If you’re selling a house by owner in Houston, Texas, a flat fee MLS service can help you get more exposure for your listing without breaking the bank. We ranked 42 flat fee MLS plans available in Houston, Texas across three different pricing tiers:
Budget plans typically range from $50-$200 and include basic services like an MLS listing and downloadable documents. Consider a Budget plan if you’re looking for the cheapest possible way to get more exposure for your listing.
Standard plans cost between $200-$500 and should get you some additional tools and features like showing scheduling software, virtual contracts, and even remote broker support. Good Standard plans usually offer the best value for FSBO sellers in terms of price vs. useful services.
Premium plans generally aren't worth it. Upfront fees start around $500 but can exceed $3,000. And many include hefty, additional fees at closing (0.5-1% or more). We think most Premium plans don't offer enough support to justify the high price tag.
| ⚡️ Quick tip: Discount real estate brokers typically offer better value than Premium flat fee MLS plans. You get full, in-person representation for roughly the same cost. |
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What is a flat fee MLS listing service? (more)
- Houston flat fee MLS listing companies offer bundled and a la carte marketing and support services for people selling their homes without a realtor, also known as listing for sale by owner (FSBO).
- The most basic plans start as low as $50 and usually just get your property listed on Houston MLSs and popular sites like Zillow and Realtor.com, which helps increase your exposure among local buyers.
- Premium flat fee MLS plans range from $599 to $8,000+ and often include more deluxe services like professional photography, a comparative market analysis (CMA), and remote broker support.
- Most flat fee MLS brokers charge a flat upfront fee that’s nonrefundable. Some also charge additional fees at closing. Others may charge additional fees for canceling your listing agreement early or even just updating your listing details.
- Flat fee MLS may be a good option if you’re (a) committed to selling without a realtor and (b) have a good understanding of the logistics, risks, and time requirements that come with a FSBO sale.
- Most home sellers looking to save money should also consider a low commission real estate company. These brokers get you full, in-person representation from a licensed agent for 50% less than the average listing commission rate in Houston, which is comparable to many Premium flat fee MLS plans.
Should I use a flat fee MLS broker? (more)
- Consider a flat fee MLS company if you're an experienced home seller, committed to selling your home by owner, and looking for a relatively cheap way to give your listing a visibility boost. If this is you, some Basic and Standard plans offer decent value for the money.
- If you’re looking for anything above a Basic or Standard flat fee MLS plan, a discount real estate broker may offer better value. Discount broker pricing can be comparable to Premium flat fee MLS packages, but gets you full in-person representation from a licensed agent.
- There are lots of free for sale by owner websites, including Zillow, Craigslist, and ForSaleByOwner.com. Most of these options don’t get your listing on the MLS, so they can be a good option for testing the waters or supplementing your flat fee MLS plan.
- If you need to sell your house fast or have are selling a home that needs major repairs, consider a Houston cash home buyer. These companies buy homes in almost any condition for cash, often in a matter of days. You avoid realtor commissions and many will even cover your closing costs. The tradeoff is that investors typically pay less for homes to offset risk and ensure they can turn a profit.
Top flat fee MLS plans available in Houston, Texas
Company
Plan name
Upfront fee
Plan type
Our Rating
Company rating
All Budget flat fee MLS plans available in Houston
Plan name: Basic Package
Our Rating
83
Plan type
Budget
Price
$99
Company Rating
4.4 ⭐️ (732 reviews)
At a glance
Plan details
Company reviews
Company info
- Great value for a Budget flat fee MLS plan
