Houwzer charges 1% to list your home. On a $500,000 sale that's $5,000, where a traditional agent would charge $12,500 to $15,000. It's cheaper than the national average listing fee of 2.76% and cheaper than Clever's 1.5%.
It's also not the only name on the door anymore: Houwzer bought Trelora in 2022 and now calls it a sister brokerage. Both charge 1%.[1] Go to Houwzer's Georgia or Arizona page and you'll find Trelora's branding and Trelora's agents.
Houwzer averages 4.9/5 across 1,161 reviews, one of the strongest records of any brokerage we track. Most of those come from Zillow, where sellers rate the agent they worked with rather than the company itself. So the score is really a verdict on Houwzer's agents, which is a fair basis for judging a brokerage.
Houwzer highlights
- What it is: A low-commission brokerage founded in Philadelphia in 2015, now operating alongside Trelora under shared ownership. Operates in 18 states and Washington D.C.
- What you'll pay: A 1% listing fee for full service with a $3,000 minimum.
- Best for: Sellers above roughly $300,000 in a market Houwzer actually covers, who don't need to choose among several agents.
- The biggest issue: You're assigned an agent rather than choosing one, and the reviews suggest your success depends heavily on which one you get.
- The rating: 4.9/5 across 1,161 online reviews, compared with 4.9/5 across 5,036 for Clever Real Estate
Houwzer reviews: What real customers say
Houwzer reviews are strongly positive on every platform we pulled from. The company averages 4.9/5 across 1,161 reviews, and its lowest score anywhere is on Yelp.
Aggregate reviews
Ratings and review counts from trusted review platforms across the web.
| Review source | Rating | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 1,161 | |
| 280 | ||
| Yelp | 50 | |
| Zillow | 831 |
Theme breakdown
Click on a theme to see what reviewers said.
Reviewers describe their agent as skilled, professional, and a step above.
Sample reviews
“We would not have purchased our home without the herculean efforts of chad eason with Houwzer. Another offer was accepted ahead of us, but chad encouraged us to make an offer just to show our interest.” View on Google
“My wife and I worked with chad eason over a period of almost 10 months. Chad is an amazingly reliable and capable realtor; not to mention, a great guy! He helped us find the perfect home in center city, philadelphia.” View on Google
“Jorge santana was a great real estate agent. Very helpful and good suggestions. Helped us thru negotiations with buyers. During covid it was tough to show the house and keep a feeling of safety but jorge gave us great tips and guidance thru a difficult time. Would recommend jorge in a heart beat.” View on Google
Reviewers highlight responsive, helpful support throughout the sale.
Sample reviews
“I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude for the outstanding service I received from my realtor, mike de fiore throughout the entire buying and selling process.<br><br>from the very beginning, mike demonstrated exceptional professionalism.” View on Google
“We were so pleased with the level of service that we received thru Houwzer during the sale of our house. From start to finish, our agent jeannie bryers was on top of every detail. . She responded quickly to any questions we had and always had our best interests in mind.” View on Google
“Exceptional service both from howard (who helped us selling our house in kop), and jason/danielle (who helped us buying our new home in west chester). High level of responsiveness, and knowledge of the market. Always having their clients interest at heart.” View on Google
Reviewers describe prompt responses and proactive updates at each stage.
Sample reviews
“Allison dubovsky was the best. She was extremely knowledgeable, patient, and clearly knows exactly what she is doing. She went above and beyond doing multiple things to make the sale happened that frankly the seller's agent should have been doing.” View on Google
“My wife and I were looking for our first house. My friend, who just bought his own first house, recommended Houwzer and more specifically jason matthews as an agent. Best decision I ever made. Every step of the way was made painless and easy.” View on Google
“Trish was amazing. I was a first-time home seller and cautious about using a new company like Houwzer, worried that traditional agents might avoid my listing or that I'd get generic service. Trish was an ideal blend of responsive and efficient.” View on Google
Reviewers describe an easy, low-stress experience from first contact to closing.
