Is Listing on Realtor.com Really Free?

Steve Nicastro's Photo
By Steve Nicastro Updated January 9, 2025

SHARE

There’s no fee to list your home on Realtor.com. Like other major real estate websites, it’s free for buyers and sellers to browse and use.

However, there’s an important caveat. Homeowners selling without an agent can't manually add For Sale by Owner (FSBO) listings to Realtor.com. Only listings submitted to the multiple listing service (MLS) appear on Realtor.com.

The exception? FSBO sellers can hire a flat fee MLS company to post their home on the MLS. These companies act as intermediaries, allowing sellers to gain MLS access without hiring a traditional agent.

Want to get your home listed on Realtor.com for free and save on commissions? Clever Real Estate connects you with top-rated local agents who provide full-service support for a pre-negotiated 1.5% listing fee. Save thousands and get expert help selling your home. Take this short quiz to get started!

Can you list your home on Realtor.com?

Realtor.com is pretty stringent, only allowing licensed real estate professionals and realtors to utilize and take advantage of their site.

These restrictions don’t come as a complete surprise since Realtor.com is the official website for the National Association of Realtors (NAR), a national organization of real estate agents and brokers that holds its members to a specific code of ethics.

With the NAR behind Realtor.com, it makes more sense why they actively promote and advocate for real estate agents and realtors, highlighting the advantages of working with an agent to sellers and buyers.

Unfortunately, Realtor.com does not permit FSBO listings if you’re selling a house without a realtor.

That said, there’s a simple workaround. FSBO sellers can add their property to the MLS by paying $100–500 to a flat fee MLS listing company. Once listed, the home will appear on Realtor.com and other major real estate websites, reaching a wide audience of potential buyers.

How does Realtor.com get listings?

Realtor.com acquires all its listings from the Multiple Listing Service (MLS). It works directly with 580 regional databases nationwide, showcasing 99% of all MLS-listed properties.[1]

Because Realtor.com only takes listings directly from MLSs, its data and property information are typically more accurate than that of other sites that glean listing information from other sources.

According to Realtor.com, most of its listings update every 15 minutes, and the rest within 24 hours, guaranteeing buyers see the latest and most up-to-date information about your home.[2]

📢 Realtor.com listing fees: What Redditors are saying

A Reddit thread highlights that Realtor.com is designed exclusively for licensed real estate agents, not FSBO sellers. Agents must be affiliated with their local MLS to access the platform. 

While basic access is free, unlocking advanced features like leads or buyer and seller contact information requires paying service-based fees, which are often time-limited.

In comparison, Zillow offers free MLS syndication for agents who enable it and generate revenue through advertising. Agents can purchase featured placements in specific zip codes, which often cost $500 or more per month, depending on the market. 

Unlike Realtor.com, Redditors say that Zillow and similar platforms are more FSBO-friendly, making them a popular choice for unrepresented sellers seeking greater visibility.

Can I just use a free FSBO listing site?

If you're selling your home, getting your listing in front of as many buyers as possible is key. But as an FSBO seller, you don’t have direct access to the MLS, making reaching a wide audience much harder. 

Free listing sites like Realtor.com, Zillow and Craigslist can help broaden your reach, but they come with limitations.

Pros

  • Free to use
  • FSBO-friendly options
  • Access large pool of buyers

Cons

  • Limited support
  • Time consuming
  • Scam risks

Pros

The biggest advantage of free listing sites is that they cost nothing. Popular platforms like Zillow, with 217 million monthly unique visitors, offer a large audience without any upfront expense.[3]

Some sites, like ForSaleByOwner.com, are specifically designed for FSBO sellers and offer additional resources and guidance. These platforms often include both free and paid options to fit your needs.

High-traffic sites like Zillow, Trulia, Facebook, and Craigslist can put your home in front of millions of potential buyers, increasing the chances of finding the right buyer quickly.

Cons

Free sites require you to handle everything yourself — pricing, photography, writing descriptions, and responding to inquiries. Marketing tools like video tours or additional photo uploads may also require upgrading to paid plans.

You must post your listing separately on each platform, which can take significant time and effort.

Platforms like Craigslist and some social media sites attract scammers, so you must stay vigilant to avoid fraudulent buyers and potential financial losses.

Why selling with professional support pays off

While free listing sites can provide some visibility, our home selling trends study also highlights the risks. FSBO sellers in 2024 earned an average profit of $128,500, a staggering $79,000 less than agent-represented sellers, who profited $207,500. 

Additionally, our study found that 47% of FSBO sellers were dissatisfied with their selling method, nearly double the rate of agent-represented sellers.

You’re much more likely to achieve your selling goals with a flat fee MLS listing service or by working with a low commission realtor like Clever. These options offer better support, access to the MLS, and higher chances of finding a qualified buyer — all while helping you save money.

Listing on Realtor.com with an agent

Most homeowners rely on real estate agents for their expertise, MLS access, and marketing support. In fact, 90% of sellers used an agent in 2024, while FSBO sales fell to a historic low of just 6%.[4]

Agents connect with qualified buyers through the MLS, automatically syndicating your listing to major sites like Zillow and Trulia and ensuring serious offers (while saving you the hassle of managing inquiries and showings.) They also handle professional photos, descriptions, and staging, if needed.  

The main drawback is the standard 5–6% real estate commission, which can reduce profits. 

However, low commission realtors like Clever Real Estate offer a smarter solution: top-rated local agents who provide full-service support for just a 1.5% listing fee—much lower than the national average rate of 2.74%. 

Ready to save thousands on commissions and sell with confidence? Take this quick quiz to connect with an expert agent today!

FAQ

How do I add a listing to Realtor.com?

Realtor.com only allows licensed real estate professionals and realtors to post listings on their website. To get your listing on their site you’ll have to work with a real estate agent who has access to your local MLS as Realtor.com pulls all MLS listings and posts them on their website. Alternatively, you can hire a flat fee MLS listing company to post your home on the MLS for you.

How are realtor fees calculated?

Realtor commissions are based on a percentage of the total sales price of your home. Traditionally, the standard commission rate is 5-6%, which is split between the seller’s agent and buyer’s agent.

For example, if your home sells for $250,000 at 6%, your commission fee will add up to $15,000. However, 6% isn’t a fixed rate. You can attempt to negotiate with your agent or work with a flat fee agent who works for a straightforward, set rate no matter how much your home sells for.

Does it cost money to list on Zillow?

It costs you nothing to list your home on Zillow, making it a great platform for FSBO sellers to expand their listing’s visibility. Granted, FSBO listings have their own section and don’t pop up in the same place as the other listings with agent representation.

Related Articles

Article Sources

Authors & Editorial History

Our experts continually research, evaluate, and monitor real estate companies and industry trends. We update our articles when new information becomes available.

Better real estate agents at a better rate

Enter your zip code to see if Clever has a partner agent in your area
If you don't love your Clever partner agent, you can request to meet with another, or shake hands and go a different direction. We offer this because we're confident you're going to love working with a Clever Partner Agent.