Low commission realtors charge a listing fee of 1% to 1.5% instead of the national average of 2.76%, and the best ones do the same work a traditional agent does. On a $400,000 home, a 1.5% fee is $6,000. The average agent would charge about $11,000. [1]
If you're thinking of hiring a low commission agent, you might be worried about two things: that a cheaper agent will mean lower effort and service, and that the low rate hides hidden fees you'll only find out about after closing. Both happen, but only with certain companies. That's why it's so important to choose the right company and agent for your sale.
Below are the fees each company charges, their minimums, where they operate, and the questions that separate a full-service low commission realtor from one who'll cut corners.
Which real estate company has the lowest commission?
Houwzer and SimpleShowing advertise the lowest headline listing fee at 1%.[2][3]
However, SimpleShowing also applies a minimum fee in some markets, so its effective rate is higher than 1% on cheaper homes. For example, a $250,000 home sale with a $5,000 minimum is an effective rate of 2%.
Here's a closer look at each low commission realtor on our list.
Clever Real Estate
Clever's pitch is full service at a pre-negotiated listing fee as low as 1.5% with a $3,000 minimum. On a $400,000 sale, that's $6,000 instead of the $12,000 you'd pay at 3%. Agents come from name-brand and top-rated local brokerages, buyers can qualify for $250 to $500 cash back, and it's available in all 50 states and D.C. Its rating is 4.9/5 across 5,106 reviews.
Clever isn't the cheapest headline rate on our list (Houwzer's 1% beats it on paper). What Clever has is the group's lowest published minimum, and that $3,000 floor is what matters most under $200,000. And, the company works with top-performing agents nationwide, so you won't have to worry about sacrificing service for cost.
Ideal Agent
Ideal Agent is worth a look if you want a vetted top producer and you're willing to pay more for it. The company negotiates a 2% listing fee, which is $8,000 on a $400,000 sale.[4] Its screening is selective, and its customer rating is the highest on this list. The downsides: You get one agent match, not a choice, and 2% is the smallest discount here. Houwzer and SimpleShowing both advertise 1%. Before you sign, ask what the minimum fee is. Ideal Agent doesn't publish one, and on a home under $200,000 a floor can quietly push your effective rate well past 2%.
Prevu
Prevu is built for buyers more than sellers. Its Smart Buyer rebate returns up to 1% of the purchase price, though the full 1% only kicks in above $1.25 million. It operates in 12 states and Washington, D.C.
It's also no longer independent. reAlpha Tech Corp. acquired Prevu in November 2025, and Prevu's brokerage entities now run as reAlpha affiliates alongside reAlpha Realty.[5][6] Prevu does not currently publish a seller-side listing fee, so confirm your rate in writing before you list. Acquisitions frequently change fee structures before marketing pages catch up.
Houwzer
Houwzer offers the lowest straightforward rate here: a flat 1% listing fee with no published minimum, which is $4,000 on a $400,000 sale. It operates in 18 states and Washington, D.C.[7] The tradeoff is network size. Houwzer employs roughly 51-200 agents in total, so even within its service area, you may not find an agent who works your specific market closely enough to price it accurately.
SimpleShowing
SimpleShowing charges 1%, but its site says the fee may be subject to a minimum amount that varies by market. When our team contacted the company, the minimum was $5,000, so the 1% rate applies only to $500,000 and above. At that minimum, a seller at $400,000 pays an effective 1.25%, and a seller at $200,000 pays 2.5%. Ask for the minimum in your market before you sign. [8] Buyers can receive a refund of up to 1%. It operates only in Florida, Georgia, and Texas, and its review volume is the smallest here at 283 reviews, which makes its 4.9 rating less informative than a larger sample would be.
UpNest
UpNest isn't a brokerage, rather, it's a marketplace. You submit your home details and local agents compete for the listing with their own proposals, which average around 2.5%. On paper, that's the weakest discount on this list. It's still useful for a specific seller. It's available nationwide, and the competitive format is the fastest way to get several full-service agents bidding against each other instead of accepting one pre-negotiated rate. Service quality is entirely down to which agent you pick, so treat the proposals as a starting point and interview at least two of them.
