This guide breaks down and ranks the top low-commission real estate agents in 2024. I aim to help you understand your options to minimize your commission fees while still getting the expert support you need for a successful sale.
Real estate agent commissions are generally the largest transaction cost you’ll pay as a home seller. Traditional agents typically charge a total commission of 5–6% of your final selling price, translating into tens of thousands of dollars.
The good news is you don’t have to pay this much. A low-commission real estate agent can significantly reduce those costs, sometimes cutting them in half. And with the right company, you can save money without sacrificing service quality.
💰 Looking for low-commission real estate agents near you? Simply take this short quiz, and get matched with top-rated agents offering a 1.5% listing fee. Compare agents from brands like Century 21 and RE/MAX — it's free, and there's no obligation to move forward.
Editor's picks: Which low-commission real estate companies I recommend
Clever Real Estate is the best overall value of any low-commission real estate company in 2024. You'll pay a low 1.5% listing fee and work with top local agents from name-brand brokerages like KellerWilliams and RE/MAX — not discount agents.
A few regional brands could be worth a look if they're available in your area. Houwzer offers 1% listing fees and has solid reviews. But the company has limited agent selection and may be less hands-onthan a conventional realtor.
Generally, I recommend starting with Clever. If it finds you a good match, you’ll get best-in-class savings and full service from a legit local real estate agent. It’s free, so there’s no real risk in just seeing who it matches you with. If it strikes out, you can walk away with no obligation. Sign up to see your free agent matches today.
What is a low-commission agent? | Who should use one? | Savings| Choosing a realtor | FAQ
Best low-commission real estate companies in 2024
Company | Listing fee | Locations |
|---|---|---|
🏆 1. Clever Real Estate | 1.5% (min. $3,000) | Nationwide |
2. Redfin | 1.5% (min. fee varies) | 26 states (select markets) |
3. Ideal Agent | 2% (min. $3,000) | Nationwide |
4. UpNest | Varies | Nationwide |
5. Prevu | 1.5% | 13 states (select markets) |
6. Houwzer | 1% | FL, MD, PA, NJ, VA |
1. 🏆 Best: Clever Real Estate
Listing fee | 1.5% (min. $3,000) |
Avg. customer rating | 5.0/5.0 (3,000+ reviews) |
Locations | Nationwide |
What it is: Clever Real Estate offers a free service that matches you with top local agents from name-brand brokerages like Century 21 and Coldwell Banker. It also pre-negotiates low listing fees for sellers: just 1.5% instead of the usual 2.5–3% rate.
Clever is available nationwide, with over 19,000 top agents in its network. It also has an excellent overall customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars based on 3,000+ reviews between Trustpilot, Better Business Bureau (BBB), and Google. Additionally, the company is accredited and has an A+ rating through the BBB.
How it works: You sign up for Clever online and provide some basic information about your situation, goals, and preferences. Clever hand picks agent matches for you to interview and compare. You can choose the best fit, request more matches, or walk away anytime. You get full service and support through closing. And you only pay your agent’s discounted fee when your home actually sells. You never pay Clever any fee (the agents pay Clever for the referred business after closing).
Who should use: Clever is a good option for anyone looking to sell their home with a real estate agent. The company vets agents for you and helps you find a good fit quickly. Its quality control and customer service are enough on their own to make it worth using (especially since getting matched with an agent is free). The low 1.5% listing fee is really just extra icing on top of an already solid value.
✍️ Editor’s take: Clever Real Estate is the best choice for most home sellers. You'll pay a low 1.5% listing fee in exchange for full service from conventional realtors from name-brand brokerages like Keller Williams and RE/MAX. Get your free agent matches today!
2. Redfin
Listing fee | 1.5% (min. fee varies by market) |
Avg. customer rating | 4.8/5.0 (156,000+ reviews) |
Locations | 100+ major US markets |
What it is: Redfin is a discount real estate brokerage with in-house real estate agents who will help you sell your house for a 1.5% listing fee. Redfin is available in 100+ US markets — mostly major and medium-sized cities and suburbs. Redfin is a legitimate brand with experienced agents. But Redfin’s agents handle more transactions than the typical realtor, which poses service quality risks. It also has far less agent selection and market coverage than agent matching services like Clever, Ideal Agent, and UpNest.
