Key takeaway: Ramsey Trusted agents (formerly Dave Ramsey ELP realtors) provides a way for buyers and sellers to find realtors who are endorsed by radio host and financial guru Dave Ramsey.
In practice, there's no clear benefit to using a Dave Ramsey realtor. The Ramsey Trusted agent platform has relatively few realtors to choose from, which reduces your odds of getting a top agent in your area. Plus, despite Ramsey’s reputation for financial prudence, the company offers zero savings on realtor commission.
We recommend looking at alternatives that offer a better selection of agents and built-in savings. Other companies do a much better job of holding their agents to high performance standards while also cutting realtor fees by as much as half of what you’ll pay with a Dave Ramsey realtor.
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Ramsey Trusted Agents at a glance
| 🏢 Company type | Agent finding service |
| 🏴 Active since | 1992 |
| 💲 Listing fee | 2.5-3%* |
| 💰 Buyer savings | None |
| ⭐ Average customer rating | 4.4/5 (446 reviews) |
| 📍 Availability | Nationwide |
| *Agents set their own fees. 2.5-3% is the typical rate charged by realtors. | |
» JUMP TO: Competitors | Customer reviews | How it works | Is it legit? | Locations | Bottom line
Pros and cons of using a Dave Ramsey realtor
Finding a realtor through Ramsey Trusted will appeal most to buyers and sellers who are fans of Dave Ramsey. Since agents are required to take Dave Ramsey training courses, they often understand his financial principles. The agent matching platform is also free to consumers.
However, most people are better off looking for a real estate agent elsewhere. The potential cons of using Ramsey Trusted include:
- Limited agent selection. Ramsey Trusted doesn’t have a large pool of agents, so there’s a higher chance you’ll miss out on working with a top local realtor.
- Ramsey doesn’t actually vet agents. Pretty much any agent willing to pay the referral fees can join the network, as long as they've held an active license for a minimum number of years.
- No discounts on realtor commission. Dave Ramsey realtors are charged very high referral fees that make it difficult for them to negotiate a lower commission for you.
Other companies offer a better agent selection and can save you savings of as much as 50% on your realtor fees.
Dave Ramsey realtors vs. competitors
The Ramsey Trusted agent network only has about 2,500 agents nationwide.[1] That makes them one of the smaller agent finding services. While network size isn’t everything, a company that doesn’t have enough agents will struggle to match many people with top local realtors, a complaint that we encountered in reviews of Ramsey Trusted agents.
Ramsey’s smaller network size may be due to the fact that fewer realtors are willing to pay the high fees to become a Ramsey Trusted agent. Other agent finding services have far more agents to choose from because they don’t charge agents to join their networks. UpNest, for example, has over 15,000 agents,[2] while HomeLight has more than 30,000. Companies with larger agent networks are generally better at allowing you to compare multiple agents.
Unlike many of its competitors, Ramsey Trusted won’t save you any money. Their realtor fees are the same as what you’d pay by finding a traditional, full-priced real estate agent on your own. For a listing agent, expect to pay a commission of 2.5-3% on top of the 2.5-3% concession you may have to offer for the buyer’s agent.
Options like Clever Real Estate and Ideal Agent charge as little as 1.5% or 2%, respectively, while holding their partner agents to high performance standards.
Listing Fee
Active Since
Buyer Savings
Our take
Locations
Clever Real Estate is our top pick because it delivers the best combination of savings and service of any competitor that we’ve reviewed. Clever's main selling point is that its agents provide you with full service and support for just a 1.5% listing fee, saving you thousands when you sell your home, while eligible home buyers can earn cash back at closing. Unlike some of its competitors, Clever also allows you to choose your own agent. It matches you up with multiple agents, and you can choose the one that best fits your needs.
Pros
- Get matched with top-producing local agents in minutes.
- Low 1.5% listing fee.
- Network of 19,000 agents offers great selection
Cons
- Add-ons like professional home staging may cost extra
- Fewer agent options in certain rural areas.
Listing Fee
Active Since
Buyer Savings
Our take
Locations
Like Clever, Ideal Agent is an agent matching service. It connects you with a full-service realtor at a discounted listing fee of 2%. Ideal Agent claims it only works with the top 1% of realtors by performance, based on sales volume in each agent's market. However, customers looking for multiple choices may be disappointed. It's a "take-it or leave-it" situation when it comes to the agent you're matched with, as the company denied our shoppers' request for another agent match.