- Poor terms and flexibility
- 50 photos on the MLS (meets minimum expert recommendation)
- Includes most services we expect in a Budget plan
- Bonus services include Downloadable documents and 3D walkthroughs/virtual tours
Plan name: Flat Fee Plus™
Our Rating
74
Plan type
Budget
Price
$0
Company Rating
5.0 ⭐️ (2 reviews)
At a glance
Plan details
Company reviews
Company info
- Very good value for a Budget flat fee MLS plan
- Fair terms and flexibility
- Unclear if plan has MLS listing photo limits
- Includes most services we expect in a Budget plan
- Bonus services include Customer service support and Yard sign
Plan name: $95 Plan from Homecoin.com
Our Rating
74
Plan type
Budget
Price
$95
Company Rating
4.7 ⭐️ (198 reviews)
At a glance
Plan details
Company reviews
Company info
- Very good value for a Budget flat fee MLS plan
- Poor terms and flexibility
- Unclear if plan has MLS listing photo limits
- Includes some services we expect in a Budget plan
- Bonus services include Professional photography and 3D walkthroughs/virtual tours
Plan name: Premium
Our Rating
64
Plan type
Budget
Price
$188
Company Rating
N/A (Unverified)
At a glance
Plan details
Company reviews
Company info
- Good value for a Budget flat fee MLS plan
- Fair terms and flexibility
- Maximum photos on the MLS
- Includes most services we expect in a Budget plan
- Bonus services include Customer service support and Yard sign
Plan name: Basic
Our Rating
64
Plan type
Budget
Price
$99
Company Rating
N/A (Unverified)
At a glance
Plan details
Company reviews
Company info
- Good value for a Budget flat fee MLS plan
- Poor terms and flexibility
- Unclear if plan has MLS listing photo limits
- Includes some services we expect in a Budget plan
- Bonus services include Yard sign and Showing software
Plan name: Deluxe
Our Rating
55
Plan type
Budget
Price
$149
Company Rating
N/A (Unverified)
At a glance
Plan details
Company reviews
Company info
- Fair value for a Budget flat fee MLS plan
- Poor terms and flexibility
- Unclear if plan has MLS listing photo limits
- Includes some services we expect in a Budget plan
- Bonus services include Yard sign and Lockbox
Plan name: Standard
Our Rating
50
Plan type
Budget
Price
$199
Company Rating
N/A (Unverified)
At a glance
Plan details
Company reviews
Company info
- Fair value for a Budget flat fee MLS plan
- Poor terms and flexibility
- Unclear if plan has MLS listing photo limits
- Includes some services we expect in a Budget plan
- Bonus services include Yard sign and Showing software
Plan name: Gold
Our Rating
48
Plan type
Budget
Price
$149
Company Rating
4.6 ⭐️ (564 reviews)
At a glance
Plan details
Company reviews
Company info
- Poor value for a Budget flat fee MLS plan
- Poor terms and flexibility
- Unclear if plan has MLS listing photo limits
- Includes some services we expect in a Budget plan
- No bonus services included
Plan name: Platinum
Our Rating
44
Plan type
Budget
Price
$195
Company Rating
4.6 ⭐️ (564 reviews)
At a glance
Plan details
Company reviews
Company info
- Poor value for a Budget flat fee MLS plan
- Poor terms and flexibility
- Unclear if plan has MLS listing photo limits
- Includes some services we expect in a Budget plan
- No bonus services included
All Standard flat fee MLS plans available in Houston
Plan name: Get Listed!
ValueScore
85
Plan type
Standard
Price
$299
Company Rating
4.7 ⭐️ (63 reviews)
At a glance
Plan details
Company reviews
Company info
- Great value for a Standard flat fee MLS plan
- Very good terms and flexibility
- Maximum photos on the MLS
- Includes some services we expect in a Standard plan
- Bonus services include Listing management tools
Plan name: Flat Fee MLS Listing
ValueScore
81
Plan type
Standard
Price
$295
Company Rating
4.9 ⭐️ (7 reviews)
At a glance
Plan details
Company reviews
Company info
- Great value for a Standard flat fee MLS plan
- Good terms and flexibility
- 50 photos on the MLS (meets minimum expert recommendation)
- Includes most services we expect in a Standard plan
- Bonus services include Professional photography
Plan name: Platinum
ValueScore
79
Plan type
Standard
Price
$449
Company Rating
4.9 ⭐️ (3,713 reviews)
At a glance
Plan details
Company reviews
