees, a la carte services, and premium service tiers, and you'll save a lot less than you planned, but still be stuck with most of the work.
There's a better option. Clever pre-negotiates cheaper listing fees with the top agents in your area. You still save on commission, while getting the support of a full-service agent.
- Clever partner agents offer full-service support for a fraction of the full-service price: a 1.5% listing fee — half the typical rate.
- Clever sellers save an average of $7,000 on commission AND they get offers 2.8x faster than the national average
Ready to find real estate agents who can help you save thousands on your sale? Enter your zip code below to get started!
7 best flat fee MLS listing services in North Carolina: Full breakdown
Carolina Realty Solutions: Best for sellers wanting the convenience of an all-in package
Pros
- All packages include access to ShowingTime, an app Realtors use to schedule showings. Many flat-fee MLS companies either don't offer or charge extra for this service.
- You can extend your listing for up to two years without paying an extra listing fee.
- You get a yard sign and a key lockbox — even with the cheapest package.
Cons
- The basic package is pricier than most others on this list.
- Sellers are required to pay a buyer's agent commission.
Carolina Realty Solutions fees and services
| Package | Price | What’s included |
|---|---|---|
| Flat Fee Listing | $399 |
|
| $549 + 1% Full Service Listing | $549 + 1% at closing | Flat Fee Listing package, plus:
|
| 2% Full Service Listing | 2% at closing | Same as $549 + 1% Full Service Listing, but without up-front listing fee |
Established in 2003, Carolina Realty Solutions offers basic and full-service options, with the full-service listings priced similar to a traditional commission. Package availability and listing options vary by location, and the company requires you to pay a buyer’s agent commission.
The few customer reviews are positive. Sellers felt supported throughout the sale process and saw fast results compared to other FSBO listing methods. Several reviewers even note that they're return customers.
Flat Fee Multiple Listing Access (United Brokers LTD): Best for sellers who value a local team
Pros
- You can get the basic bundle for cheaper than many other companies.
- For an extra fee, you can add a virtual tour to your MLS listing.
- Customers repeatedly mention the responsiveness and helpfulness of the local brokerage team.
Cons
- If you buy the basic package, any changes to your listing cost $10 each.
- You can e-sign forms only if you sign up for the Full-Service Bundle.
Flat Fee Multiple Listing Access (United Brokers LTD) fees and services
| Package | Price | What’s included |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Bundle | $99 |
|
| Standard Bundle | $195 | Basic Bundle, plus:
|
| Enhanced Bundle | $295 | Standard Bundle, plus:
|
| Full-Service Bundle | $775 | Enhanced Bundle, plus:
|
Flat Fee Multiple Listing Access (United Brokers LTD) offers a range of affordable service packages, from a no-frills MLS listing starting at $99 to a virtual full-service option offering agent representation throughout the selling process — all for under $1,000.
The company has limited its scope to the North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia markets, so you’ll likely interface with agents who are familiar with your area.
Many reviewers are enthusiastic return clients. Customers name broker Steve Toop specifically in their positive feedback, noting his transparency, responsiveness, and helpfulness throughout the process.
If you're unhappy with the service for any reason, you can cancel your listing without charge.
Houzeo: Best for sellers wanting a national brand
Pros
- When you enter your address, Houzeo autofills publicly available data about your property.
- At higher price points, you can manage showing requests, offers, and contract paperwork online.
- Houzeo lets you buy additional services like contract reviews, appointment scheduling, and virtual agent assistance à la carte.
Cons
- Houzeo's basic service packages are pricier than other options, while its more robust packages charge an extra 0.5–1% at closing.
- Pricing assistance costs extra. Several local competitors offer this for free.
Houzeo fees and services
| Package | Price | What’s included |
|---|---|---|
| Bronze | $329 |
|
| Silver | $399 |
|
| Gold | $379 + .05% at closing | Silver package, plus:
|
| Platinum | $349 + 1% at closing | Gold package, plus:
|
Houzeo is a national brand with a proven business model. The company has thousands of positive reviews, but if you look closely, most of its reviews seem to be solicited after individual customer support interactions. So they may not reflect the actual selling outcome.
Many customers praise the technical assistance from Houzeo's support team. Some reviewers felt frustrated about the lack of responsiveness from third-party real estate brokers who managed their actual listings.