Sample reviews
“Love chris johnson and his team! They sold our house in three days for over asking price. Super supportive and responsive. Made the whole process a breeze. Will never use another real estate company again!! Thank you!” View on Google
“I had to move to the west coast from philadelphia and I put my house up for sale with Houwzer. First, they are a great value compared to the traditional realtor pricing model.” View on Google
“I have bought and sold real estate using a number of realtors but I can honestly say Houwzer was by far the best experience. I sold a home in philadelphia and despite their pricing structure that benefited me as the seller, jorge was there each step of the way making sure everything went smoothly.” View on Google
Reviewers point to strong local market knowledge and pricing guidance.
Sample reviews
“It was a pleasure working with jorge and michael of the philadelphia team to buy and sell our home. They were personable, professional and incredibly knowledgeable of the real estate market in the philadelphia area.” View on Google
“Houwzer was a great company to work with as first-time homebuyers. My wife and I worked with emily franklin, who quickly impressed us with her knowledge and friendliness, filling us in on what we needed to know as first-time buyers.” View on Google
“Our experience with Houwzer was great! We were referred by my parents who had recently sold their home through Houwzer. Jennifer welwood is an amazing realtor! My husband and I recently purchased our first home and jennifer was our realtor. I would recommend her to anyone and everyone!” View on Google
Reviewers felt they got full-service support, not a stripped-down experience.
Sample reviews
“At first, I was hesitant to sign up with Houwzer; you know the saying: ‘too good to be true’. But I was impressed with their representative trish, so I took the leap. And I am so glad that I did!” View on Google
“I had to move to the west coast from philadelphia and I put my house up for sale with Houwzer. First, they are a great value compared to the traditional realtor pricing model.” View on Google
“Great experience! Trish was very responsive, great marketing and they perform every service any other realtor does, but the cost savings is fantastic!! Makes no sense to use a realtor charging 6% when houwser charges $2,500 to list and 3% for buyers agent! Smartest decision we’ve made!!” View on Google
Reviewers describe honest, transparent dealings they felt they could trust.
Sample reviews
“I had the absolute pleasure of working with mr. Gerald searles prior to hiring him as my realtor. It was one of the best major decisions I made and I’m all the better for it.” View on Google
“I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude for the outstanding service I received from my realtor, mike de fiore throughout the entire buying and selling process.<br><br>from the very beginning, mike demonstrated exceptional professionalism.” View on Google
“At every juncture ross knew exactly what to do and how to respond. He always had our best interests in mind. We would not hesitate to recommend him to others.” View on Google
Reviewers appreciated an approach that flexed around their needs.
Sample reviews
“My wife and I were looking for our first house. My friend, who just bought his own first house, recommended Houwzer and more specifically jason matthews as an agent. Best decision I ever made. Every step of the way was made painless and easy.” View on Google
“Allison dubovsky was the best. She was extremely knowledgeable, patient, and clearly knows exactly what she is doing. She went above and beyond doing multiple things to make the sale happened that frankly the seller's agent should have been doing.” View on Google
“Everyone here was a total joy to work with. As a first time home buyer I was pretty antsy, and every bit of advice and guidance my agent (thanks, anabel!) gave totally helped me feel like I was in the drivers seat.” View on Google
Critical reviews cite slow responses or feeling out of the loop.
Sample reviews
“I sold my house recently and the buyer used Houwzer for the entire process (realtor/title company/brokerage). Everything seemed fine until it was time for closing.” View on Google
“Contacted Houwzer real estate about a true flat fee listing, different than what they advertise for for sale by owner seller.” View on Google
“Houwzer’s title company is slow with response. The closer was late to closing and rude during the closing process. They were inefficient with the process. He told us we would be done in 30 minutes.” View on Google
Critical reviews cite an agent who did the bare minimum or fell short.