Company info
- Very good value for a Standard flat fee MLS plan
- Great terms and flexibility
- Maximum photos on the MLS
- Includes most services we expect in a Standard plan
- Bonus services include Licensed broker/agent support and Professional photography
Plan name: Gold
ValueScore
79
Plan type
Standard
Price
$429
Company Rating
4.9 ⭐️ (3,713 reviews)
At a glance
Plan details
Company reviews
Company info
- Very good value for a Standard flat fee MLS plan
- Great terms and flexibility
- Maximum photos on the MLS
- Includes most services we expect in a Standard plan
- Bonus services include Licensed broker/agent support and Professional photography
Plan name: Silver
ValueScore
74
Plan type
Standard
Price
$409
Company Rating
4.9 ⭐️ (3,713 reviews)
At a glance
Plan details
Company reviews
Company info
- Very good value for a Standard flat fee MLS plan
- Good terms and flexibility
- Maximum photos on the MLS
- Includes most services we expect in a Standard plan
- Bonus services include Professional photography and Buyer messaging tools
Plan name: Bronze
ValueScore
74
Plan type
Standard
Price
$399
Company Rating
4.9 ⭐️ (3,713 reviews)
At a glance
Plan details
Company reviews
Company info
- Very good value for a Standard flat fee MLS plan
- Good terms and flexibility
- 24 photos on the MLS (meets minimum expert recommendation)
- Includes most services we expect in a Standard plan
- Bonus services include Professional photography
Plan name: MLS Only +
ValueScore
74
Plan type
Standard
Price
$399
Company Rating
4.8 ⭐️ (54 reviews)
At a glance
Plan details
Company reviews
Company info
- Very good value for a Standard flat fee MLS plan
- Good terms and flexibility
- Maximum photos on the MLS
- Includes most services we expect in a Standard plan
- Bonus services include Licensed broker/agent support
Plan name: Package 2
ValueScore
74
Plan type
Standard
Price
$495
Company Rating
5.0 ⭐️ (23 reviews)
At a glance
Plan details
Company reviews
Company info
- Very good value for a Standard flat fee MLS plan
- Poor terms and flexibility
- 40 photos on the MLS (meets minimum expert recommendation)
- Includes most services we expect in a Standard plan
- Bonus services include Licensed broker/agent support and Buyer messaging tools
Plan name: Economy Package
ValueScore
72
Plan type
Standard
Price
$299
Company Rating
4.9 ⭐️ (244 reviews)
At a glance
Plan details
Company reviews
Company info
- Very good value for a Standard flat fee MLS plan
- Poor terms and flexibility
- Unclear if plan has MLS listing photo limits
- Includes some services we expect in a Standard plan
- No bonus services included
Plan name: Standard Package
ValueScore
70
Plan type
Standard
Price
$399
Company Rating
4.9 ⭐️ (244 reviews)
At a glance
Plan details
Company reviews
Company info
- Very good value for a Standard flat fee MLS plan
- Poor terms and flexibility
- 50 photos on the MLS (meets minimum expert recommendation)
- Includes some services we expect in a Standard plan
- No bonus services included
Plan name: Rental
ValueScore
63
Plan type
Standard
Price
$299
Company Rating
N/A (Unverified)
At a glance
Plan details
Company reviews
Company info
- Good value for a Standard flat fee MLS plan
- Poor terms and flexibility
- Unclear if plan has MLS listing photo limits
- Includes some services we expect in a Standard plan
- Bonus services include Licensed broker/agent support
Plan name: Premium
ValueScore
63
Plan type
Standard
Price
$249
Company Rating
N/A (Unverified)
At a glance
Plan details
Company reviews
Company info
- Good value for a Standard flat fee MLS plan
- Poor terms and flexibility
- Unclear if plan has MLS listing photo limits
- Includes some services we expect in a Standard plan
- Bonus services include Licensed broker/agent support
Plan name: MLS +
ValueScore
60
Plan type
Standard
Price
$499
Company Rating
N/A (Unverified)
At a glance
Plan details
Company reviews
Company info
- Good value for a Standard flat fee MLS plan
- Good terms and flexibility
- 50 photos on the MLS (meets minimum expert recommendation)
- Includes most services we expect in a Standard plan
- Bonus services include Licensed broker/agent support and Professional photography
Plan name: Get Sold!