Pros
- Full-service support from a top-rated agent
- Realtors must meet strict quality standards
- Nationwide coverage
Cons
- 2% listing fee higher than competitors
- You get only one agent match
Listing Fee
Active Since
Buyer Savings
Our take
Locations
UpNest is a legitimate agent matching service, and it can be a good way to compare real estate agents in your area. But there’s no guarantee you’ll save on real estate commissions because UpNest doesn’t negotiate a lower fee with their agents.
Pros
- Fast, easy way to compare local agents
- Agents offer full service and support
- Many customers report a positive experience with their agent
Cons
- No guaranteed savings for buyers or sellers
- Lax vetting standards compared to some competitors
- A small percentage of complaints mention a lack of professionalism and communication
Listing Fee
Active Since
Buyer Savings
Our take
Company details
Locations
HomeLight might be a good alternative for sellers in small markets or rural areas who can't find a local agent through other platforms. HomeLight’s agent network is double the size of some competitors, so realtor matches are good in terms of local knowledge.
But if you want savings and a guaranteed match with a top agent, HomeLight isn't the best option. The company doesn't offer any savings on realtor fees. And it doesn’t screen its agents for quality and experience; any agent can sign up.
Pros
- HomeLight is a well-known and established agent matching service.
- You have more options for agents and brokerages.
- The company may offer better coverage in small towns and rural markets.
Cons
- HomeLight doesn't pre-negotiate savings for customers.
- The agent matching process is 100% automated, which can result in bad matches.
- Many customer reviews cite unsolicited calls and spam emails after signing up on HomeLight's website.
Dave Ramsey realtor reviews: What customers say
| Review site | Rating |
|---|---|
| Better Business Bureau | 2.5/5 (17 reviews) |
| 4.5/5 (429 reviews) | |
| Average rating | 4.4/5 (446 reviews) |
Reviews for Dave Ramsey realtor are fairly positive. The agents you’ll get matched through Ramsey Trusted with are generally good and proactive in helping you sell your house. However, some customers complain that they weren’t given much choice in their realtor, which may reflect the fact that Dave Ramsey isn’t well known in all areas of the country. Also, some customers complained that their agents fell short of expectations and were uncommunicative.
We should also note that many of the reviews used to calculate our rating above come from customers who used other Ramsey Trusted services, such as for insurance, or who were simply Dave Ramsey fans but hadn’t used any of his services. As a result, the rating may not accurately reflect what customers who are specifically looking for a realtor may experience with Ramsey Trusted.
✅ What customers love
Good quality agents. Positive reviews of Ramsey Trusted agents usually note that the agents they were matched with provided excellent service. Many customers felt that their agents were professional and proactive in helping them meet their real estate needs.
Jenna M****** From the Ramsey Real Estate Team has superb efficiency in real estate education and expertise. She expedited all paperwork and coordinated viewings effectively, leading to a super quick sale. Her active approach was evident when she organized numerous open house events that attracted multiple offers.
— Rebecca D., March 2024, BBB
Satisfied with final results. Some customers also felt that they were able to sell their homes for more money with their Ramsey Trusted agent than they would have with another agent.
I used a Ramsey ELP to sell my house and it was a great decision. [...] He sold my house for 20% more than the other 2 agents said I could get for it and it sold in 6 days! He was high energy and came with a great plan to market and sell the house.
— besttech10, April 2024, Reddit
However, there’s no guarantee that you’ll sell for more with a Ramsey Trusted agent. When choosing a realtor, focus on their experience and their plan for meeting your real estate needs. These factors are far more important than whatever brand they’re associated with.
❌ Dave Ramsey realtor complaints
Uneven coverage. While Dave Ramsey has a dedicated following, he is more popular in certain areas of the country than others. Plus, Ramsey Trusted agents have to pay high fees to become a part of the program, which discourages some agents from joining. As a result, you may get fewer agent matches than you would with an alternative.
When we requested an ELP, we received only one suggestion from someone about 2 hours away! Way too far! I know there are more in our area, near Pahrump NV. It would be nice to receive all local ELPs and let us shop for the best one!
— Harv D., 2023, Google
Disappointing agent quality. While many reviewers say they had a positive experience with their Dave Ramsey realtor, this isn’t always the case. Some customers complain about real estate agents who were uncommunicative or who failed to be proactive in helping them sell or buy a home.
As soon as I signed the contract, she basically stopped communicating with me. For at least three months, the only way I heard from her was if I called or texted her. Usually it took 2-3 texts from me to her over 2-3 days before she finally responded.
— _Teddy_Westside, December 2023, Reddit
Service quality is going to vary from one agent to another. While some Ramsey Trusted agents are good, others aren’t. However, because Ramsey Trusted has fewer agents to choose from than its competitors, you are less able to compare realtors in order to make the pick that’s right for you.