Sample reviews
“The entire transaction from start to finish was horrific. The agent that was assigned to us did not represent us at all. Every concern was met with a response of you can cancel this transaction at anytime. The agent was rude and arrogant every time we spoke.” View on Google
“Fred altieri is unprofessional. Nobody's begging you anything free. You're getting a commission but he lack quality. His communication was poor, didn't respond to important questions, waited until very last hour to send closing disclosure with fees. He also didn't explain the offer.” View on Google
“I tried twice to list with Houwzer. Both agents were adamant that my house was worth only $379,000 and flat out refused to list it any higher even during the greatest real estate boom in american history. They didn't even come to the house and look at it.” View on Google
Sentiment analysis summary
Across 1,161 verified reviews, our analysis found eight recurring positive themes and two recurring complaints. Praise centers on agent quality, mentioned in 78% of reviews, followed by customer service at 72% and communication at 58%. The complaints are narrow: communication gaps and agent letdowns each appear in 5% of reviews. Those themes sit alongside a 4.9/5 average built mostly from Zillow, where reviewers rate the individual agent rather than the brokerage.
Houwzer fees: What you'll pay
Houwzer charges 1% to list your home and says the typical seller saves more than $15,000 compared to a traditional 6% agent.[2]
Below $300,000, the minimum ($3,000) takes over, and your effective rate climbs above 1%. At $200,000, it reaches 1.5%, which is the same rate Clever charges.
| Home price | Houwzer | Effective rate | Clever 1.5% | Traditional 3% | You save |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $200,000 | $3,000 | 1.50% | $3,000 | $6,000 | $3,000 |
| $300,000 | $3,000 | 1.00% | $4,500 | $9,000 | $6,000 |
| $500,000 | $5,000 | 1.00% | $7,500 | $15,000 | $10,000 |
| $750,000 | $7,500 | 1.00% | $11,250 | $22,500 | $15,000 |
Two other things to know:
- The buyer's agent commission is separate from Houwzer's fee. Houwzer recommends budgeting 2% to 3% if you choose to offer one, which most sellers still do even after the NAR settlement. That puts your total around 3% to 4%.
- Buyers get 1% back. Houwzer advertises a 1% buyer rebate, which on a $500,000 purchase is $5,000 and well ahead of Redfin's 0.25%. The company says the amount varies by state and county, and that some lenders restrict how it can be used, so confirm yours before you count on it.[3]
Pro tip: Ask for the minimum commission in writing before you sign, since it isn't published. If your home is under $300,000, price a flat-fee option and a 1% commission company with published pricing against it, because at that level Houwzer's advertised rate isn't what you'll pay.
How Houwzer works
Houwzer is a flat-fee real estate brokerage with licensed agents who can help you buy or sell a home. But, unlike many big-name real estate companies (think Century 21 and Keller Williams), Houwzer is a discount broker.
Simply put, this means:
- Houwzer offers potential real estate commission savings compared with using a traditional real estate agent
- Those savings may come at the expense of service quality and personalized support
In Houwzer's case, the company offsets its low fees by requiring its agents to manage about three times as many customers as a typical realtor.
This approach works well for many sellers, but whenever a company cuts costs by asking its employees to do more than the competition, there's a greater risk of mistakes, delays, and other problems that could complicate your sale. Additionally, some Houwzer complaints warn that the company's salary and bonus structure may incentivize some agents to underprice homes.
Houwzer agents earn bonuses based on the number of houses they sell — and some unhappy customers say they felt pressured to sell for less than their home's true value.
Three questions to ask Houwzer
- Which brand am I signing with? Ask whether your listing agreement will be with Houwzer or Trelora, and look up reviews for whichever one it is.
- What is the minimum commission? It isn't on their site. Get the number in writing before the listing agreement.
- Is my market covered by Houwzer? The latest website update shows coverage of 18 states plus Washington D.C., but confirm for your specific address.