How it works: You can find Redfin agents to interview in your area on Redfin’s website. Redfin agents provide “full service” but generally employ a more team-based and hands-off approach than traditional agents. At closing, you’ll pay the reduced 1.5% listing fee (plus buyer’s agent commission). If you buy and sell with Redfin within a year, you can get a refund of a 0.5% listing fee. However, other brands like Clever offer similar savings with better service on the sell- and buy-side, so the value on offer here is limited.
Who should use: Redfin is worth considering if you live in a higher population area with a lot of buyer demand, your house is updated and in good condition, and there aren’t any tricky circ*mstances surrounding your sale. If you find a Redfin agent you like and are comfortable with their approach to service and support, it’s a totally viable option. But most people can find better value and savings with other low-commission companies.
✍️ Editor’s take: Redfin is probably the most familiar name on the list, but don’t assume that means it's the best. Redfin’s 1.5% listing fee savings are good, but you might not get the same level of service and support as you would from a conventional realtor. I’d try agent matching services first — Clever, Ideal Agent, UpNest, probably in that order — because they get you better service quality and more agent selection.
3. Ideal Agent
Listing fee | 2% (min. $3,000) |
Avg. customer rating | 4.9/5.0 (7,000+ reviews) |
Locations | Nationwide |
What it is: Ideal Agent is an agent matching service that pre-negotiates 2% listing commission fees with traditional real estate agents nationwide. Like all agent matching services, Ideal Agent is free to use and there’s no obligation. It has mostly positive customer reviews and is available nationwide (though its agent network is smaller than most competitors, so it may not offer coverage in smaller markets and rural areas).
How it works: You sign up on Ideal Agent’s network, and they’ll loop you in with a local realtor so you can set up an interview. Ideal Agent has a relatively small network and matches you with only one agent (unlike Cleverand UpNest, who provide multiple matches). This makes it harder to compare options, so I recommend using this matching service in conjunction with other options on this list. You’ll get full service and support throughout your sale. The 2% fee foryour listing agent and the buyer’s agent fee (2.5–3%) come from your sale proceeds at closing.
Who should use: Ideal Agent is worth considering if you’re looking for the conventional full-service realtor experience and don’t want to worry about negotiating commission rates yourself. The savings aren’t huge compared to market rates (2.5–3%) — its 2% listing fees are higher than several other options on this list — but it offers solid agent quality and guaranteed rates.
✍️ Editor’s take: Ideal Agent is only worth considering if a service offering better savings and value, like Clever, isn’t able to find you an agent you like. Many agents work with multiple agent matching services. So there’s always a chance Ideal Agent will match you with an agent you could’ve found through Clever for a lower price.
4. UpNest
Listing fee | Varies |
Avg. customer rating | 4.6/5.0 (6,900+ reviews) |
Locations | Nationwide |
What it is: Like Clever and Ideal Agent, UpNest is an agent matching service that partners with traditional real estate agents nationwide. But unlike every other company on this list, UpNest doesn’t offer guaranteed low-commission rates. Instead, agents set their own prices and compete for your business in UpNest's online marketplace. In practice, the savings can be pretty marginal compared to what you could manage on your own.
How it works: You sign up on UpNest’s website and provide some basic info about your home and goals. Agents then submit proposals for you to compare. You review the proposals and decide who you want to interview. If you hireone of the agents, you'll pay the agreed-upon listing fee and buyer’s agent fee at closing.
Who should use: Like other agent matching services, UpNest is free with no obligation, so there’s no real risk in trying it out. You can use UpNest to find solid local agents efficiently. And you may even get a slight ratereduction. But if you’re looking for big savings, you can find better value elsewhere.