Redfin
Redfin charges a 2% listing fee if you only sell. That drops to 1% if you also buy a home through Redfin within 365 days of closing on your listing, and the 1% rate is not offered in every market.[9] If you list at 2% expecting to buy later, Redfin charges the full 2% up front and refunds the difference after your next purchase closes.
Two other terms are worth reading first. Redfin adds 1% of the sale price to the listing fee if your buyer is unrepresented, and it sets a minimum commission in every market, starting at $2,000. Redfin publishes both on its fee disclaimer page. [10] Redfin's own agents close high transaction volume, which is where its savings come from and also where most of its service complaints originate. Its customer rating is the lowest on this list at 3.7/5. Redfin is no longer an independent brokerage; Rocket Companies acquired it in July 2025 for $1.75 billion.
Pro tip: Focus on quality over price
The lowest rate and the lowest total cost aren't always the same, and neither one tells you which agent will actually get you the most money for your home, so focus on choosing the best agent above all else.
How do low commission realtors charge less?
Three agents on what you give up for a lower fee (55 seconds)
A big part of a traditional commission doesn't pay for the work on your listing. It pays for finding the agent's next client. Agents buy leads from sites like Zillow, pay referral fees, and spend on ads. Low commission brokerages that use local partner agents, including Clever, take that cost off the agent's plate. The agent gets the client without paying for the lead upfront, and passes part of the savings to you as a lower rate.
Katina Thornton, a REALTOR® with Keller Williams Realty in Middle Tennessee, gets asked about this at almost every 1.5% listing appointment. One seller asked her where the hidden fees were.
"I said, 'There's no catches. There's no hidden fees.' If I'm not spending that $3,000 a month, $4,000 a month [on leads], I don't have that expense," she says. "We partner together, and in exchange, this is what I get to offer you, and it's a full-service listing."
That's one way to get to a lower fee. Some discount brokers get there by giving each agent more listings than one person can handle, or by cutting services you'd assume were included. Before you sign, ask the agent which model they're in, and how many listings they're carrying right now.
What counts as "low commission"?
A low commission is a listing fee below the going rate for a full-service agent. The U.S. average listing fee is 2.76% and traditional agents typically quote 2.5% to 3%, so anything under that is a discount, and the lowest full-service rates in the market run 1% to 1.5%.
Note: Rates advertised below 1% almost always describe a limited-service or flat-fee MLS package rather than full representation. Minimum fees matter as much as the headline rate: a 1% fee with a $5,000 floor is an effective 2.5% on a $200,000 home, which is close to what a traditional agent charges anyway.
Are low commission realtors worth it? Pros and cons
For most sellers, it's a good option, as long as the discount comes from a full-service brokerage and the minimum fee does not erase the savings.
Pros
- Lower fees. A 1% to 1.5% listing fee against the 2.76% national average keeps about $5,000 to $7,000 in your pocket on a $400,000 home.
- Full service is still the norm. Most of the companies on this list assign a licensed local agent who handles pricing, photos, MLS listing, showings, negotiation, and closing, the same scope a traditional agent covers.
- The discount is not coming out of your marketing budget. At partner-agent brokerages, the agent skips the cost of finding you, so the marketing budget for your home stays the same.
Cons
- Minimum fees can eat the discount. A $5,000 floor on a 1% fee is 2.5% at $200,000. Always ask what the minimum is, not just what the rate is.
- Service levels vary between companies and between agents. Some brokerages run high-volume models where parts of the transaction are handled by a support team rather than your agent.
- Coverage is uneven. The two cheapest options on this list are unavailable to most of the country, and the buyer’s agent fee is a separate negotiation your listing discount does not touch.
In our July 2026 survey of 500 recent home sellers, 82% of the respondents who sold with a discount or low-commission brokerage said the service was as good as or better than a traditional agent, and 69% felt their home sold for the same or more than it otherwise would have.
