5 Best Texas Flat-Fee MLS Companies in 2021

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

Whether you're selling a modern condo in downtown San Antonio or a spacious ranch house outside Abilene, 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 Texas, you’re on the hook for 2.50%-3.00% 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 $3,000 or 1%.

Clever is the best alternative to the full DIY approach if you're in Texas! 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 $3,000 or 1%

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

The 5 best Texas flat-fee MLS companies*

Congress Realty

Congress Realty

Best For

Sellers who want a lot of a-la-carte options

Price Range

$299

Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Congress Realty has a phone system that forwards any phone calls about your listing directly to you.
• You can request a free Comparative Marketing Analysis if you want a better idea of what homes in your area have sold for recently.

Cons:

• Congress Realty costs a lot more than competitors with similar MLS packages.
• You have to pay an extra $50 if you want more than four photos in your listing.

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Creekview Realty

Creekview Realty

Best For

Sellers who might still sign with a full-service broker.

Price Range

$495

Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Your listing comes with a yard sign and key lock box — features most companies charge extra for.
• You can upgrade to a flat fee full service plan with the same company.

Cons:

• The entry level package is more expensive than similar MLS listings from other companies.
• The company doesn't provide much information about how many photos you can add to your listing or how often you can make changes to it.

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TexasMLSBroker.com

TexasMLSBroker.com

Best For

Sellers who expect their property to sell quickly

Price Range

$175-899

Pros & Cons

Pros:

• You can get support from the listing broker entirely online.
• If you go with the Showcase Listing, you have the option to pay at closing if you don't want to pay an up front fee — it will cost quite a bit more ($899), though!

Cons:

• The standard listing doesn't include contract and disclosure forms.

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Houzeo

Houzeo

Best For

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

Price Range

$275-399

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 Texas by city

In Texas, 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 Texas 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 Houston

We found the flat-fee MLS companies in Houston to be as diverse and the city itself. You can find a basic listing for $45 or more comprehensive services for as much as $1,200.

» EXPLORE: The Best Houston Flat-Fee MLS Companies

Flat-fee MLS companies in Austin

Flat-fee MLS companies are more limited in Austin than in other cities — we didn't find many services that offered valuable add-ons. You can expect to pay between $45 and $2,000 to list your home.

» EXPLORE: The Best Austin Flat-Fee MLS Companies

Flat-fee MLS companies in Fort Worth

Fort Worth flat-fee MLS companies offer a lot of upgraded packages. We found basic packages for as low as $299 and premium listing plans for $1,195 with the option to add on even more.

» EXPLORE: The Best Fort Worth Flat-Fee MLS Companies

Flat-fee MLS companies in El Paso

No two El Paso flat-fee MLS companies are the same. We saw companies charging as low as $99 all the way up to $399 plus 0.75% of your sale price.

» EXPLORE: The Best El Paso Flat-Fee MLS Companies

Flat-fee MLS companies in Dallas

Dallas offers a lot of options for choosing a flat-fee MLS company, depending on how much help you need from a listing broker. You can go for a basic listing for less than $50 or pick a full-service option for nearly $1,200.

» EXPLORE: The Best Dallas Flat-Fee MLS Companies

Flat-fee MLS companies in San Antonio

We found the flat-fee MLS companies in San Antonio to be more limited in their offerings, as a whole. Many of the services that we reviewed just didn't have a lot of add-ons. Still, you can find some low rates, from as little as $45 to nearly $1,200 for a complete listing package.

» EXPLORE: The Best San Antonio 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 up-front flat fee.

Further, some flat-fee MLS companies offer a 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.

Frequently asked questions

How much do flat-fee MLS services cost in Texas?

Typically, you should expect to pay about $200-400 for a flat-fee MLS listing in Texas. However, we've seen basic plans for as low as $45 and more comprehensive services that charge as much as $1,200.

Do I still need to pay the buyer's agent commission?

Although you'll save some money by not having to pay commission to a listing agent (typically 2.00%-3.00% 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 selling agent commissions in Texas range from 2.50%-3.00%.

» READ: Average Real Estate Commission in Texas

How do I sell by owner in Texas?

Texas 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 can download the required seller's disclosure notice directly from the Texas Real Estate Commission.

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

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

Discount and flat-fee real estate agents

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

We’ve reviewed six national and regional discount brokers that operate in Texas.

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

Clever is an agent-matching service that can match you with a pre-vetted, full-service agent for only $3,000 (or 1% if your home is priced above $350,000), plus the typical buyer's agent commission.

Your Clever agent will handle everything for you, from helping you accurately price your home to high-quality photography to negotiating with prospective buyers and filling out the paperwork.

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

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.

iBuyers

iBuyers are companies that buy homes for cash outright at what they claim are market prices. When you sell to an iBuyer, you could have a preliminary offer in as little as 24 hours.

The major downside of selling to an iBuyer is that these companies make money by charging steep service fees — typically 5-14% of the purchase price. So they're a good alternative only for sellers more concerned with convenience and speed than costs.

There are currently six iBuyers operating in certain Texas markets. Click below to learn more.