✍️ Editor’s take: UpNest is really only worth trying if Clever (or even Ideal Agent) can’t find you an agent you like. You’ll likely save far less with UpNest, so start with the better value, then work your way down the list. And like I mentioned in the Ideal Agent section, many agents work with both UpNest and Clever, so going through Clever could get you the exact same agent for a fraction of the price.
5. Prevu
Listing fee | 1.5% |
Avg. customer rating | 5.0/5.0 (600+ reviews) |
Locations | CA, CO, CT, FL, MA, MD, NJ, NY, PA, TX, VA, WA |
What it is: Prevu is a discount real estate brokerage that primarily targets home buyers, but it also offers listing services for a set 1.5% listing fee. It’s currently available in select higher-end markets across California,Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, Washington, and Washington, DC.
How it works: Prevu creates savings by handling a higher volume of deals per agent, like other discount brokerages, which can lead to some service quality risks. Prevu also primarily serves high-end markets and targets luxury buyersand sellers, giving its margins way more padding than other brands (a 1.5% fee on a $1.2M home is much more than a 3% fee on a $100,000 home). But beware of high minimum fees that vary by market and aren’t disclosed on its website —and potentially lengthy contract periods.
✍️ Editor’s take: Prevu’s rebates for home buyers are hard to beat, but the value is pretty middle-of-the-road for home sellers. I recommend going with a low-commission brand like Clever to get the same low rate without the service quality risks.
6. Houwzer
Listing fee | 1% (min. $2,500) |
Avg. customer rating | 4.2/5 (50+ reviews) |
Locations | DC, FL, MD, NJ, PA, VA |
What it is: Houwzer is a discount real estate brokerage with in-house real estate agents who will help you sell your home for a 1% listing fee (plus buyer’s agent commission). It’s currently available in select markets in Florida, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Washington, DC.
How it works: If you decide to hire a Houwzer agent, you’ll get full service and support when you sell, including other premium marketing services. But like other discount brokerages, Houwzer agents handle more customers tomake up for the discounts, which can create service quality risks. You pay Houwzer’s listing fee — plus the agreed-upon buyer’s agent fee — from your sale proceeds at closing.
✍️ Editor’s take: If you’re in one of Houwzer’s markets, it's certainly worth a look. But compare it with other options to ensure you find the best agent for the job, not just the lowest fee (other brands offer big savings near those price points, too). You can get better overall value from brands like Clever and Redfin.
What is a low-commission real estate agent?
A low-commission real estate agent or broker is any agent willing to list and sell your home for less than the typical commission rate in your area. Most traditional agents charge listing fees between 2.5–3%. The best low-commission real estate brokers offer the same service and support for as little as 1.5%. This is a huge value, because it’s difficult to negotiate lower commission rates on your own.
Don't confuse a low-commission real estate agent with a flat fee MLS company. A flat fee MLS (multiple listing service) company is often used when owners sell their homes without a real estate agent, usually to save money on realtor fees. They hire a real estate broker to post their listing on the local MLS for a one-time fee.
What's the average real estate commission rate nationwide?
The current average real estate commission rate in the U.S. is 5-6% of a home's final sale price. The seller often pays 100% of this commission.
This means that if your home sells for $450,000—around the U.S. median sales price—the total realtor commission would range between $22,500 and $27,000.
However, real estate agent fees aren't fixed – they're 100% negotiable and may also vary based on your location, the type of property you're selling, and the current housing market.
You can also save big money by using a low-commission realtor instead of a traditional agent. Selling a $450,000 home through a low-commission real estate company with a 1.5% listing fee instead of the typical 2.5-3% could save you around $6,000 in realtor fees.
NAR lawsuit settlement changes are here!
The National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) has agreed to settle its lawsuit related to broker commissions. The new rule prohibits listing agents from including the buyer's agent commission in the MLS, a change from the current practice where these fees are typically predetermined.
Additionally, buyer's agents using the MLS must now enter into written agreements with buyers before touring a home. Effective August 17, 2024, these agreements must:
- Clearly disclose the compensation amount or rate.