The math works against you in two situations: a home priced low enough that a minimum fee pushes the effective rate above what a traditional agent would negotiate, and a sale complicated enough (a hard-to-price property, a tight timeline, a thin market) that you need an agent’s full attention rather than a volume model.
Who should think twice
If your property has unusual features that may make it harder to sell, it is distressed, or located in a market with very few comparable sales, you should weigh the savings against how much hands-on attention you're likely to need. And if you have prior real estate experience and plan to sell entirely on your own, a flat-fee MLS package will cost less than any percentage-based listing fee.
How much can I save?
| Home price | 1% fee | 1.5% fee | U.S. avg. 2.76% | Save at 1% | Save at 1.5% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $200,000 | $2,000 | $3,000 | $5,520 | $3,520 | $2,520 |
| $300,000 | $3,000 | $4,500 | $8,280 | $5,280 | $3,780 |
| $400,000 | $4,000 | $6,000 | $11,040 | $7,040 | $5,040 |
| $500,000 | $5,000 | $7,500 | $13,800 | $8,800 | $6,300 |
| $750,000 | $7,500 | $11,250 | $20,700 | $13,200 | $9,450 |
| $1,000,000 | $10,000 | $15,000 | $27,600 | $17,600 | $12,600 |
Listing fee only. Savings compare a 1% and a 1.5% listing fee against the 2.76% U.S. average at each price. The buyer's agent fee, which averages 2.70% nationally, is negotiated separately. Minimum fees raise the effective rate below $500,000: at $200,000, a $5,000 minimum is 2.5%, not 1%. Average listing fee from Clever's 2026 survey of 434 real estate agents.
Savings depend on your home price and which rate you qualify for.
Minimum fees come first. At $200,000, SimpleShowing's $5,000 minimum works out to 2.5% rather than 1%, so most of the advertised discount is gone. Clever's $3,000 minimum works out to 1.5% at that price, the same rate it charges in most markets (listing fee varies by market.) Above roughly $500,000, minimums stop mattering for every company on this list.
The second is the buyer’s agent fee, which is negotiated separately. It averages 2.70% nationally, and discounting your listing fee does not reduce it. Many sellers offer to pay it to attract buyers, so budget for a total commission somewhere between 3.5% and 4.5% if you list at a discounted rate.
What home sellers think about low commission realtors
We surveyed 500 recent home sellers in July 2026. The clearest finding is that the barrier to using a discount brokerage is awareness.
- Most sellers never knew the option existed. 68% had little or no awareness of low-commission brokerages before they sold, and only 25% considered using one.
- The ones who used them were satisfied. Among the 9% who sold with a discount or low-commission brokerage, 82% said the service was as good as or better than a traditional agent.
- Everyone else was still open to it. 72% said they would trust an agent charging a 1.5% listing fee to do as good a job as one charging 3%.
- Asking works, and almost nobody asks. 33% of sellers tried to negotiate their agent's rate, and 93% of those who tried got a reduction, typically 0.5 to 1.5 percentage points. Yet 65% interviewed just one agent before hiring.
Full results, including what sellers actually paid and which negotiating tactics worked, are in our 2026 commission survey.
How to find a low commission realtor near you
1. Check who covers your zip code. Clever works in all 50 states and D.C. Houwzer covers 18 states and D.C. SimpleShowing is only in Florida, Georgia and Texas. Redfin's rate depends on your market.
2. Look up your local average. Rates vary by state. A 2% fee is a good deal in a state that averages 3%, and less of one in a state that averages 2.4%. Find your state below.
3. Get two or three quotes in writing. Ask each agent for the rate, the minimum fee, and the services included, and compare all three.
Alternatives to low commission realtors
Are you unsure whether a low-commission realtor is the right choice for you? Here are some other options.
1. Consider flat fee MLS companies.
These are best if you want to sell without a realtor and seek the cheapest way to get your home listed on the MLS. Plans with flat-fee MLS companies start as low as $95, but if you add extra support services, they can cost as much as a traditional realtor.
This option can be a good fit for sellers who are comfortable handling most of the sale themselves. That's a small group: about 5% of sellers go the FSBO route.