Dave Ramsey reviews from realtors
Ramsey Trusts appears to have mixed reviews from realtors. In areas where Dave Ramsey has a large following, his endorsement carries significant weight and can help you grow your business. Elsewhere, however, the Ramsey name is unlikely to help you get more clients.
If you are in the northeast or west coast don't do it. If you are in the south go for it. [...] It does work if your market knows who Dave Ramsey is and likes him. If it doesn't they will be terrible pay per click and social media impression leads.
— peeketodearlyinlife, July 2023, Reddit
Similarly, some realtors felt that while Ramsey Trusted had its benefits, its high fees meant it wasn’t good value overall. Keep in mind that as a Ramsey Trusted agent, you don’t just pay a referral fee when you close, but also a signup fee and an ongoing monthly fee. These costs can eat into your bottomline, especially if the program isn’t generating enough leads for you.
My team used Ramsey for a little while. They started off great leads. Over time they were worse and worse. Constantly dealt with bad numbers, folks that said they didn’t have the slightest clue who Dave Ramsey was. There were months we didn’t have a single closing or warm lead from them. Dropped them after they asked for more money.
— GarbageBoyJr, July 2023, Reddit
How Ramsey Trusted agents works
- Sign up to match with a Ramsey Trusted agent. The site prompts you to answer questions about where you plan to buy or sell, your timeline, contact info, reasons for moving, and specific buying or selling concerns.
- Instantly match with agents. The platform connects you with multiple realtors in your area. This process is 100% automated, so it may not be as accurate as platforms that include a human element during the matching process.
- Connect with the Ramsey Customer Success Team. A Ramsey team member emails you with introductory information about the service. Your suggested agents may also contact you at this point.
- Review your matches. You receive detailed information about your agents, including sales metrics like average transaction price, average days on the market, and closings in the past 12 months. This information also includes Ramsey-specific qualifications, such as the agent’s current Ramsey Baby Step, the number of Dave Ramsey Books Read, and whether they’re involved with Financial Peace University (a course that teaches Ramsey basics).
- Schedule interviews with potential agents. After you review your matches, you can meet with the agents to get to know them better.
- Hire an agent or walk away. You can choose to sign a listing agreement and hire them as your real estate agent, or you can choose to look elsewhere. If you work with a Ramsey Trusted Agent, your Ramsey team member stays in touch with you throughout the process.
What do you get with a Dave Ramsey realtor?
Ramsey Trusted agents are full service realtors who operate independently of Ramsey Solutions. As a result, Ramsey Solutions has no control over what services Ramsey Trusted agents actually offer. However, as full service realtors, you can usually expect the following to be included in your listing agreement:
- Comparative market analysis (CMA)
- Pricing guidance
- MLS listing syndicated to Zillow, Realtor.com, etc.
- Staging and home prep advice
- Professional photography
- Print and digital marketing
- Offer reviews
- Contract negotiations
- Coordination of inspections, appraisals, and closing
Some realtors may offer additional services such as drone photography, 3D virtual tours, home prep, and staging either as part of their standard service package or for an extra fee.
Additional services
Other Dave Ramsey financial services
In addition to Ramsey Trusted agents, Ramsey Solutions recommends other financial professionals, such as mortgage providers, home insurance companies, and tax services. As with Ramsey Trusted agents, these services can be found through the Ramsey Solutions’ website.
Should you become a Dave Ramsey realtor?
To become a Ramsey Trusted Agent, realtors must meet minimum vetting requirements and pay both membership and referral fees.
Ramsey Solutions claims that its leads convert better than the competition. However, that claim is impossible to verify. We also found that the program charges high fees compared to other referral services.
Ramsey Trusted Agents fees
Ramsey Trusted agents doesn’t make its fees public. However, based on online comments and reviews from realtors, it appears that the company charges different rates depending on your local market.
Ramsey Trusted agents charges three different types of fees: a startup fee, a monthly fee, and a referral fee. According to one source, “I believe the fees are $3,000 upfront, $500 a month, and 30% referral fee for each transaction.”
Note that these fees are extremely high for a realtor referral service. While referral fees of around 30% are normal, to charge a $3,000 upfront fee plus an ongoing monthly fee on top of that is unusual.
Ramsey Trusted Agents realtor requirements
Ramsey Trusted has relatively lax vetting requirements for agents, which have gotten only less stringent in recent years. For real estate agents, to join Ramsey Trusted you’ll need to meet the following criteria:[3]
- 2 years of experience (formerly 3 years)
- Minimum 10 closings (formerly 20) in the past 12 months
- 50 lifetimes closings
Alternatively, you can also qualify for Ramsey Trusted agents if you’re in the top 10% of realtors in your area. This alternative policy can be useful if you live in a smaller market with fewer overall transactions.
