The Best 1 Percent Commission Realtor Brands for 2023

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  Written by Thomas O'Shaughnessy

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  Edited by Kristy Snyder

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  Reviewed by Tony Chahal

Our top picks | How do low commissions work? | Find low commission realtors near me

How to find the best 1 percent commission realtor near me

Working with a real estate agent who charges a 1% listing fee (or close to it) is one of the best ways to save money when you sell your home. 

But where can you find an agent willing to sell your house for a reduced fee, and how do you know they’re legit?

Only a handful of discount real estate brokers offer true 1% listing fees, and these brokerages often have limited geographic availability. You may also encounter trade-offs in service quality, like working with an agent who’s juggling lots of clients at a time or one that’s less experienced.

The best discount real estate brokers we found charge rates around 1–1.5% and have strict screening criteria for their agents. They provide outstanding customer experience while still offering major savings.

For example, sellers who work with Clever Real Estate get matched with top full-service realtors from well-known brokerages like Keller Williams and RE/MAX — and pay a low listing fee of just 1.5%. On a $500,000 home sale, you’d save about $7,500 in commission.

💰 SAVE: Get matched with top local agents, save thousands on realtor fees!

Keep reading for an in-depth look at our top 1% commission recommendations!

The best companies with low commission realtors

Our team has spent hundreds of hours researching discount real estate brokers to help you find the right fit. Here are our top picks for high-quality services at lower rates.

🏆 1. Clever Real Estate

For most home sellers, Clever Real Estate is the best company for connecting with a low commission real estate agent. We think Clever has the best overall value because of its competitive 1.5% listing fee, full-service agents, nationwide availability, and average 4.9/5 customer rating.

The key difference between Clever and other discount real estate brokerage options is the quality of real estate agents in its network. Clever matches you with highly rated realtors from top brokerages like Keller Williams and Coldwell Banker.

When you find your real estate agent through Clever, you get the full service and expertise you’d expect from a top agent — at about half the typical commission rate. You can request multiple agent matches until you find the right fit, or you can walk away at any time. Clever’s service is free, and there’s no obligation to commit. Learn more and start comparing agents.

2. Redfin

Redfin is best known for its home search website and app, but its core business is helping people buy and sell homes at reduced commission rates. Redfin’s base listing rate is 1.5% of the sales price. But it also has high minimum fees that vary by market (up to $8,500!). Depending on your home’s value, a minimum fee could result in you paying more than the advertised 1.5%.

Redfin hires its own salaried agents. The company creates savings by having those agents handle more customers at once than a typical realtor.

Redfin provides better service than other discount companies that offer less hands-on support. But its customer service approach could increase the risk of mistakes, delays, and other issues — especially if your selling situation is complicated. 

Overall, Redfin is worth considering if you’re selling and buying within the company’s service area. But we think many sellers will find better overall value by selling with our top pick, Clever Real Estate.

» MORE: Read our full Redfin review

3. SimpleShowing

SimpleShowing is a discount real estate broker that advertises 1% listing agent fees in a handful of markets in Florida, Georgia, and Texas. But watch out: SimpleShowing also has a $5,000 minimum fee, which means if your home sells for less than $500,000, you’ll pay more than 1% at closing.

SimpleShowing hires its own in-house real estate agents, just like Redfin. It offsets its discounted commission fees by requiring agents to handle roughly five times as many customers as the average realtor.

This approach allows SimpleShowing to sell more homes with a smaller team of agents. But handling so many different sales at once could limit how much personalized service and support your agents can give you. 

Receiving less agent support isn’t necessarily a deal breaker if you’re selling a desirable home in a hot market. But it could lead to issues if you need immediate assistance and your agent is overextended.

» MORE: Read our full SimpleShowing review

4. Houwzer

Houwzer’s 1% listing agent fee could save you thousands in realtor commission. The company’s rate is a good deal at many price points, but its max fee of $10,000 is especially beneficial for homes over $1 million. Houwzer also offers some useful marketing tools, like 25 professional photos and virtual tours.

However, Houwzer is available only in five states and D.C.

And while Houwzer promises the same services as a traditional realtor, you might experience trade-offs in service quality. Like Redfin, Houwzer uses a team-based approach to selling. You’d interact with your agent and different members of the Houwzer team. This approach might lead to miscommunication and less hands-on support.

» MORE: Read our full Houwzer review

Low commission real estate brokers to avoid

Our top picks for discount brokerages offer low rates without compromising much on service quality. Unfortunately, some 1% real estate commission brands couple their attractive fees with substandard service and support. Based on our research and customer reviews, we recommend steering clear of these companies:

🚫 Trelora

Trelora Real Estate is a discount real estate brokerage that advertises low commission rates. It recently upped its fee from a low flat rate to 1.5%.

Trelora’s savings may look comparable to other brands on paper, but it offers considerably less hands-on service and support than other low options like Clever and Redfin.

🚫 Assist-2-Sell

Assist-2-Sell is one of the oldest discount real estate franchises in the U.S. Each location sets its own rates, and some offices offer 1% listing fees.

The company used to be a solid option for home sellers looking to save on commission, but most of its offices have closed over the past 15 years. These closures suggests its competitors offer better overall value.

