Top 4.5% commission brands | How a 4.5% commission works | How much can I save? | FAQ
A 4.5% real estate commission is when your agent charges 4.5% of the sale price to sell your home. Most realtors charge 5–6%, so selling your home for a 4.5% commission rate could save you thousands of dollars.
For instance, if you sell a $350,000 home at a 4.5% commission rate, you could save more than $5,250 in realtor fees! Below, we'll review the best 4.5% commission real estate brokerages and provide tips about the best ways to choose a discount realtor.
But keep in mind that in today's market, it's not hard to find a company that offers a 4.5% real estate commission. In fact, many of the top brands offer rates of 4.5% (or less) along with full service and support from an agent.
⚡ Just looking for agents with discounted commission rates near you? Use our free agent matching tool to find a top agent in your area, and get a pre-negotiated listing fee of just 1.5%. Compare agents from the best discount brokerages, plus major brands like Keller Williams and RE/MAX who offer lower rates through our network.
The best companies that offer a 4.5% commission (or less!)
| Brand | Listing fee | Locations |
|---|---|---|
| 🥇 Clever Real Estate | 1.5% (min. $3,000) | Nationwide |
| 🥈 Redfin | 1.5% (min. fees vary) | Nationwide (select markets) |
| 🥉 SimpleShowing | 1% (min. fees vary) | FL, GA, TX |
| 4. Ideal Agent | 2% (min. $3,000) | Nationwide |
| 5. Prevu | 1.5% (min. fees vary) | CA, CO, CT, MA, NY, PA, TX, WA |
1. Clever Real Estate
Listing Fee
Buyer Savings
Editor's Take
Pros & cons
Reviews
Locations
Clever Real Estate is the best option for most sellers looking for an agent. The company matches you with multiple experienced, full-service agents so you can find the right fit, and it offers a low 1.5% listing fee no matter which agent you choose.
Unlike most companies on this list, Clever Real Estate isn't a discount real estate brokerage. We're a free agent matching service that negotiates 1.5% listing fees with the agents in our network.
Our goal is to make it fast and easy to find the best agent for your sale. You tell us what you're looking for, and we handpick top local realtors who are a good fit. It takes only a few minutes to sign up and start getting matches.
We help you compare your options, set up interviews, and choose who to hire. If you don't like the agents we match you with, you can request more — or simply walk away.
You get a 1.5% listing fee no matter who you choose, so you don't have to worry about the price tag. Instead, you can focus on finding an agent with the experience, track record, and personality you're looking for.
Find top-rated agents from local brokerages and get a pre-negotiated 1.5% listing fee.
Clever's service is 100% free, with zero obligation. Interview as many agents as you like until you find the perfect fit — or walk away at any time.
2. Redfin
Listing Fee
Buyer Savings
Editor's Take
Pros & cons
Reviews
Locations
Redfin is a reputable discount real estate brokerage that offers significant savings, particularly if you buy and sell with the brokerage. But watch out for high minimum fees, which vary by market and can be high in some areas. Redfin's agents also work with a lot of clients, and they don’t always have time to provide as much hands-on service as you may need.
Read the full Redfin review.
Redfin is a national discount brokerage with in-house agents who charge 1.5% commission for full-service listings.
Redfin sellers typically pay 4-4.5% in total commission when they offer a competitive buyer's agent fee. But, when you both sell and buy with Redfin, the company lowers the listing fee to 1%, bringing your total commission rate to 3.5-4%.
Working with Redfin vs. a traditional realtor can save you thousands of dollars, but you should be aware of the trade-offs. To make up for the reduced commissions, Redfin agents handle many more transactions than a traditional realtor each year. This extra volume could limit the agent's ability to provide dedicated support throughout your sale.
3. SimpleShowing
Listing Fee
Buyer Savings
Editor's take
Pros & cons
Reviews
Locations
SimpleShowing offers significant savings, especially for sellers whose properties sell for more than $500,000. Its agents and customer service are also excellent. However, high minimum fees mean properties worth under $500,000 won’t enjoy maximum savings. Plus, you’ll get limited ability to choose your real estate agent thanks to the company’s small team size.
Read the full SimpleShowing review.
SimpleShowing is a discount brokerage offering 1% listing fees for a total commission of 3.5-4%.
SimpleShowing is a relatively small brokerage operating in select markets in Florida, Georgia, and Texas. It offers genuine savings, but you might have a hard time finding an agent that's a good fit thanks to their limited number of agents. If you do, you may still have to sacrifice some hands-on support throughout the sale. SimpleShowing agents handle 20–25 transactions each year — nearly double the volume of a traditional realtor.
4. Ideal Agent
Listing Fee
Buyer Savings
Editor's Take
Pros & cons
Reviews
Locations
Ideal Agent is a solid option if you’re looking for a top agent. The company vets its realtors thoroughly, so you’ll likely get a quality agent. But you won't save as much on realtor fees as you could with other companies.
