5 Best Pennsylvania Flat Fee MLS Companies

Trevor Wallis

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Trevor Wallis

January 4th, 2023
Updated January 4th, 2023

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The best MLS services | Other ways to save on your sale | FAQs about flat fee MLS companies

Whether you're selling an A-frame in Erie or a townhouse in Harrisburg, paying 6% in realtor fees is a lot.

That’s why some sellers use a flat fee MLS company to list their home on the MLS — the main place where realtors find homes to show their clients — in exchange for a small one-time fee.

What’s the catch?

  • Less support: You manage your own sale — without a full-service agent to handle pricing, photography, paperwork, and negotiations.
  • Lower sales price: For sale by owner (FSBO) homes usually sell for significantly less than homes sold by agents — 6% less on average compared to agent-represented properties.
  • You still pay a buyer’s agent fee: 88% of buyers work with an agent — who still needs to get paid. In Pennsylvania, you’re on the hook for 2.48% to 2.96% of the final sale price.

If you want to save on fees but aren’t ready for a do-it-yourself experience, Clever can match you with full-service realtors who work for a low flat fee of 1.5%.

Clever is the best alternative to the full DIY approach if you're in Pennsylvania! You'll save thousands on listing fees, while still getting the support you need to sell your home fast AND for top dollar.

» SAVE: List with a full-service agent for just 1.5%

If you’re still interested in finding flat fee MLS listing options in Pennsylvania, read on! We’ve reviewed the best (and worst!) services in The Keystone State.

The 5 best Pennsylvania flat fee MLS companies*


Simple Choice Realty
XFlatFeeMLS
Flat Fee Group
Flat Fee Realty
Houzeo

Price range

$399–1,999
$89–380
$399–1,999
$199
$250–499

Money-back guarantee

Unlimited listing updates



💰

Downloadable forms





💰

For sale sign



💰

Lockbox

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* 💰 indicates extra fee or premium purchase required

Simple Choice Realty

Simple Choice Realty

Simple Choice Realty

Best For

Sellers who want to manage their listing completely online

Price Range

$399-1,999

Pros & Cons

Pros:

  • The basic listing package includes 25 photos. Many competitors include fewer than 10 with their lowest listing tier.
  • For an extra fee the listing broker will review your contract and walk you through everything included in it.

Cons:

  • You'll pay extra to get your contact info added to your Zillow listing.
  • Simple Choice Realty doesn't cover all areas of the state. You can check with the broker to see if they take listings in your area.
SHOW MORE
XFlatFeeMLS

XFlatFeeMLS

XFlatFeeMLS

Best For

Sellers who want an affordable barebones MLS listing without any extras

Price Range

$89-380

Pros & Cons

Pros:

  • You can choose to defer payment until after closing.
  • The company claims it will beat any competitor's price by 10%.
  • XFlatFeeMLS offers a full refund if you decide to list with one of its recommended full-service agents instead of selling FSBO.

Cons:

  • The deferred payment plan costs more than twice the unlimited listing.
  • The website is hard to navigate and offers no way to manage your listing and leads online.
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Flat Fee Group

Flat Fee Group

Flat Fee Group

Best For

Sellers who need a longer listing term

Price Range

$399-1,999

Pros & Cons

Pros:

  • The base package comes with a 12-month listing term. Many companies only offer six-month options for their basic listing.
  • You'll get a for sale sign with each listing package — just pay $10 for shipping.

Cons:

  • You won't get any pricing assistance unless you upgrade to the full-service option ($1,999).
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Flat Fee Realty

Flat Fee Realty

Flat Fee Realty

Best For

Budget-conscious sellers who need a simple, affordable listing

Price Range

$199

Pros & Cons

Pros:

  • Your listing comes with all the state seller's disclosures that you'll need.
  • You can pay a little more to post up to 25 photos on the MLS instead of the standard six.

Cons:

  • Flat Fee Realty doesn't offer any pricing or contract assistance.
  • The company won't be your listing broker. Instead, they'll refer you to a Pennsylvania-based broker who will list your property. If you have problems or questions, you'll end up talking to two companies instead of just one.
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Houzeo

Houzeo

Houzeo

Best For

Sellers looking for a lot of a-la-carte options

Price Range

$250-499

Pros & Cons

Pros:

  • You can fill out, sign, and submit all your seller's paperwork on the Houzeo app.
  • When you enter your address, Houzeo auto-fills publicly available data about your property.
  • Houzeo lets you buy additional services like contract reviews, agent showings, and professional showings a la carte.