🚫 Faira Real Estate

Faira Real Estate advertises a 1% listing fee and promises an easy home selling experience. Both of those claims are misleading.

Due to hidden fees, Faira actually costs more than its advertised rates. And the company’s convoluted listing platform makes your home selling experience anything but simple.

How can I find low commission realtors near me?

Looking for a 1 percent commission realtor in your area? Select your state in the table below to find out what discount brokerages near you offer low listing fees. Click on a company name to learn more and find customer reviews from real buyers and sellers.

How does a low real estate commission work?

When you work with a traditional real estate agent, the total commission costs around 5–6% of the sales price. It’s common for the listing and buyer’s agents to split the commission 50/50, with each realtor earning around 2.5–3%. Commission fees are deducted from your sale proceeds at closing.

When you sell with a discount real estate broker, you’ll pay your listing agent a lower listing fee. This reduces your total commission costs. For example, a 1.5% listing fee would likely net you a 4–4.5% total commission, depending on how much you and your agent decide to offer for the buyer’s agent.

Why do real estate agents work for lower listing fees?

Today, the real estate industry is more competitive than ever. Commission rates are falling across the board as agents compete for listings, making the standard 3% realtor fee a thing of the past.

Discount brands have also found ways to make the home selling process more efficient, allowing them to charge lower rates. The best low commission companies offer listing fees as low as 1–1.5% without compromising on customer service or support.

For example, our top recommendation — Clever Real Estate — helps traditional real estate agents reduce their marketing expenses. These agents can pass their savings on to you.

Other discount real estate brokers have major trade-offs. Companies like Trelora cut their fees in risky ways that could cost you money on your sale. Always compare your options to find a local agent who offers the right combination of savings and hands-on service.

Check out our list of top picks and companies to avoid to learn more.

Can I offer the buyer’s agent a low commission too?

As the seller, you can offer the buyer’s agent whatever commission rate you want (or even none at all). However, advertising a lower buyer’s agent commission than other sellers in your area could put you at a competitive disadvantage.

The buyer’s agent fee incentivizes buyer’s agents to show your home to their clients. If you’re offering a smaller fee than the seller down the street, which house do you think realtors will show their buyers first?

» MORE: Find the average commission rate in your area

Watch out for minimum fees

When comparing low commission companies, pay close attention to minimum fees.

If you’re selling a lower-priced home, these fees could limit — or even eliminate — your commission savings.

For example, if you sell a $250,000 home with a brokerage that charges a $5,000 minimum fee, your listing commission will actually cost 2% — even if the company advertises a 1.5% rate.

How to get a lower listing fee

1. Work with a low commission realtor

The easiest way to get a lower listing fee when you sell your home is to work with a discount real estate brokerage. The top discount brands — like our low commission brokerage recommendations — offer huge savings and full support that matches what you’d get from a traditional agent.

However, some discount brokerages offer more value than others. Many low-fee companies offset their cheap rates with serious trade-offs in service quality. Others surprise you with hidden fees and conditions that chip away at your savings.

» MORE: Find the best discount real estate broker for your home sale! 

2. Negotiate a lower listing fee with your agent

If you want a reduced real estate commission and you want to sell with a specific agent, you can try to negotiate a discount yourself. But if your preferred agent charges a 2.5–3% listing fee, chances are you won’t convince them to drop it down very far.

That said, realtor fees are always 100% negotiable, so there’s no harm in asking your agent before you sign your listing agreement. In general, you’ll have more success negotiating a cheaper listing fee when:

• You’re in a seller’s market where homes like yours are selling quickly
• Most homes in your area are selling above their list price
• You’re selling an expensive home
• Your home is in pristine condition or you’re willing to invest in up-front repairs
• You offer to do more of the work yourself (e.g., host your own open house)
• You commit to working with the same agent to buy your new home
• You’re willing to walk away if the agent doesn’t lower their fee

» LEARN: More tips and tricks for negotiating realtor commission

FAQ

Methodology

We spent hundreds of hours researching discount real estate companies to help you find the best combination of savings and service for your home sale. We ranked these discount brands based on their dollar-for-dollar value compared to other brands in categories such as savings, service quality, and overall customer experience.

Since most companies that offer 1% listing fees charge minimum commissions on homes below a certain price point, we calculated average savings based on what you’d pay across four common home values — $100,000, $250,000, $500,000, and $750,000 — compared to a standard 3% listing agent commission.

Note: Pricing data, locations, and other data points are current as of when this article was last updated.

Related links

Working with a 1% commission realtor is one of the best ways to save on real estate commission, but other options are worth considering. Check out these resources to learn more.

The Best Discount Real Estate Brokers for Every Budget: Listing your home with a discount real estate broker is one of the easiest ways to save money. Check out our top picks for low commission brokers, as well as companies to avoid.

What Companies Offer the Lowest Real Estate Commission Fees? After hundreds of hours of research, we compiled a definitive ranking of the best low commission real estate companies. Compare savings, service quality, and pound-for-pound value to find the right option for you.

How to Negotiate Real Estate Commission: No matter what you’ve heard, real estate commission is always negotiable. Learn proven tips and tricks for persuading your agent to sell your house for less than the typical 3% listing fee.

How to Sell Your House without a Realtor: This guide outlines the steps to selling without a realtor, the pros and cons, and the costs.