- Specify objective, non-open-ended compensation terms.
- Prohibit agents from receiving more compensation than the agreed amount.
- Include a statement that broker fees and commissions are fully negotiable.
- The settlement includes a $418 million compensation over four years, and eligible sellers may qualify for settlement payments.
Key changes from the NAR settlement
1. More negotiations. Ultimately, this lawsuit settlement could introduce another step in negotiations between sellers, buyers, and their agents.
For example, a buyer might make an offer on a home and request that the seller pay half of their buyer's agent's fee as part of the concessions. This request would influence the seller's decision to accept, counter, or reject the offer.
2. Overall commission rates may fall. The settlement could shift part or all of the buyer's agent commission cost from sellers to buyers, potentially reducing the average real estate commission rate as more buyers negotiate lower fees.
Buyers will likely emphasize shopping for agents, prioritizing those offering competitive rates, superior service, and expertise. They might also be quicker to try to negotiate a lower rate. As a result, total commission costs might drop from the current 5-6% range to below 5%.
We think that low-commission realtors are well-positioned to benefit from these changes as buyers increasingly seek competitive rates and more transparency in the negotiation process.
Who should use a low-commission real estate agent?
Most home sellers should try working with a low-commission agent matching service, like Clever. You'll work with the same local realtors that you'd find on your own, but you'll get a lower commission rate simply by going through its free serviceinstead of contacting the agent yourself. In other words, you get the same real estate agent and quality of service for less.
Discount real estate brokerages like Redfin and Homie are a slightly different story. They have in-house agents. Only consider hiring a discount brokerage with in-house agents if:
- An agent matching service like Clever can’t find you an agent you like
- You’re confident the discount agent’s experience and personality are a good fit
- Your home is in great condition and there’s lots of buyer demand in your area
- Your home isn’t unique for your area in terms of price, size, or features
- You expect your sale will be relatively straightforward with minimal negotiating
- You’re a relatively experienced home seller and aren’t afraid of some DIY
- You’re willing to sacrifice some personalized support for your savings (remember: you can avoid this by going the agent matching service route)
Regardless, you should always shop around and compare options. The most important thing is finding the right agent for the job. You won't actually save money with a 1.5% listing fee if the agent underprices your home by $20,000.
Risks and benefits of working with a low-commission realtor
Some low-commission real estate agents come with risks. For example, some brokerages use a team-based service model where different people handle aspects of your sale instead of one dedicated agent. This can lead to less personalized service and miscommunication.
Other low-commission realtors work for brokerages that charge high minimum fees, up to $8,500 in certain areas. Those minimum fees could erase any potential savings if you sell a lower-priced home.
The main benefit of using a low-commission realtor is saving thousands of dollars on your real estate commissions.
Many low-commission agents, including the companies listed in this article, provide full service. They provide maximum support and service throughout the entire process, including listing your home on the MLS, coordinating showings and open houses, negotiatingoffers, handling contracts and paperwork, and guiding you through closing.
The right low-commission agent will help you every step of the way while charging a fraction of the typical commission rate.
How much can you save with a low-commission realtor?
Selling with a low-cost realtor can save you thousands of dollars. Realtor commissions are usually the largest expense associated with selling a house. Knocking even a few percentage points off your total commission can greatly impact your netsale proceeds and profit margins.
Home price | 6% total commission | 4% total commission | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
$250,000 | $15,000 | $10,000 | $5,000 |
$500,000 | $30,000 | $20,000 | $10,000 |
$750,000 | $45,000 | $30,000 | $15,000 |
$1,000,000 | $60,000 | $40,000 | $40,000 |
Use our real estate commission calculator to estimate your total commission fee and potential savings.
How to choose a low-commission real estate agent
Choosing the right low-commission real estate agent is more about finding the right agent than automatically defaulting to the lowest price point.
You should give the most weight to factors like customer ratings, service quality (and approach), agent experience, and personality.
While agent quality and fit are the most important, I’d still recommend prioritizing your search based on potential savings. Start with the brand that offers the best commission rate and savings at your home’s specific price point.