Unsatisfied customers can get a refund, though they have to meet specific criteria in order to recoup costs. Refunds aren't available on listing upgrades, such as yard signs, lockboxes, or support packages.
Homecoin: Best for sellers wanting a basic listing
Pros
- Homecoin has simplified pricing with optional add-ons.
- It's fully navigable from a smartphone.
- The company offers a commission rebate when you purchase one of its listings.
Cons
- You're limited to 10 free listing changes.
- Availability and pricing vary by location.
- The add-ons can add up — especially if you want help with offers and contracts.
Homecoin fees and services
| Package | Price | What’s included |
|---|---|---|
| Flat Fee MLS Listing | $95 |
|
Homecoin offers one basic listing package with a handful of optional add-ons. Its pricing is clear compared to some of the complex tiered structures that other companies have.
Reviewers enthusiastically recommend this service, especially for sellers with some level of real estate experience.
List With Freedom: Best for experienced sellers who don't need many extras
Pros
- Sellers praise the helpful customer support team.
- All plans include an unlimited number of changes.
- You can pay a little more for an online showing platform and open houses.
Cons
- Some sellers complain about hiccups in the process, like listings going live without photos.
- List With Freedom offers no built-in pricing support or home valuation.
- An extra fee of 0.25% is taken out of the commission you offer to the buyer's agent, which may turn some buyer's' agents away.
List With Freedom fees and services
| Package | Price | What’s included |
|---|---|---|
| Gold | $149 |
|
| Platinum | $195 | Gold package, plus:
|
| Platinum+ | $295 | Platinum package, plus:
|
All of the List With Freedom packages are pretty bare bones, with no full-service option. This service is better for sellers with FSBO experience.
Online reviews are largely positive. Customers praise the professional customer service, quick responses to questions, and savings. However, a few complain about hidden fees and a lack of leads, despite lots of views on Zillow.
List With Freedom allows customers to cancel without a fee if a contract isn’t pending. Sellers can also request a refund within 14 days of placing an order if the listing agreement hasn’t been signed or the property hasn't been listed.
Clickit Realty: Best for sellers still on the fence about FSBO
Pros
- You get all the documents and disclosures you need when selling your property.
- If you decide to hire a full-service real estate agent, Clickit will refer you to a broker and refund your package price at closing.
- Clickit Realty will match a competitor if you find a better price for the same tools and systems.
Cons
- No direct communication is permitted with buyer's agents, which can make it difficult to schedule showings.
- The basic package includes only three photos, while most competitors offer at least six.
- You have to sign up for the Platinum package before you can post open houses on your MLS listing.
Clickit Realty fees and services
| Package | Price | What’s included |
|---|---|---|
| Silver (Basic) | $299 |
|
| Gold (Showcase) | $399 | Silver plan, plus:
|
| Platinum (Enhanced) | $599 | Gold plan, plus:
|
| Full Service | $995 | Platinum plan, plus:
|
Clickit Realty offers tiered packages with varying levels of support, starting with a basic MLS listing and scaling up to agent-assisted offers reviews, contracts, and negotiations. With a number of add-ons available for any package, you can ensure you only pay for the specific tools you need to sell your property.
Happy customers compliment this company’s ability to balance money savings with a reasonable level of seller support. However, some reviewers complain about not being able to communicate with buyer's agents directly, which makes it difficult to schedule showings and greatly slows down the process. Others complain about hard-to-reach customer service agents and slow response times.
Clickit Realty also serves as the North Carolina listing broker for Flat Fee Group, a nationwide company connecting sellers to independent flat fee MLS brokers in their state.
Flat Fee Group: Best for inexperienced sellers wanting agent support
Pros
- Buyer leads are automatically forwarded to you.
- All but the Basic package come with a market analysis.
Cons
- The Basic package only includes six photos and likely isn't worth the money.
- MLS coverage is only available in select cities and counties.
- Some reviews complain that the customer service is lacking.