Houwzer makes the most sense if you're selling above $300,000 in a market it covers directly, and you're comfortable with the agent you're assigned. If your home is cheaper than that, or you want to interview several agents before committing, the 1% rate is doing less work than it appears to.
Houwzer vs. alternatives
Above $300,000, Houwzer is the cheapest of the low commission companies in the table, and on a $500,000 sale, it saves $2,500 against Clever. At $200,000, the two cost the same, and below that, Clever is cheaper.
What you give up at 1% is choice. Houwzer assigns you an agent from its own roster, and that roster now spans two brands. Clever charges half a point more and matches you with several vetted agents from established brokerages, which matters more here than it would at a nationwide company, because Houwzer's coverage is so thin that, in many markets, it has one team or none.
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.
Does Houwzer offer a home buyer rebate?
Yes. Houwzer now offers a home buyer rebate, giving you 1% cash back at closing. This rebate is available to buyers who sign a buyer agency agreement with Houwzer and complete a purchase using a Houwzer agent.
How it works:
- Buyer agent commission is typically up to 3% of the sale price.
- Houwzer gives you back 1% of what they collect at closing.
- You’ll receive cash back to use toward your closing costs or other expenses.
Example: On a $500,000 home, if the seller offers a 3% buyer’s agent fee ($15,000), Houwzer would rebate $5,000 back to you.
There are a few things to keep in mind:
- You must work with a Houwzer agent and sign a buyer agency agreement.
- Your lender must allow commission rebates (most do, but check in advance).
- You’ll only get the rebate if the seller offers a commission to Houwzer.
How it compares to other discount brokers
Houwzer’s buyer rebate is competitive — especially if you’re purchasing a higher-priced home. Some brokerages require you to both buy and sell with them to unlock savings.
When you buy with Clever, you may qualify for cash back after closing and be matched with a top-performing local agent. There’s no minimum price or dual-transaction requirement — and you get full-service support.
Bottom line: Is Houwzer right for you?
Pros
- 1% listing fee, the lowest of any company in our comparison
- 1% buyer rebate if you're also buying
- Salaried agents, so nobody's commission depends on how your sale goes
Cons
- A $3,000 minimum means anything under $300,000 costs you more than the advertised 1%
- It isn't an option in most of the country
- You're assigned an agent rather than choosing among several
- The buyer rebate varies by state and county, and some lenders restrict how it can be used
Houwzer is worth it if you're selling a home above $300,000 in one of its established markets, and the minimum commission comes back low when you ask. At 1% it's the cheapest full-service listing in the comparison above, it has a decade of operating history, and the customer reviews are genuinely strong.
The important thing to remember is that there’s no obligation to move forward or commit when you’re interviewing different real estate agents or services. By shopping around and comparing rates, experience, and personalities to find the best fit, you have absolutely nothing to lose and everything to gain.
FAQ
Is Houwzer still in business?
Yes. Houwzer launched in Philadelphia in 2015, marked its tenth anniversary in March 2025, and its site was last updated in June 2026. It acquired competitor Trelora in December 2022 and the two now operate together.
Is Houwzer Real Estate legitimate?
Yes, Houwzer is a licensed real estate brokerage in each of the locations where it operates. Houwzer reviews online are generally positive. That said, it's worth considering all your options before you pick a realtor. Many companies offer discounted realtor commission, so compare savings, service quality, and overall value to find the right fit for your sale. Check out our rankings of the top low commission companies.
Where does Houwzer operate?
Houwzer lists 18 states plus Washington, D.C.: Alabama, Arizona, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Washington.[4] Coverage is deepest in the Mid-Atlantic, where the company started.
What are the biggest Houwzer complaints?
The biggest Houwzer complaints involve agent quality and experience. Since agents earn a fixed salary instead of commission, some sellers felt their agents weren't motivated to help them negotiate the highest sale price possible. Other sellers said it was difficult to find a Houwzer agent who had much experience selling homes in their neighborhood and price range. Learn more about selling with Houwzer.
