Top low commission companies | How much can I save? | How it works | Get a lower commission rate | Should you hire a low commission real estate agent?
What is a low commission real estate agent?
Low commission real estate agents list your house for less than the typical commission rate in your area, helping you keep thousands more in your pocket when you sell your home.
For example, if you sold a $500,000 house, working with realtor who charges a 1.5% listing fee could save you $7,500 compared to the standard 3% rates many agents charge. That's a pretty sweet deal!
But bear in mind that not all discount real estate brands are created equal. Sometimes commission savings will come at the expense of key services and support, which could affect your home selling experience or outcome.
Instead, look for the agents at the best low commission companies, like Clever, that guarantee all the service and support you'd expect from a traditional, full-commission realtor.
Clever negotiates 1.5% listing fees with top-rated local agents from name-brand brokerages like Keller Williams, Century 21, and RE/MAX. You get to compare multiple agents so you can choose the best fit, and you get the same savings no matter what. Or you can walk away at any time — our matching service is 100% free with no obligation.
» SAVE: Find top local agents and get a 1.5% listing fee!
Top 10 low commission real estate companies in 2023
If you're looking for a low commission real estate agent, find our top picks in the table below. Learn more by clicking each company's name to read full reviews.
Company | Listing fee | Average rating |
|---|---|---|
1.5% (min. $3,000) | 4.9 (1,995 reviews) | |
1.5% (min. fees vary) | 3.7 (301 reviews) | |
2% (min. $3,000) | 4.9 (5,842 reviews) | |
$5,000 | 4.8 (1,400 reviews) | |
1% (min. $3,500) | 4.9 (335 reviews) | |
$3,500 or 1% | 4.6 (300 reviews) | |
$3,000-4,000 | 4.7 (1,254 reviews) | |
$2,995-8,995* | N/A* | |
$2,950-7,950* | N/A* | |
2.5% (min. $9,000) | 4.7 (1,041 reviews) | |
*Fee structure and customer ratings vary by location | ||
When you're looking for a realtor, we always recommend comparing your options and interviewing a few agents from different companies.
The list above is a great place to start. Unfortunately, many low commission companies only operate in a handful of states, so your options will depend on where you're selling.
However, our top three picks — Clever, Ideal Agent, and Redfin — are available throughout the U.S. All three offer huge savings while still providing service and support that's on par with a traditional agent.
The biggest difference is that Clever offers better rates than either Ideal Agent or Redfin. In fact, Clever has the lowest commission rates of any full-service company.[1]
How much can you save with a low commission agent?
When you sell with a low commission realtor, your actual savings will depend on your listing fee and your home’s final sale price.
Home sales are big-dollar transactions, so even a seemingly minor reduction in the total commission rate can net you significant cash savings.
For example, let’s say you were selling a $500,000 home and paying a 6% total commission — 3% to your listing agent and 3% to the buyer’s agent. You’d be on the hook for approximately $30,000 in realtor commission fees!
💰 Commission savings breakdown: Traditional vs. low commission agent
Listing agent | Total rate* | Actual cost** |
|---|---|---|
Traditional realtor | 6% | $30,000 |
1.5% commission agent | 4.5% | $22,500 |
Total savings | 1.5% | $7,500 |
*Percentage of home’s final sale price **Based on a $500,000 home | ||
But if you were selling that same $500,000 home with a low commission realtor charing 1.5% — dropping your total rate to 4.5% — the total fee drops to $22,500.
In other words, getting a 1.5% listing fee translates into $7,500 in savings!
» SAVE: List with a top local agent for just 1.5%!
How does low commission real estate work?
Low commission real estate agents and brokers help sellers realize big savings by reducing their respective portion of the total commission on the sale.
To understand how this works, you’ll need a quick crash course in real estate commissions.
📚 Real estate commissions 101 In most real estate transactions, the total commission fee — 5.37% is the national average— is typically split evenly between the two agents who handle the sale:
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Low commission savings usually come from the listing agent’s fee
When your commission is lowered — for example, from 6% → 4.5% — those savings usually come from the listing agent or broker’s portion of the total fee.
In other words, the buyer’s agent commission will typically remain the same, but the listing fee drops, resulting in a lower total commission for you, the seller.
📊 Total commission breakdown: full vs. low commission
Fee | Full | Low |
|---|---|---|
Listing agent’s fee | 3% | 1.5% |
Buyer’s agent fee | 3% | 3% |
Total | 6% | 4.5% |
Some companies and agents offer flat-fee pricing — i.e., you pay a single flat rate to your listing agent, regardless of your home’s final sale price, instead of the typical percentage-based commission structure.
Generally, flat-fee companies offer huge potential savings if you’ve got a pricier home. However, if your home sells below a certain threshold, you may end up paying more than you would with a traditional realtor.