Read the full Ideal Agent review.
Ideal Agent is a discount real estate brokerage that offers a 2% listing fee. The company is known for matching home buyers and sellers with high-quality agents, and it's highly rated by customers.
Ideal Agent has strict criteria for its agent network. It only chooses agents who are in the top 1% of producers in their markets. However, this exclusivity has some drawbacks.
Ideal Agent's network is small compared to other discount brokerages. While some companies, like Clever, send you multiple agents, Ideal Agent matches you with only one. You might have a harder time finding the right fit, especially in small or rural markets.
Also, Ideal Agent's commission rate isn't as competitive as other discount brokers'. If you want the best deal, look for companies with a 1% or 1.5% rate.
» MORE: How to Choose a Realtor to Sell Your Home
5. Prevu
Listing Fee
Buyer Savings
Editor's Take
Pros & cons
Reviews
Locations
Prevu is a solid option if you're buying an expensive property. You can receive up to 1% of the home's purchase price as a rebate; the full 1% is only available on properties over $1.25 million. Sellers will pay a 1.5% listing fee (about half the traditional rate). But watch out for minimum fees that vary by market and can be high, limiting your actual savings.
Read the full Prevu review.
Prevu offers home sellers full-service support for a 1.5% listing fee. But the company has high minimum fees that could leave you paying a much higher effective commission rate if your home is less expensive.
However, if you do qualify for a 1.5% rate, you'll only pay 4-4.5% total commission when you offer a competitive buyer's agent commission. For sellers with high-value properties in one of its markets, Prevu offers great savings. But everyone else can find more value from other discount brokerages.
What's the average real estate commission?
Average real estate commission rates vary by market, but in most places, you pay 5–6% of your home's final sale price to the listing agent and buyer's agent. However, situational factors may lead to a higher or lower real estate commission.
"My team usually asks for compensation in the range between 5% and 6% of the sales price," says realtor Cynthia Cummins, who has three decades of experience in real estate. "Yet, it's important to note that commissions are always negotiable and there's no set fee."
Cummins notes that many factors can influence her actual commission rate. "I almost always offer a lower rate for repeat and past clients," she says, "whereas I'll ask for a larger commission when a listing promises to be particularly complicated ([like] … hard-to-sell properties [and] tenant-occupied properties)."
"Every home listing is different," says Ken Sisson, an associate real estate broker with Coldwell Banker in Los Angeles. "I may choose to lower my commissions if I feel a property is going to be easier to sell. Conversely, I probably wouldn’t lower my commissions on a home I feel is going to require more resources and expense to get it sold."
How much can I save with a 4.5% commission rate?
Reducing your total commission to 4.5% could save you thousands of dollars on realtor fees compared to the typical 6% realtor fee. For example, on a $400,000 home, you'd save as much as $6,000 in realtor fees.
Here's a breakdown of how much you can expect to save based on your home price.
» MORE: How to find the best low commission realtors
How does a 4.5% real estate commission work?
A 4.5% real estate commission typically comes from working with an agent or brokerage that charges a 1.5% listing fee, compared to the traditional 2.5–3% commission that most agents charge.
In most real estate transactions, the commission is taken out of the home seller’s proceeds and split between the two real estate agents involved in the sale:
- The listing agent, who advertises the property for the seller
- And the buyer's agent, who brings their client to purchase the property
In a conventional transaction with a 6% fee, each agent collects 3% of the home's sale price.
Agents offer a reduced commission to help them attract more sellers in a competitive market. When shopping for a real estate agent, choose one who won't cut corners on service in exchange for a lower rate.
Why pay more in commission fees for less service? Clever offers you bigger savings without sacrificing the service you expect from a traditional realtor.
With Clever:
✅ You'll only pay 1.5% to list your home
✅ You'll work with a full-service realtor from a top broker
✅ It's free, with zero obligation — you can walk away at any time
Saving on realtor fees doesn't have to mean sacrificing service. Find a top local agent today!
Why does the buyer's agent fee stay the same?
As a seller, you may still choose to offer a competitive buyer’s agent commission (typically around 2.5–3%, depending on your market).
Although recent changes resulting from the NAR settlement make the buyer’s agent fee negotiable between the buyer and their agent, buyers may still negotiate for you to cover part or all of the cost. If you choose not to pay a buyer’s agent commission, it could make your property harder to sell.
» MORE: Do sellers pay buyer's agent commission?
Will the NAR lawsuit change how real estate commission works?
After losing a lawsuit over their practices in 2024, the National Association of Realtors agreed to change how real estate professionals do business.
As of August 2024, buyer's agents are required to sign an "agency agreement" before providing services to a buyer. This agreement has to specify what services the agent will provide, and how much they will get paid.