ValueScore
59
Plan type
Standard
Price
$399
Company Rating
4.7 ⭐️ (63 reviews)
At a glance
Plan details
Company reviews
Company info
- Fair value for a Standard flat fee MLS plan
- Poor terms and flexibility
- Only 4 photos on the MLS (experts recommend at least 22)
- Includes some services we expect in a Standard plan
- Bonus services include Licensed broker/agent support
Plan name: MLS Listing
ValueScore
58
Plan type
Standard
Price
$499
Company Rating
4.6 ⭐️ (29 reviews)
At a glance
Plan details
Company reviews
Company info
- Fair value for a Standard flat fee MLS plan
- Poor terms and flexibility
- Only 1 photos on the MLS (experts recommend at least 22)
- Includes some services we expect in a Standard plan
- Bonus services include Licensed broker/agent support
Plan name: Platinum +
ValueScore
57
Plan type
Standard
Price
$295
Company Rating
4.6 ⭐️ (564 reviews)
At a glance
Plan details
Company reviews
Company info
- Fair value for a Standard flat fee MLS plan
- Poor terms and flexibility
- Unclear if plan has MLS listing photo limits
- Includes some services we expect in a Standard plan
- No bonus services included
Plan name: Enhanced Package
ValueScore
55
Plan type
Standard
Price
$399
Company Rating
4.4 ⭐️ (732 reviews)
At a glance
Plan details
Company reviews
Company info
- Fair value for a Standard flat fee MLS plan
- Poor terms and flexibility
- Only 1 photos on the MLS (experts recommend at least 22)
- Includes some services we expect in a Standard plan
- Bonus services include Licensed broker/agent support
Plan name: MLS Only
ValueScore
46
Plan type
Standard
Price
$399
Company Rating
N/A (Unverified)
At a glance
Plan details
Company reviews
Company info
- Poor value for a Standard flat fee MLS plan
- Good terms and flexibility
- Only 6 photos on the MLS (experts recommend at least 22)
- Includes some services we expect in a Standard plan
- Bonus services include Buyer messaging tools
All Premium flat fee MLS plans available in Houston
Plan name: Package 1
ValueScore
90
Plan type
Premium
Price
$585
Company Rating
5.0 ⭐️ (23 reviews)
At a glance
Plan details
Company reviews
Company info
- Excellent value for a Premium flat fee MLS plan
- Very good terms and flexibility
- 50 photos on the MLS (meets minimum expert recommendation)
- Includes some services we expect in a Premium plan
- No bonus services included
Plan name: Texas Houston Southeastern Total Package
ValueScore
66
Plan type
Premium
Price
$599
Company Rating
4.9 ⭐️ (244 reviews)
At a glance
Plan details
Company reviews
Company info
- Good value for a Premium flat fee MLS plan
- Poor terms and flexibility
- Unclear if plan has MLS listing photo limits
- Includes some services we expect in a Premium plan
- No bonus services included
Plan name: Premium Plan
ValueScore
65
Plan type
Premium
Price
$500 + $2499 at closing
Company Rating
4.7 ⭐️ (281 reviews)
At a glance
Plan details
Company reviews
Company info
- Good value for a Premium flat fee MLS plan
- Poor terms and flexibility
- Unclear if plan has MLS listing photo limits
- Includes some services we expect in a Premium plan
- No bonus services included
Plan name: Spark Plan
ValueScore
65
Plan type
Premium
Price
$250 + $1249 at closing
Company Rating
4.7 ⭐️ (281 reviews)
At a glance
Plan details
Company reviews
Company info
- Good value for a Premium flat fee MLS plan
- Poor terms and flexibility
- Unclear if plan has MLS listing photo limits
- Includes some services we expect in a Premium plan
- No bonus services included
Plan name: Gold
ValueScore
64
Plan type
Premium
Price
$999
Company Rating
4.8 ⭐️ (54 reviews)
At a glance
Plan details
Company reviews
Company info
- Good value for a Premium flat fee MLS plan
- Poor terms and flexibility
- Maximum photos on the MLS
- Includes some services we expect in a Premium plan
- No bonus services included
Plan name: Plan A
ValueScore
64
Plan type
Premium
Price
$600
Company Rating
4.9 ⭐️ (54 reviews)
At a glance
Plan details
Company reviews
Company info
- Good value for a Premium flat fee MLS plan
- Poor terms and flexibility
- 25 photos on the MLS (meets minimum expert recommendation)
- Includes some services we expect in a Premium plan
- No bonus services included
Plan name: Platinum
ValueScore
60
Plan type
Premium
Price
$1,289
Company Rating
4.8 ⭐️ (54 reviews)
At a glance
Plan details
Company reviews
Company info
- Good value for a Premium flat fee MLS plan
- Fair terms and flexibility
- Maximum photos on the MLS
- Includes some services we expect in a Premium plan
- No bonus services included
Plan name: MLS Premium
ValueScore
58
Plan type
Premium
Price
$899
Company Rating
N/A (Unverified)
At a glance
Plan details
Company reviews
Company info
- Fair value for a Premium flat fee MLS plan
- Good terms and flexibility