Even agents rarely do it. Wayne Newcomb, a Clever Partner Agent in Albany, NY, has sold about 2,600 homes over 27 years. He's sold five of his own homes, all with an agent. "If anybody could have sold a house on their own, it would be me," he says. "But I was okay with paying an agent, because real estate is supply and demand. The more demand you get for your home, the better chance you have of getting a higher price."
2. Sell to a cash home buyer.
Also known as a "We Buy Houses for Cash" company, these work best if you're in a rush to sell and don't mind accepting a lower offer than what you'd likely get on the open market.
Interest in cash transactions remains strong. According to the National Association of Realtors, 29% of home buyers paid all cash in October 2025, up from 27% a year earlier, highlighting how common cash deals have become in today’s market.[11]
More than half (55%) of homeowners say they'd consider selling to a cash buyer to avoid the stress of traditional selling, especially the top concern of making costly repairs.[12] But this route often means sacrificing price for convenience.
These companies pay around 65-70% of a property's after-repair market value and can get you to the closing table in 1-2 weeks. However, if you want to compare multiple offers and potentially get up to 100% of your home's fair market value, Clever Offers is a top choice. The free service connects you with vetted investors, iBuyers, and local buyers, helping you find the best possible price with zero obligation.
3. Try negotiating realtor fees with an agent directly.
Negotiating works far more often than most sellers expect. In our 2026 survey, 93% of sellers who asked their agent for a lower commission got at least some reduction. The typical cut was modest, with most successful negotiators shaving between 0.5 and 1.5 percentage points off the rate.[13]
The bigger issue is that most sellers never ask. Only 33% of sellers who hired an agent tried to negotiate, and among those who didn't, the top reasons were that the rate already seemed fair (37%) and, tellingly, that they didn't know they could (35%).[13]
Sellers who succeeded most often credited simply asking (50%), followed by having a home that was expected to sell easily (39%), a higher-value home (27%), and bundling a purchase with the sale using the same agent (25%). This route works best if you're selling a move-in-ready home in a hot market, where the agent expects a quick, easy sale.[13]
Still, a half-point or full-point cut off a traditional rate rarely beats what you'd save by hiring a full-service agent at 1.5% from the start. Negotiating is worth a direct ask, but for most sellers a low-commission agent locks in bigger savings without the back-and-forth.
How to choose the best low commission real estate agent
Agents need to be more focused on the value they bring, rather than what they charge, says Dustin Parker, founder of The Parker Group, a Delaware-based brokerage with over $1 billion in residential transactions. He recommends shifting the focus away from commission rate alone.
“The question [for agents] isn’t just, ‘How much commission can I charge?’ It’s, ‘How do I deliver so much value that I become indispensable—and still earn a healthy margin?’ That’s the shift the industry is going through," he says.
1. Identify your needs
Start by outlining what services are most important to you. With 90% of home sellers working with an agent, according to NAR data, it’s clear that many sellers find value in professional support for various stages of the sale.[14] Do you need:
- Pricing expertise: Assistance with setting the optimal listing price through a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA)?
- Marketing support: Professional photos, online listings, and advertising strategies?
- Home preparation: Guidance on staging and making your home show-ready?
- Negotiation skills: Experience in handling offers and counteroffers effectively?
- Paperwork assistance: Help with contracts, disclosures, and closing documents? Given that more than one-third (36%) of sellers acknowledge making legal mistakes due to the absence of an agent, this is a big one.[15]
With many discount brokers limiting commissions, agents may not be able to provide the level of service you would expect from a traditional realtor. Some discount real estate brokers may charge minimum fees that wipe out potential savings or have a limited network of agents that may not be experienced in your local market.
Christina Rordam, a top-producing REALTOR with Florida Realty Investments in Orlando, says the volume model behind some discount brands is itself a risk worth interrogating.
"A lot of times, somebody's offering a discounted rate and they sell 50, 100 plus homes. But in order to do that sort of volume, a lot of it is outsourced," she says.
