7 Best Flat Fee MLS Oklahoma Listing Services (2023)

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

What is a flat fee MLS listing service?

A flat fee MLS company lists your house on the multiple listing service (MLS) for a set rate. The MLS is the main directory of houses for sale, and its listings are automatically syndicated to major home-buying websites, like Realtor.com, Zillow, and Redfin. Only individuals and companies with active real estate licenses can post on the MLS, so the only way to get on it without a realtor is to use a flat fee MLS company.

In Oklahoma, a flat fee MLS listing service typically costs $200–500. That's much less than the approximately 3% commission traditional realtors charge, which can add up well into the thousands.

While a flat fee MLS service can save you a lot of money, there are many things to consider beforehand. Selling a home without a realtor requires a lot of time, expertise, and effort. Plus, homes sold without a realtor sell for much less on average than homes that have an agent, which can easily negate whatever you may save on realtor commission.

You should consider other money-saving alternatives before choosing a flat fee MLS listing service. Most sellers can save thousands on realtor fees with a reputable discount realtor, for example, while still getting the same services as a traditional realtor.

» SAVE: Get a full-service agent for half the commission

What to consider before hiring a flat fee MLS service

A flat fee MLS service has the potential to save you a lot of money on realtor commission. On a $500,000 home, for example, paying the traditional 3% listing agent commission would set you back $15,000. By comparison, many flat fee MLS services offer packages costing just a few hundred dollars.

But the drawback is that you'll largely be acting as your own real estate agent. To decide whether that's a position you're ready to take on, ask yourself:

• Am I comfortable negotiating with buyers and screening buyers' offers?
• How well do I know Oklahoma and U.S. laws and regulations concerning selling a house?
• Do I have the time and expertise to dedicate to pricing, showings, marketing, paperwork, and closing?

If you still think selling without a realtor is right for you, you stand to save a lot of money. But be sure to weigh the benefits and drawbacks first.

Potential benefits

You'll get needed online exposure

When you get on the MLS, your listing will appear on popular home-buying websites like Zilllow, Realtor.com, and Redfin. Also, the MLS is the main source buyer's agents use to find houses to show their clients. Without the MLS, you'll have a much harder time getting nearly as many eyes on your property, which may mean fewer offers.

You'll have more control

Many FSBO sellers enjoy having complete control over how their house is marketed and sold. Without a realtor, you'll be more directly involved in marketing, showings, and closing. You'll also be able to negotiate directly with potential buyers or their agents, which some sellers find more personal and human than going through a listing agent.

You'll save on listing fees

Realtor commissions typically cost thousands of dollars, whereas most flat fee MLS services in Oklahoma will only set you back $200–500. By comparison, the standard listing agent commission of 3% on a $400,000 house sale will cost you $12,000.

You can choose the services you need

Most flat fee MLS services offer a range of packages and services that you can tailor to your needs. If you're an experienced seller and only need a little support, you can choose an inexpensive, no-frills plan. If you're less experienced, you can choose a plan that features broker assistance for help with pricing, paperwork, and negotiations. While this plan will cost more, it'll typically still be cheaper than paying traditional real estate agent commission.

Potential drawbacks

You risk a lower sale price

Homes sold without a realtor sell for a lot less on average than those sold with an agent. The difference is often much greater than what you may otherwise save in realtor commission. For example, in 2022, the typical FSBO home sold for $120,000 below the median sale price of $345,000 that agented homes sold for.

You may miss out on leads

Buyer's agents are sometimes hesitant about working with FSBO sellers because they assume the seller is inexperienced or will make the sale difficult. As a result, some agents steer their clients away from flat fee MLS listings, which means your house may get fewer prospective buyers.

MLS rules also require that the broker — your flat fee MLS company — be listed as the main contact point and not the actual seller. While the MLS has an "Agent Remarks" section where your contact information will appear, only agents can see this section. Unless you have automatic lead forwarding, this rule means that you'll be reliant on your listing broker to manually forward leads to you, which can create a bottleneck.

You'll still need to pay a buyer's agent

The vast majority of buyers work with an agent, and that agent will still need to get paid, even if you don't have your own listing agent. As the seller, it's up to you to set a buyer's agent commission, which comes out of the sale proceeds. Buyer agent commission is typically 2.5–3%, and failing to offer a competitive rate could mean agents are less likely to show your house to their clients. Some flat fee MLS services even require you to offer a minimum buyer's agent commission, usually 2% or more.

You'll be on your own

Selling a house is a complicated process, and without a realtor, you'll have to figure out most of it yourself. You're responsible for pricing, marketing, photography, showings, paperwork, legal requirements, negotiations, and title and escrow. While your flat fee MLS service may offer broker assistance, it'll cost you a premium, and the level of service usually falls short of what a typical listing agent would provide.

You may face hidden fees

Some flat fee MLS companies are notorious for charging hidden fees, like adding an extra percentage or flat rate at closing. Others take a portion of the buyer's agent commission. Despite its name, that portion ultimately comes out of your pocket since it's part of the sale proceeds. Finally, while not necessarily hidden, add-on services for items like professional photography, lockboxes, and yard signs can quickly drive up your final bill.