Flat Fee Group fees and services
| Package | Price | What’s included |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | $295 |
|
| Showcase | $395 | Basic package, plus
|
| Premium | $695 | Showcase package, plus:
|
| Full Service | $995 | Premium package, plus:
|
Like Houzeo, Flat Fee Group is an intermediary connecting sellers to independent flat fee MLS brokers in their state. But unlike Houzeo, Flat Fee Group lets you know who the broker is up front, so you can research their reviews and contact them directly before you decide to list.
For sellers concerned about the logistics of showings, Flat Fee Group offers access to the Central Showing Service, allowing you to automatically see and manage showing requests from agents. You can input driving directions and even review an agent's feedback after a showing.
In North Carolina, Flat Fee Group's listings are handled by Jeff Ayres of Clickit Realty, which has lower customer ratings than other companies on this list. The fact that Flat Free Group offers a separate online platform to manage showings may help to eliminate some of the hiccups home sellers have experienced with Clickit Realty. Just be sure to read the fine print carefully, since multiple customer reviews have complained about hidden fees.
North Carolina flat fee MLS listing services by city
In North Carolina, you'll also find some smaller flat fee MLS companies that operate in certain cities. These local companies are likely to offer more flexible service, comprehensive packages, and area expertise than the national brands.
Find North Carolina flat fee MLS listing services near you
How to get an MLS listing without a realtor in North Carolina
1. Educate yourself on the for sale by owner (FSBO) process
When selling for sale by the owner, you're responsible for most of the sale process. You'll need to learn how to market your home, schedule showings, negotiate, complete closing paperwork, and more.
You might want to hire a transaction coordinator or real estate attorney to help with logistics and closing paperwork.
2. Find the right flat fee MLS listing service for you
Flat fee MLS is a growing industry nationwide, so you have plenty of options.
When comparing companies, a good starting point is to scour customer reviews on third-party sites like Google and Trustpilot. You'll also want to get information directly on the company websites.
Find out whether a company:
- Has recent customer complaints
- Offers technical support if you have issues with the company's site or app
- Provides assistance for the harder parts of selling FSBO, like offers and contracts
- Allows buyers and brokers to contact you directly
Once you've narrowed down the list, look at each company's pricing and service packages.
3. Choose a service package
Most companies offer packages with different levels of support.
At a minimum, a flat fee MLS company should provide:
- A 6–12 month listing term
- A decent photo allowance (preferably 25 or more)
- Free changes to your listing
- Lead forwarding
Some companies may provide add-ons such as:
- A lockbox
- Pricing assistance, like a comparative market analysis
- Professional photography
- Marketing materials, like a yard sign, virtual tour, and social media coverage
- An online dashboard to oversee showings and offers
- Agent support for negotiations
Watch out for hidden restrictions and fees (such as an extra percentage taken out of the buyer's agent commission) that apply to your listing.
Top alternatives to a flat fee MLS listing service in North Carolina
Sell with a discount broker
The best discount real estate brokers offer the same services as traditional real estate agents, but at a much more competitive rate — as little as 1–1.5%.
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 North Carolina, 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).
Why pay more in commission fees for less service? Clever offers you bigger savings without sacrificing the service you expect from a traditional realtor.
With Clever:
✅ You'll only pay 1.5% to list your home
✅ You'll work with a full-service realtor from a top broker
✅ It's free, with zero obligation — you can walk away at any time
Saving on realtor fees doesn't have to mean sacrificing service. Find a top local agent today!
Try selling 'for sale by owner' without an MLS listing
Technically, it's possible to sell your house on your own in North Carolina without listing it on the MLS. But this method usually only works if you already have a buyer lined up.
Without an MLS listing, fewer potential 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, Realtor.com, and Redfin.
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 North Carolina
How do you get on the MLS in North Carolina?
To get on the MLS, you need to either hire a real estate agent or use a flat fee MLS service. Only licensed real estate agents and companies have access to the local MLS.
How much do flat fee MLS services cost in North Carolina?
Typically, a flat fee MLS listing in North Carolina costs about $200–800. However, basic plans can be as low as $95, and more comprehensive services can be as much as $1,000.
Do I still need to pay the buyer's agent commission?
We strongly recommend offering a commission to the buyer's agent. This will incentivize agents to bring their clients to your home. How much to offer a buyer's agent is up to you, but most buyer's agent commissions in North Carolina range from 2.45% to 3.04%. Some FFMLS sites require a minimum buyer's agent commission.