You’ll also be expected to familiarize yourself with Ramsey’s financial principles by taking video training courses. Many of the leads generated by Ramsey Trusted are fans of Dave Ramsey, so the company expects you to stay up to date on his teachings.
Are Ramsey Trusted agents legitimate?
Ramsey Trusted is a legit company that operates under the Ramsey Solutions umbrella. Founded in 1992 as the Lampo Group[4] and renamed in 2014, Ramsey Solutions is headed by radio host and financial guru Dave Ramsey.
Ramsey is best known for his debt reduction methods and has built a dedicated following. His books have been listed as New York Times bestsellers and he was inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame in 2015.[5]
Ramsey Solutions has faced controversy over the years, including firing people who don’t agree with Ramsey’s religious and political beliefs. Ramsey has also been accused of promoting a fraudulent timeshare exit company that cost his followers tens of thousands of dollars while he made $450,000 per month from the deal.
Where to find a Dave Ramsey realtor
Ramsey Trusted agents are available nationwide. However, in some areas where Ramsey has a less dedicated following, you may not have much of a selection to choose from.
Ramsey Trusted Agents news and updates
A group of listeners of Ramsey’s radio show sued him for promoting a timeshare exit company that was shutdown for “deceptive practices.” Ramsey allegedly promoted information that violated consumer protection laws while earning $450,000 a month through his deal with the company.
Ramsey and a former employee settled an employment discrimination lawsuit. The employee alleged that after coming out as a lesbian in 2020, her supervisor told her she would have to either remain closeted or risk termination. When she refused, she was told to resign.
A former employee of Ramsey Solutions sued the company for allegedly firing him because he was wearing a mask and following social distancing guidelines at work during the COVID pandemic. The fired employee claimed that the company tried to "indoctrinate" him to the "religious views of Dave Ramsey as a spiritual leader."
A former employee of Ramsey Solutions says she was fired because she was pregnant.[6] The company claims that she was fired for having premarital sex – not because she was pregnant. Ramsey Solutions further admitted to firing at least eight employees for premarital sex as part of its "righteous living" policy, which it claims is within its rights as a private company.
During a deposition, a former Ramsey Solutions employee confirms under oath that Dave Ramsey pulled a gun out during a work meeting in order to teach employees "a lesson" about gossip. The episode was linked to Ramsey being upset about Twitter and YouTube accounts that were critical of him.
Bottom line: Should I use Dave Ramsey realtor?
There’s no inherent benefit in using Dave Ramsey realtor compared to other real estate agents. While it’s possible you’ll find a good real estate agent through Ramsey Trusted agents, you’ll get a wider selection of agents through other agent finding services. Being able to compare more agents increases your chances of finding one who is right for you.
Plus, despite Ramsey’s reputation as a financial guru, using Ramsey Trusted agents won’t save you any money. You’ll end up paying the average realtor commission of around 2.5-3%. We recommend comparing other companies that charge lower commission but have a larger selection of agents and better vetting criteria.
FAQ
Ramsey ELP (Endorsed Local Provider) is the former name of Ramsey Trusted, which is a network of professionals endorsed by financial guru Dave Ramsey. The network includes Ramsey Trusted agents, who are real estate agents who pay a fee to join Ramsey Trusted in exchange for being matched with people looking to buy or sell a house.
Yes, Ramsey Trusted is the new name for Dave Ramsey ELP. Ramsey Trusted, like Dave Ramsey ELP, are professionals who have been endorsed by Dave Ramsey and who have agreed to follow Ramsey’s financial principles.
The cost of becoming a Ramsey Trusted Agent (formerly Dave Ramsey ELP Realtor) varies by market. However, you will have to pay an upfront fee that can run into the thousands, plus a monthly fee of at least a few hundred dollars, and a referral fee of around 30%. The fees are higher than most other realtor referral companies.
No, Dave Ramsey is not a real estate broker and the agents endorsed by Ramsey Trusted are not employed by him. Ramsey is a financial guru and media personality known for his debt reduction strategies as well as his conservative Christian beliefs.
Real estate agents in Ramsey’s program must meet the following qualifications to join: 2 years of experience with 10 transactions in the past 12 months and at least 50 transactions overall. Alternatively, agents can qualify if they are a top 10% real estate agent in their local area.
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How to Find a Real Estate Agent: Finding a real estate agent doesn’t have to be difficult. We look at what makes a good agent and how to find the right one for you.