Best 7 flat fee MLS listing services in Oklahoma

OK By Owner: Best for complete plans at low prices

Pros

• Plans are priced low but still provide the essentials.
• You get the maximum photo limit even with the entry-level plan.
• There's no time limit on your MLS listing.

Cons

• Broker assistance costs an extra $1,000.
• Upgrading to the more expensive plan doesn't get you much extra.

OK By Owner fees and services

OK By Owner is a highly rated flat fee MLS service that covers Tulsa, Oklahoma City, and Northeastern Oklahoma. It offers two flat fee plans: MLS Listing for $179 and MLS Pro Listing for $399.

The MLS Listing plan is excellent value for money. Unlike many entry-level plans, with OK By Owner you'll get a listing until your house sells, maximum photos, free cancellation, unlimited listing changes, a yard sign, and phone and email support.

The MLS Pro Listing plan doesn't differ much from the entry-level plan despite costing more than twice as much. It's still good value, but if you can find your own professional photographer for less, you may want to stick with the cheaper MLS Listing plan.

The major drawback of OK By Owner is that it only operates in Oklahoma City, Tulsa, and Northeastern Oklahoma. Also note that while OK By Owner technically offers a free FSBO plan, it doesn't include an MLS listing, so we don't think it's worth considering.

Trinity Properties: A good choice for all experience levels

Pros

• Trinity Properties offers competitively priced plans.
• The Silver plan includes contract review and professional photos.
• The company consistently gets good reviews from customers.

Cons

• The Gold plan is pricey.
• You can get the same service for less elsewhere.

Trinity Properties fees and services

Trinity Properties is another flat fee MLS service that only covers Oklahoma City, Tulsa, and Northeastern Oklahoma.

The service offers three plans, ranging from $299 for the entry-level plan to $499 plus a closing fee of $1,000 (or 0.5% if your home sells for more than $200,000). The entry-level plan is good value for money since you'll get a six-month listing and maximum photos.

The mid-range plan, at $499, is a bit pricier. But it includes some useful features, like professional photography, contract review, and a comparative market analysis to help you price your home.

The premium plan costs at least a couple thousand dollars, but you'll get a lot more assistance from the broker. If you're new to FSBO, it may be worth considering.

While the plans are good value and provide many valuable features, they're not the cheapest. You can find the same service elsewhere while paying a lower fee.

JMR Realty: Best for novice sellers

Pros

• All plans include professional photography.
• You get a comparative market analysis to help price your home.
• A lockbox and yard sign are included.

Cons

• The prices are high compared to other flat fee MLS services.
• Plans are too comprehensive for sellers who want a no-frills option.

JMR Realty fees and services

JMR Realty serves Oklahoma City and surrounding areas. The company offers two pricing plans, one for a flat rate of $999 and the other for 1% at closing.

The $999 List plan is a comprehensive package with many features that other companies charge extra for. You get professional photography, an electronic lockbox, and a professional yard sign. The broker also provides a comparative market analysis to help you price your home more accurately.

The 1% List plan is closer to what you would get from a traditional full-service agent. The broker provides in-person consultation and assistance with inspections, showings, negotiations, and closing.

While both plans are reasonably priced for what you get, they'll cost you more than other flat fee MLS services. JMR Realty doesn't offer a way to customize your plan or a no-frills package. It can be a good choice if you're new to FSBO and want extra guidance, but it probably offers more than you need if you're experienced at selling without a realtor.

Flat Fee Group: Highly rated, with a plan for everyone

Pros

• Plans are competitively priced and good value.
• The wide range of plans serves all experience levels.
• Online reviews for Flat Fee Group are very positive.

Cons

• The Gold plan is a bit expensive compared to other companies' plans.
• The entry-level package includes only six photos.

Flat Fee Group fees and services

Flat Fee Group is a nationwide flat fee MLS company with different brokers and pricing plans in each state. In Oklahoma, Flat Fee Group's broker is actually Trinity Properties. While Flat Fee Group offers similar plans and pricing as Trinity Properties, there are some differences.

For example, the entry-level package will get you only a six-photo limit with Flat Fee Group, whereas you'll get the maximum photo limit if you hire Trinity Properties directly. On the other hand, the premium-level Gold package gets you only a six-month listing term when you go directly through Trinity Properties, whereas your listing will stay active until sold if you use Flat Fee Group.

Otherwise, Flat Fee Group's service is the same as Trinity Properties and offers an overall good value. If you're interested in the Gold package, you're better off using Flat Fee Group. But if you want the Bronze package, you should hire Trinity Properties directly.

Unreal Estate: Best for finding a range of discounted plans

Pros

• You get low, exclusive rates with code "Clever."
• Online reviews for Unreal Estate are largely positive.
• There's a wide range of plans to suit all experience levels.