Evaluate the agents, service approach, and risks. Ask to review the listing agreement and make sure you understand the contract and commission. If one of those companies finds you a great agent, you’ll max out your savings and get quality servicethrough the selling process. If they strike out, start working your way down the list until you find that balance between the right fit, quality, and price point.
đź›’ Shop around! If you can, it's always a good idea to try out a few different services to see how they stack up. Comparing several options will increase your chances of finding the best fit for your budget and specific needs and getting a better sale outcome.
Next steps for finding a low-commission realtor
The best way to get started is to contact a few low-commission companies and interview some real estate agents! No matter the brand, talking to agents is always free and without obligation, so there’s no risk in putting the feelers out there.
I recommend starting with Clever Real Estate because it offers the best rates and service quality, is available nationwide, and allows you to compare agents before choosing the right fit for you.
Key benefits of Clever:
- Matches you with multiple top-performing local agents from name-brand brokerages like Keller Williams and Century 21
- Lets you interview multiple agents and choose the best fit, request more matches, or walk away
- Gets you full service for just 1.5%, no matter where you’re selling
đź’° Top local agents, incredible savings.
Try Clever’s free matching service, list with the best agents in your area for just 1.5%.
FAQ about low-commission realtors
You can — real estate commission is always negotiable — but it’s generally not easy to do independently. Agents have a lot of expenses to cover and generally won’t be willing to drop their rates too much, especially for one-off customers.You may have more luck if:
- You have a super high-value home: $1M+ will still be a big payday for the agent, even at the reduced commission rate.
- There aren’t many people selling in your area: agents may be willing to lower rates to be competitive with other agents and secure new business.
- There’s a ton of buyer demand in your area: your home will likely sell fast and high, so that means less effort and time for the agent.
The easier way is to go through a company, like Clever Real Estate, that negotiates lower commission rates with realtors for you. These brands have more leverage, because they send a steady volume of new business to the agents they work with at no up-front cost. That means you get lower rates without sacrificing service (or negotiating with a professional negotiator). You can learn more about negotiating real estate commissions here.
Currently, 1.5% commission companies like Clever Real Estate offer the lowest commission rates without significant service cuts and risks. Chances are you won’t be able to negotiate a 1.5% listing fee on your own, even if you have a super high-value home.
The absolute cheapest real estate commissions come from limited-service realtors and flat fee MLS companies. These realtors and brokerages charge a low flat fee upfront to simply list your home on the MLS. You don’t get any other service or support. They could be worth considering if you’re selling by owner and want an extra marketing bump. But even then, the price point versus what you actually get often doesn’t make sense.
Most real estate agents charge a commission of 2.5–3% at closing to list and sell a home. Buyer’s agents generally expect the same amount for bringing a qualified buyer who purchases the home. That means most home sellers are on the hook for about 5–6% in total commission. The nationwide average real estate commission rate is 5.37%. You can find the average commission rate in your state here.
Yes, a low-commission agent is worth it. You can save money during your home sale by paying a lower listing fee than a traditional agent charges.
But make sure to find the best balance of cost and quality — the cheapest real estate companies aren't always the best choice. Research several companies and low-cost realtors, keeping an eye out for a licensed, dedicated agent with experience in your area. Compare top-rated local agents.
No, the total commission is split between the buyer’s agent and the seller’s agent, who both split their commission with their broker. The broker's cut is usually 50%, but it varies depending on the agent’s contract with the broker.
Why trust me
I’m Jamie Ayers, a writer and researcher who has written about real estate for over a decade. In the past few years, I’ve spent (literally) hundreds of collective hours conducting expert interviews and researching real estate technology companies and low-commission real estate brands. I’ve also published dozens of guides breaking down and comparing these servicesto help consumers make more informed choices about service providers and save money when buying or selling homes.
I also have some first-hand experience using a low-commission real estate company: I recently bought my first home and found my realtor through Clever Real Estate (and saved $2,000 as a result). You can read the full review of my experience with Clever here.