Cons:

  • You have to pay extra for pricing assistance — several local competitors offer this for free.
  • You're limited to 10 free changes for price, status, and description in their two most popular packages. Most competitors offer unlimited free changes.
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Flat fee MLS companies in Pennsylvania by city

In Pennsylvania, you'll also find some smaller flat fee MLS companies that specialize in particular cities. These uber-local companies are more likely to offer flexible service packages and to bring more area expertise than the big guys.

Every Pennsylvania flat fee MLS service is different. Always make sure to read the fine print when evaluating offerings to make sure you're getting a fair deal.

Flat fee MLS companies in Philadelphia

The city of Philadelphia offers a few additional flat fee options to sell your home. Most services begin at around $400 while premium plans reach anywhere from $1,000-2,000.

» EXPLORE: The Best Philadelphia Flat Fee MLS Companies

Hidden costs of flat fee MLS companies

Some companies claim to offer flat-rate MLS services but charge hidden fees at closing. We've even seen some companies that claim to offer a free MLS listing only to charge you a percentage of the sale price at closing.

These predatory practices could cost you thousands of dollars when you expect to pay only a few hundred.

Always make sure to read the fine print for any service. Look out for "closing fees" or "admin fees" that you'll owe the broker in addition to an upfront flat fee.

Further, some flat fee MLS companies offer à la carte services like photography, paperwork help, and signage. These services can reduce some of your DIY work, but watch out. These add-ons can add up!

At a certain point, you may be better off finding a full-service agent who charges a clear and upfront discounted rate.

💰 Incredible savings, none of the DIY

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 lower listing fees with 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 traditional cost: a 1.5% listing fee instead of the typical 2.5-3%
  • Choose from the best local agents representing top regional and national brokerages, like Keller Williams and Century 21

Ready to find real estate agents who can help you save thousands on your sale? Enter your zip code below to get started!

What are the alternatives to using a flat fee MLS service in Pennsylvania?

Discount and flat fee real estate agents

Discount real estate brokers will list your property for as little as 1% — but keep in mind that you usually still have to pay a 2.6–3% buyer’s agent fee.

We’ve reviewed four national and regional discount brokers that operate in Pennsylvania.

Discount broker
Review

Clever

Assist-2-Sell

Help-U-Sell

Redfin

In Pennsylvania, Clever offers low rates, with an added advantage: Clever lets you compare multiple agents from major brands like Keller Williams, Century 21, and RE/MAX.

Clever matches home sellers like you with pre-vetted, full-service agents for only a 1.5% listing fee. That's half the rate agents typically charge, letting you keep thousands more in your pocket when your home sells.

Your Clever agent will handle everything for you, helping you accurately price your home, get high-quality photography, negotiate with prospective buyers, and complete paperwork.

You'll pay only a little more than you'd pay a flat fee MLS service, but you'll save hours of effort by not having to do everything yourself!

💰 Get a lower rate with a top local agent!

Want to find a top local agent without overpaying on realtor fees? Clever negotiates 1.5% listing fees with top-rated realtors from trusted brokerages like Keller Williams, RE/MAX, and Berkshire Hathaway.

Get guaranteed full service for a fraction of the 3% rate agents typically charge. Schedule a free, no obligation consultation with a top local agent today!

Selling without an MLS listing

It's always possible to try selling your house by owner without listing on the MLS. But this makes sense only if you already have a potential buyer lined up.

That's because not listing on your local MLS means not getting the most effective exposure for your property. MLS listings are posted to every major real estate website. Plus, real estate agents access MLS listings to find properties for their clients.

If you don't secure an MLS listing, you'll be limited to sites like Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace and relying on a yard sign.

Frequently asked questions

Typically, you should expect to pay about $400 for a flat fee MLS listing in Pennsylvania. However, we've seen basic plans for as low as $60 and more comprehensive services that charge as much as $2,000.

Although you'll save some money by not having to pay commission to a listing agent (typically 2.57% to 3.05% of the sale price), 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 Pennsylvania range from 2.48% to 2.96%.

» READ: Average Real Estate Commission in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania real estate laws require sellers to disclose all important information about their property, including:

  • Building and safety information
  • Utilities
  • Environmental information (like erosion, noise pollution, and whether it's in a flood plain)
  • Sewer and wastewater treatment

You'll make these disclosures by filling out the Seller’s Property Disclosure Statement. Potential buyers will review this document to make sure the property is free of deal-breaking flaws. You can either get this form from your listing broker or directly from the Pennsylvania state legislature.

» READ: How to Sell a House for Sale by Owner in Pennsylvania

Better real estate agents at a better rate

Enter your zip code to see if Clever has a partner agent in your area.

If you don't love your Clever partner agent, you can request to meet with another, or shake hands and go a different direction. We offer this because we're confident you're going to love working with a Clever Partner Agent.