Real estate agents are no longer allowed to split commissions with one another. In the past, it was common for a listing agent to collect a 6% fee from the seller, and then split this fee with a buyer's agent who brought a buyer. Going forward, buyer's agents will have to negotiate their fee directly with the buyer they represent.
Learn more about how the real estate commission changes will impact buyers and sellers.
Other ways to get a 4.5% real estate commission
Aside from selling with a low commission real estate agent, there are a few other ways to lower your total real estate commission to 4.5%, such as looking into a 2% commission realtor. You can also try to negotiate a lower fee with your agent, or you can hire a limited-service real estate agent.
Negotiate a lower commission with your listing agent
It's possible to talk a traditional realtor into a lower commission, but getting them to cut their fee in half will be tough.
Agents pay for a lot of expenses out of their own pockets when they list a home — plus, they split their commission with their broker. If they lower their listing fee from 3% to 1.5%, they could actually lose money on the sale.
That's a risk many aren't willing to take. Still, you could have a shot at negotiating a lower commission if you check one or more of these boxes:
- You're selling an expensive home
- Your area has high buyer demand
- There's a lot of competition among agents in your area
- You agree to buy and sell with the same agent or brokerage
Hire a limited-service real estate agent
Some listing agents charge a 1-2% commission but offer fewer services and less support to their clients.
Many limited-service agents use an a la carte pricing structure. Instead of paying for an all-or-nothing listing package, a la carte pricing lets you pick and pay for only the services you want the agent to handle — you'll take care of everything else.
Experienced sellers who are comfortable managing portions of their own sale could save a lot of money by taking this route, sometimes paying even less than 1% commission to their listing agent.
But keep in mind that you'll have to invest a lot more time and energy into the sale than you would if you hired a full-service realtor.
👉 Jump back to the best 4.5% commission companies
Alternatives to paying a 4.5% real estate commission
You don't have to use a real estate agent to sell your home. There are several options that offer more control, convenience, or speed compared to a traditional realtor — but each option comes with its own trade-offs.
Best savings | Most flexible | Most convenient | Fastest way to sell
Best commission savings: For sale by owner (FSBO)
You can handle the entire process yourself (and avoid any listing fees) by selling your home for FSBO.
You might choose FSBO if:
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FSBO isn't for you if:
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» MORE: How to sell your house for sale by owner
Most flexible option: Flat fee MLS companies
Flat fee MLS companies list your home on the multiple listing service (MLS) — an agent-only local listings database — for a low fee.
You might choose a flat fee MLS company if:
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Flat fee MLS companies aren't for you if:
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» MORE: The best flat fee MLS listing services
Most convenient choice: iBuyers
iBuyers, like Opendoor and Zillow Offers, use technology to make all-cash offers on homes within specific markets.
You might choose an iBuyer if:
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iBuyers aren't for you if:
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» MORE: What is an iBuyer?
Fastest way to sell: 'We buy houses for cash' companies
"We buy houses for cash" companies make all-cash offers on nearly any home, no matter its condition.
You might choose a "we buy houses for cash" company if:
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"We buy houses for cash" companies aren't for you if:
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» MORE: Everything you need to know about "we buy houses for cash" companies
FAQ about 4.5% real estate commission
How much can you save with a 4.5% commission realtor?
You can save thousands of dollars on real estate commissions by working with a 4.5% commission realtor. The exact amount will depend on the price of your home.
Traditional real estate commissions are generally around 5–6% of the final sale price of your home — so you'll save around 0.5–1.5% by working with a 4.5% commission realtor.
This can translate to big savings, especially if you're selling an expensive home. For example, on a $500,000 home, you'd save around $7,500 with a 4.5% commission realtor. Find the best 4.5% commission brokerages near you!
What are the best 4.5% commission real estate brokers?
Our top picks among 4.5% commission real estate brokerages are Clever Real Estate and Redfin. Both are nationwide companies that provide the best combination of low rates, hands-on service, agent selection, and overall value for sellers. Other regional brokerages, such as SimpleShowing or Reali, may be a good choice for sellers in those specific areas, but they offer a more limited selection of agents.
Can you negotiate real estate commission?
You can always technically negotiate real estate commissions, but it can be difficult to talk a traditional realtor into reducing their fee. If you're selling an expensive home in a high-demand area, or if you're willing to buy and sell with the same brokerage, you may be able to convince your realtor to lower their fee. For most sellers, though, the best way to save on realtor fees is by working with a low commission brokerage.
What percentage do most realtors charge?
Most realtors charge 2.5–3% in real estate commissions. Sellers are responsible for paying a commission to two agents: the listing agent and the buyer's agent. In most traditional transactions, this will bring your total commission to 5–6%. But there are many discount brokerages that offer lower commission rates to sellers. Learn how to save on realtor fees without sacrificing hands-on service!