» LEARN: Flat-fee vs. Percentage-Based Commissions — What’s Best for You?
Why does the buyer’s agent’s rate stay the same?
It’s important to offer a competitive buyer’s agent commission rate to help your home sell faster and for more money.
The buyer’s agent fee is essentially a marketing expense. It incentivizes agents to show your home to their clients.
Other sellers in your area are offering competitive rates. If you offer 1% but the similar house listed up the street is offering 2.7%, chances are an agent is going to encourage their clients to pursue that home over yours.
Low commission agents will almost always encourage you to offer a full, competitive buyer’s agent rate because they know not doing so will make selling your home much more difficult.
» MORE: What You Need to Know About Buyer's Agent Commission
How to get a lower commission rate
There are two primary ways to get a lower commission rate:
- Try to negotiate a lower rate with a traditional realtor yourself
- Hire a low commission real estate company with built-in savings
How to negotiate a low commission rate yourself
According to one study, the median income for an agent in the United States as of 2020 was $49,040 — generated almost exclusively through commission.[2]
If you’re looking to get a lower commission rate with a traditional agent, negotiating yourself is a viable option and absolutely worth trying.
But understand that, as an individual seller, your negotiating power is relatively limited. Make sure you’re going in with realistic expectations.
Here are a few things you should know before initiating the conversation.
⛔️ Some agents may be unwilling — or unable — to lower their fee
Most agents will only offer slight reductions, while others may be unwilling (or unable) to negotiate at all.
Agents have a lot of expenses to cover and typically split a hefty portion of their fee with their brokerage. If the agent drops their rate too much, they risk losing money on the deal.
Additionally, some agents — particularly newer ones — won’t actually have control over their rate. Their brokerage may dictate the pricing structure, so they couldn’t cut you a break even if they wanted to.
💪 Some situations give you more negotiating leverage
When it comes to getting lower commission fees, the specifics surrounding your sale ultimately determine your negotiating power. There are a few situations that might make it easier to get a rate reduction:
- You’re selling a high-value home
- There’s a ton of buyer demand for homes in your area
- You’ve already got a buyer lined up
- Not many people in your area are selling homes right now
🤝 Other ways to sweeten the deal
Agents may also be willing to lower their commission rate for you if it will ultimately net them more money overall. This might happen if:
- You agree to sell and buy with that same agent
- The agent is representing both you and the buyer (i.e., dual agency)
- You connect the agent with family or friends who are ready to sell or buy
⚠️ Negotiating a lower commission yourself can be risky!
Keep in mind that if you do manage to talk your agent into taking less, you could expose yourself to risks or tradeoffs.
Some agents may reduce their service scope to offset the savings — or possibly even prioritize their other full-commission clients over you.
It usually makes more sense to work with a company that negotiates low commission rates for you. This option isn’t just easier. It also typically offers better savings and less risk.
» MORE: The Complete Guide to Negotiating Realtor Commission
Should you hire a low commission real estate company?
Low commission real estate companies are brokerages and services offering built-in listing fee savings for home sellers.
Every company is unique and savings can vary considerably by brand. For example, some offer low commission percentages; some offer set flat rates; and others offer a combination of the two, depending on the home’s sale price.
The three main types of companies that offer low commission rates are:
- Agent matching services
- Discount real estate brokers
- Limited-service real estate brokers
One of these options is far less risky than the other two, as we’ll explain below.
Agent matching services offer built-in savings and fewer drawbacks
🔑 Best for sellers who…
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Agent matching services — also known as referral services — do exactly what the name suggests:
They plug you into their network of pre-vetted realtors, aiming to match you with the best possible fit based on your specific goals and preferences. Some agent matching services, like Clever Real Estate, also pre-negotiate low commission rates on your behalf.
But why would a top agent from a major brokerage like Keller Williams or Coldwell Banker be willing to offer the same, full service for less than their typical rate? Because agent matching services send them a steady stream of new prospective customers at zero upfront cost.
This helps the agent grow their business and save on the typical time and cost they put into finding new clients. They're then willing to pass those savings on to you, the seller, as a low commission fee.
The agents also understand that if they don’t provide stellar service, their agent matching partner will stop sending them referrals. In other words, this option creates less service risks than other low commission options like discount brokers and limited-service agents.
Most discount real estate brokers trade customer service for savings
🔑 Best for sellers who…
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Discount real estate brokers like Redfin, Trelora, and Redefy offer big potential commission savings. But the catch is typically less dedicated service and support throughout your sale, which can lead to a negative experience or subpar outcome.
Every discount broker has its own special formula to create savings, but most look to offset their reduced rates by handling a higher number of customers with a smaller team, relative to a more conventional brokerage.