Cons

• The two lower-tier plans have limited photo allowances.
• Unlimited listing edits are only included in the premium plan.
• Customer support is exclusively online for the two lower-tier plans.

Unreal Estate fees and services

Unreal Estate is a nationwide broker that offers a wide range of plans suitable for everyone from novice to experienced sellers. The company's flat rates are very low, ranging from free to $249. However, there's a 0.5% fee at closing, which will likely add at least a thousand dollars to your final bill.

Fortunately, you can drop that 0.5% upcharge on Unreal Estate's three most popular plans by using code "Clever." That way, you'll lock in a flat rate of $99–450 without paying a percentage at closing.

Overall, Unreal Estate offers good value, although we recommend using either the Deluxe or Premium plans. The two lower-tier plans don't offer a high photo limit, which we consider essential for selling FSBO. The Premium plan also offers unlimited listing edits and a 30-minute broker form review, making it particularly good value.

ISoldMyHouse.com: Good for plans with just the essentials

Pros

• Plans are simple and easy to understand.
• ISoldMyHouse.com has an online library of resources to help you sell FSBO.

Cons

• The entry-level package has a very low photo limit.
• Prices are high compared to what some local flat fee brokers offer.
• Both packages are fairly bare bones with few free extras.

ISoldMyHouse.com fees and services

ISoldMyHouse.com is a national flat fee MLS brand with two easy-to-understand packages: Get LISTED! and Get SOLD! Both plans are similar, with the key differences being a longer listing term and higher photo allowance with the Get SOLD! plan.

Overall, Get SOLD! is the better option since the 10-photo limit with Get LISTED! is very low. ISoldMyHouse.com, unlike some other flat fee MLS services, also covers all of Oklahoma, making it a good option if you're outside Oklahoma City, Tulsa, or Northeastern Oklahoma.

However, ISoldMyHouse.com's prices are a bit high. Several local flat fee services offer more comprehensive service but for less than what ISoldMyHouse.com charges.

Houzeo: Good for managing showings online

Pros

• The online dashboard makes it easy to manage listings and home showings.
• Reviews from past customers are generally positive.

Cons

• Extra charges can quickly add up, especially with the entry-level plan.
• Local companies offer similar service but at a much lower price.
• Some customers complain about listing errors, hidden fees, and slow customer service.

Houzeo fees and services

A nationwide flat fee MLS service, Houzeo's plans cover most of Oklahoma, including Oklahoma City, Tulsa, and Northeastern Oklahoma. The company offers four packages, ranging from $329 to $999+.

The entry-level plan is expensive compared to what other Oklahoma flat fee services charge, and it comes with very little. Meanwhile, the premium Gold and Platinum plans charge a percentage at closing, which likewise makes them expensive.

Only the Silver plan offers decent value, with maximum photos, unlimited listing edits, and free cancellation. At $399, however, it's still on the high end by Oklahoma standards. Local brokers can provide the same service for less.

Also note that while Houzeo has positive reviews overall, some customers complain about the company being slow to respond to issues. Reviewers also note hidden fees and listing errors in a handful of negative reviews.

Oklahoma flat fee MLS listing services by city

Some flat fee MLS listing companies in Oklahoma operate in specific cities and regions. These companies can usually provide plans that are better value and more tailored to the local market.

How to get an MLS listing without a realtor in Oklahoma

Top alternatives to a flat fee MLS service in Oklahoma

Sell with a discount broker

Unlike flat fee MLS companies, discount realtors charge a percentage-based commission, but one that's much lower than the traditional 3%. The best discount realtors offer the same services as traditional agents, but at a much more competitive rate — as little as 1–2%.

For most sellers in Oklahoma, Clever is the best choice overall. With Clever, you can choose from multiple agents from name-brand local brokerages, like Century 21 and Berkshire Hathaway. Each agent has been handpicked based on sales performance, customer reviews, experience, and local market knowledge — so you know you're getting a quality agent.

Once you select an agent, they'll handle the hard work of selling your home, like pricing, marketing, negotiations, and closing. Whereas traditional realtors charge around 3% on average, with a Clever partner agent you'll get full service but pay a listing fee of only 1.5%.

Sell with a flat fee realtor

Most real estate agents work on commission, but some charge a flat rate instead. Just like with a flat fee MLS company, you'll pay the same price no matter how much your home sells for. The difference is that flat fee realtors tend to provide more service, so the cost will typically be higher than with a flat fee MLS service.

Rates vary a lot, but you should expect to pay at least a couple thousand dollars. While some realtors charge much less, their service level may make them largely indistinguishable from flat fee MLS companies.

If you're selling a high-priced home, a flat rate realtor can be a good deal. After all, a $6,000 fee on a million-dollar house is much better than the same fee on a $300,000 house.

But be prepared to get more limited service from your broker. If you want true full-service, you'll almost certainly have to pay a percentage-based commission. Also, if your house sells below a certain threshold, you could even pay more with a flat fee broker than you would with a discount realtor.

» MORE: How to find a real estate agent that's right for you

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 Oklahoma