Rordam recommends asking the agent directly: will you personally handle the listing, or will it be passed to someone else once the contract is signed?
Elliott Grozan, a REALTOR® with Denovo Realty in Brevard County, FL, and a Clever Partner Agent, sees the corner-cutting version in his market. "There's discount brokers out there where you're not going to get the best representation," he says. "They might use their cell phones for photography, or they're going to cut corners."
2. Check their track record
Ask each agent for two things: the homes they've sold in your zip code or price range in the last 12 months, and their average days on market compared with the local average. Then read their Google and Zillow reviews for complaints about slow replies or being handed off to an assistant.
3. Interview multiple agents
This is where most sellers fall short. In our 2026 survey, 65% of sellers who used an agent interviewed just one before hiring, and only 8% talked to three or more.[13] That matters for your wallet, not just fit: interviewing and comparing multiple agents was one of the moves sellers credited with helping them negotiate a lower rate.
We recommend meeting with at least 2 to 3 agents before you decide.
4. Evaluate how they operate
Take time to understand each agent's specific service structure and style to ensure it aligns with your expectations:
- Services in writing: Ask for the marketing plan, and get it in the listing agreement. Katina Thornton's list is a good benchmark for full service at a lower rate: "All of my listings get Matterport walkthroughs, professional photos, marketing materials, and access to me whenever you need it." If the agent can't promise professional photos, that's a limited-service listing, no matter the rate.
- Service model: Determine if they offer full-service support or a more limited, discounted approach. Some agents may provide comprehensive assistance, while others may specialize in essential services only.
- Personalization: Ask if they take a team-based or individual approach to client interactions. A team-based model can enhance efficiency but may also lead to a less personal experience.
- Availability: Confirm the agent's availability to handle showings, answer questions, and assist with the transaction. It’s helpful to know if they or a team member will be your main point of contact.
FAQs about real estate commission
What is the lowest commission a realtor will take?
A realtor's lowest commission varies between brokerages and even individual agents. Several top discount real estate brokers offer listing fees as low as 1.5%, which reduces your total commission rate to 4–4.5% (including the typical buyer's agent commission).
Some agents may also offer flexible options, such as tiered pricing based on service level, flat fees instead of percentages, or combined discounts if you’re buying and selling with the same agent.
Agents at traditional brokerages typically won't accept less than a 2% listing commission, if they're willing to negotiate their standard 2.5–3% rates at all.
To lock in the lowest possible rate without sacrificing service, consider using a platform like Clever Real Estate, which pre-negotiates listing fees as low as 1.5% with full-service agents from major nationwide brands — with no obligation to hire.
Will realtors accept a 2% commission?
Many will, especially on a home that should sell quickly. A 2% listing fee is less than a point below the national average of 2.76%, so it's a modest ask. In our 2026 survey of home sellers, 93% of those who asked their agent for a lower rate got one, usually 0.5 to 1.5 percentage points off. [16]
Agents at traditional brokerages rarely go below 2%. If you want 1.5% without doing the negotiating yourself, use a company that pre-negotiates the rate with local agents.
How does selling with a low cost realtor work?
Selling with a low cost real estate agent is typically similar to working with a traditional agent, assuming you hire a discount brand that offers genuine full service.
The top full-service discount companies provide the same services and support as conventional brokerages, including in-person pricing consultations, access to the multiple listing service (MLS), full representation during negotiations, and dedicated support throughout the home selling process.
Discount brokers can provide the same services as traditional agents but charge lower rates because they've found ways to reduce overhead and operate more efficiently, with little (or no) impact on the average customer's experience.
What company has the lowest real estate commission fees?
Houwzer and SimpleShowing advertise the lowest headline rate, 1%, but each only covers part of the country, and SimpleShowing charges a minimum fee. Clever offers full-service agents at a listing fee as low as 1.5% in all 50 states. Redfin charges 2%, or 1% if you also buy a home with Redfin within 365 days. The cheapest choice for you depends on your home's price, your location, and how much help you want from your agent.
What are the best low commission real estate brokers?