Many try to compensate by relying heavily on technology to manage communications and back-office teams to handle different aspects of the sale. Unfortunately, this sometimes causes more problems than it solves.
Overextended agents have less time to spend focusing on your sale, which could make it more difficult or stressful to sell your home.
The fact is, home sales are complex, high-stakes transactions. Without the dedicated attention and support of an experienced professional, chances are you’re going to come away with a less-than-optimal outcome.
» READ: Discount Real Estate Brokers: Who's the BEST?
Limited-service agents are cheap — but you get what you pay for
🔑 Best for sellers who…
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Some agents charge low commissions or flat fees for a limited set of services. Others may offer a la carte pricing options, where you can pick and pay for only the services you want.
Many of these companies are very cheap, charging flat rates ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars. But keep in mind that you’re not necessarily getting much in return for that fee — and you’re typically on the hook for it whether your home sells or not!
Unless you’re highly experienced with both real estate and negotiating, working with a limited-service agent will likely result in you coming away with less than you’d net on an agent-assisted sale. And that hit on price may actually outweigh the potential commission savings!
» READ: Limited-Service Agents vs. Traditional Realtors
More ways to save on realtor commission fees
For sale by owner (FSBO)
When you sell your house FSBO it means you’re handling the entire process yourself, with no help from an agent whatsoever.
The potential savings are significant. You’re not just getting a low commission rate — ideally, you’re avoiding commission entirely (or at least your listing agent’s fee).
Unfortunately, FSBO sales are often easier said than done. Most experts agree that the many drawbacks typically outweigh the potential benefits.
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
You’ll pay no listing commission at all, which could save you up to 3% | You’ll likely still have to offer a 2.5-3% buyer’s agent fee |
Total freedom on pricing, staging, showings, and closing | Selling a home is a huge commitment in terms of time and effort |
Zero external pressure — wait as long as you’d like for the right offer | Most FSBO homes sell for less — and many fail to sell at all |
When does it make sense?
- You have a ton of real estate and negotiating experience
- You’re on a highly flexible selling timeline
- You’re confident the commission savings will outweigh the potential price hit
» MORE: How to Sell Your House For Sale By Owner
Flat-fee MLS service
A flat-fee MLS service is a bare-bones listing service that will get your home on the local MLS and other popular real estate sites for a small flat fee. Pricing is usually in the range of $99-299.
While some companies offer upgraded packages, like help with marketing or closing, most flat-fee MLS services only get your home on the MLS. You'll manage every other aspect of the sale entirely
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Low cost — you’ll likely pay hundreds instead of thousands | You’ll still have to handle most of the sale process yourself |
You get far more visibility with an MLS listing | You’re on the hook for that fee whether your home sells or not |
More flexibility to choose and pay for only the services you need | Agents may avoid your home if they see you’re not listing with a legit agent |
When does it make sense?
- You can handle the bulk of the sale but just want a visibility boost
- You have a highly desirable home that will likely sell itself
- You’re comfortable paying an upfront fee with no guarantee of results
» MORE: What Is a Flat-Fee MLS Service?
We Buy Houses for Cash companies
You’ve probably seen “We Buy Houses for Cash” signs around your neighborhood or gotten flyers in the mail. These are companies and investors who are typically willing to purchase any home, regardless of its condition or location, for cash.
Keep in mind that most of these investors are looking to fix the home up and resell it quickly for a profit, so they need to pay as little as possible to ensure a decent margin on the resale. Don’t be surprised if the offer is up to 40-50% below its fair market value.
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Will buy any home, regardless of its condition or location | Will likely take a big hit on price |
Agents typically aren’t involved, which means you avoid commission fees | Many of these companies are legit, but there are scammers out there |
Typically pay cash, which makes the process faster | If you decline the offer, some buyers will continue to text/call you for months or years |
When does it make sense?
- Selling fast is more important than getting the best price
- You’re unable or unwilling to fix your house up before listing
- You simply don’t want to deal with the hassle of selling on the open market
» MORE: We Buy Houses for Cash Companies: an Honest Guide
FAQs about low commission real estate agents
When you sell with a low commission real estate company, you can potentially save tens of thousands of dollars. Your actual savings depend on your home price and your agent's fee. As an example, selling a $500,000 house with a 1.5% commission realtor would cost $7,500 less than working with a listing agent who charges the typical 3% rate.
Yes, the best low commission real estate agents offer all the service and support of a traditional realtor at a fraction of the typical price. That said, some discount brands offset their savings by cutting services, which could make it harder to sell your home for top dollar. See which low-fee brokerages are worth it — and which ones you should avoid.
Related links
Clever Real Estate. "The Best Low Commission Real Estate Brokers."
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2020."