- 50 photos on the MLS (meets minimum expert recommendation)
- Includes some services we expect in a Premium plan
- No bonus services included
Plan name: $0 Plan from Texas Flat Fee Realtors
ValueScore
56
Plan type
Premium
Price
$0 + $3995 at closing
Company Rating
4.9 ⭐️ (51 reviews)
At a glance
Plan details
Company reviews
Company info
- Fair value for a Premium flat fee MLS plan
- Poor terms and flexibility
- Only 6 photos on the MLS (experts recommend at least 22)
- Includes some services we expect in a Premium plan
- No bonus services included
Plan name: $0 Plan from Texas Flat Fee Realtors
ValueScore
56
Plan type
Premium
Price
$0 + $2995 at closing
Company Rating
4.9 ⭐️ (51 reviews)
At a glance
Plan details
Company reviews
Company info
- Fair value for a Premium flat fee MLS plan
- Poor terms and flexibility
- Only 6 photos on the MLS (experts recommend at least 22)
- Includes some services we expect in a Premium plan
- No bonus services included
Plan name: Package A
ValueScore
51
Plan type
Premium
Price
$0 + $1095 at closing
Company Rating
5.0 ⭐️ (11 reviews)
At a glance
Plan details
Company reviews
Company info
- Fair value for a Premium flat fee MLS plan
- Poor terms and flexibility
- Unclear if plan has MLS listing photo limits
- Includes some services we expect in a Premium plan
- No bonus services included
Plan name: Plan B
ValueScore
50
Plan type
Premium
Price
$1,400
Company Rating
4.9 ⭐️ (54 reviews)
At a glance
Plan details
Company reviews
Company info
- Fair value for a Premium flat fee MLS plan
- Poor terms and flexibility
- 25 photos on the MLS (meets minimum expert recommendation)
- Includes some services we expect in a Premium plan
- No bonus services included
Plan name: MLS Package
ValueScore
46
Plan type
Premium
Price
$199 + 0.25% at closing
Company Rating
N/A (Unverified)
At a glance
Plan details
Company reviews
Company info
- Poor value for a Premium flat fee MLS plan
- Poor terms and flexibility
- 25 photos on the MLS (meets minimum expert recommendation)
- Includes some services we expect in a Premium plan
- No bonus services included
Plan name: $0 Plan from Texas Flat Fee Realtors
ValueScore
46
Plan type
Premium
Price
$0 + $5995 at closing
Company Rating
4.9 ⭐️ (51 reviews)
At a glance
Plan details
Company reviews
Company info
- Poor value for a Premium flat fee MLS plan
- Poor terms and flexibility
- Unclear if plan has MLS listing photo limits
- Includes some services we expect in a Premium plan
- No bonus services included
Plan name: $0 Plan from Texas Flat Fee Realtors
ValueScore
46
Plan type
Premium
Price
$0 + $4995 at closing
Company Rating
4.9 ⭐️ (51 reviews)
At a glance
Plan details
Company reviews
Company info
- Poor value for a Premium flat fee MLS plan
- Poor terms and flexibility
- Unclear if plan has MLS listing photo limits
- Includes some services we expect in a Premium plan
- No bonus services included
Why trust us
Data sources
Our research team evaluated 42 flat fee MLS listing plans available in Houston, Texas from 21 brokerages. We compiled and analyzed publicly available data points tied to pricing, plan services, customer reviews, and more to evaluate each Houston flat fee MLS plan and create our rankings.
Methodology
Our team used public business directories to identify every flat fee MLS company serving Houston. We identified each flat fee MLS company's individual flat fee MLS plans. We filtered that list and ranked the top flat fee MLS options based on the following criteria:
- Pricing: We looked at each flat fee MLS plan's ability to provide a home seller's baseline needs for a low, upfront flat fee. We also looked at whether the plan requires a fee at closing, or has hidden fees or other financial restrictions.
- Flexibility: We looked at how much control a seller will have over their sale with each flat fee MLS plan, factoring in the length of the listing term and a seller's ability to make listing changes on their own, to connect directly with potential buyers, and to cancel the plan.
- Services: We evaluated each flat fee MLS plan's core services, including MLS listing and syndication, the amount of photos with the listing, lockbox, yard sign, customer service options, document support, showing tools, marketing collateral, and more.
- Company reputation: We looked at customer ratings and feedback for the flat fee MLS plan provider, as well as its recent track record and activity in the market.
✍️ Editor’s note: We don't disqualify a flat fee MLS company or flat fee MLS plan for limited or missing data, but we may lower the plan's rating. We base our ratings on objective measurements and can only measure what we see. We regularly search for new data to update our flat fee MLS rankings accordingly.