For most home sellers, the best low commission real estate brokers include Clever, Redfin, and Ideal Agent. These nationwide brands offer full service throughout the selling process, which means your experience should feel similar to selling with a traditional agent. Clever is one of the most affordable nationwide real estate companies, but it's a good idea to compare your options to find the right agent for your unique priorities and budget.
Other questions about real estate commissionWe answer questions on how real estate commission works, how much it costs, and how you can save when you sell your home. |
Do sellers still pay the buyer’s agent after the NAR settlement?
They’re not required to. Buyers are now expected to negotiate compensation directly with their own agents. However, many sellers still choose to offer a buyer’s agent fee (or a concession toward it) to attract more potential buyers. In markets where seller-paid compensation remains common, listings that don’t offer it may receive fewer showings or lower offers.
Your listing agent can help you decide whether covering part of the buyer’s agent fee makes sense for your local market and selling strategy.
How can I avoid paying realtor fees?
To avoid real estate agent fees altogether, you'll need to list your home for sale by owner and find a buyer who isn't using a buyer's agent (or convince them to pay the buyer's agent commission out of pocket). But that's incredibly hard to do — and it means sacrificing the support of an expert real estate agent during your sale. If you simply want to save on realtor fees, hiring a low commission agent will likely have a better outcome.
Are realtor fees included in closing costs of homes?
Yes, realtor fees are generally included in closing costs and taken out of the seller's proceeds at closing. Real estate agent commission is one of the most expensive closing costs sellers face, so it pays to shop around and find a listing agent who will sell your house for less.
How can I get a lower real estate commission rate?
The best way to get a lower commission rate is to hire a full-service real estate agent who offers a discounted listing fee. On a $500,000 home sale, hiring a 1.5% commission realtor could save you around $6,300 compared with the national average.
Other options include negotiating a lower rate with your agent, selling to an iBuyer like Opendoor, listing your house without a realtor, or using a flat fee MLS company. Learn more about how to save on realtor fees.
Can real estate agents lower their commission?
Yes, real estate commission is negotiable. Although some agents may not be able to lower their fees without permission from their broker. You'll have the most success negotiating a lower commission rate if you sell a desirable home in a hot market. But you'll likely save more cash by hiring a low commission agent rather than trying to talk your listing agent down from their standard fee.
🔬 Our research process
Clever has helped thousands of home sellers find great low commission real estate agents and save on realtor fees. Our Editorial Team also spends hundreds of hours each year researching other discount brands and crafting in-depth reviews to help home sellers compare their options and find the right fit for their needs and price range, whether that's Clever or another service.
Our rigorous research process involves reading thousands of customer reviews, mystery shopping local offices to fact-check marketing claims and uncover details not listed on the company's website, and updating our rankings regularly to ensure we give consumers the best — and most accurate — information about low-cost real estate agents available on the web.
Three examples of what that work has surfaced:
- SimpleShowing markets a 1% listing fee as its headline number, but our team confirmed through direct outreach that the company enforces a $5,000 minimum, which raises the effective rate to 2% on a $250,000 home.
- Houwzer's site lists 18 states and D.C., but our calls to local offices confirmed an active network of roughly 51 to 200 realtors, so coverage in many metros is thin.
- Prevu's "up to 1%" buyer rebate is widely advertised, but in practice the full 1% only applies on homes priced above $1.25 million, a threshold the company doesn't lead with on its homepage. Findings like these are what shape where each company lands in our rankings.
For this update, we interviewed three agents who take low-commission listings: Katina Thornton (Keller Williams Realty, Middle Tennessee), Elliott Grozan (Denovo Realty, Brevard County, FL) and Wayne Newcomb (Albany, NY).
Our primary goal is to empower you to make smarter real estate decisions, achieve your goals, and, ideally, save some money while you're at it. To that end, we strive to deliver highly objective, helpful guides that offer practical advice to sellers with different experience levels and with homes in different locations and price ranges.
Selling a house is one of the biggest financial transactions you'll ever make. We want to provide you with the information you need to have the best possible outcome, even if that means you ultimately choose to work with one of Clever's competitors.
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