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Edited by Kristy Snyder
Written by Jon Stubbs
Edited by Kristy Snyder
Why trust us: We strive to make objective recommendations by using a transparent ranking methodology. Learn more about how we chose the brokers featured in this article.
Compare discount brokers | Best major discount brokers | Best local discount broker | Best limited-service broker | FAQs
Discount brokers offer real estate services for less commission than traditional real estate agents, sometimes as little as 1%. This could mean thousands in savings in Houston, where the average real estate commission is 2.56%.
Even though home prices in Houston continue to rise during the last quarter of 2022, the market is beginning to cool. Saving with a discount broker is one way to offset the money you’ll lose if you sell at a lower price.
Discount brokers can help you save, but choose one carefully. Some discount brokers may trim their costs by omitting services you really need, such as reviewing important legal documents before closing.
We’ve researched discount real estate brokers in Houston for you. Read on to see which brokers we chose as the best major discount brokers, the top local brokerage, and the top choice for people who want to sell without a realtor in Houston.
Quick tips for choosing a discount real estate broker
- Choose your priorities. If saving money is the most important thing, choose a flat fee MLS service like Creekview Realty. If personalized service is more valuable to you, consider a company that partners with traditional agents, like Clever Real Estate.
- Calculate your actual savings. We’ve listed average savings for the companies we’ve reviewed here, but consider your home’s price point to figure out how much you’ll personally save.
- Pay attention to the differences between local and national agents. National brokers likely have more resources to provide more services. But what local agents lack in size, they often make up for in regional knowledge and insight.
- Research brands and their service. Look into what types of homes their agents typically sell. Search online reviews to see if you can spot a theme among the complaints and compliments of past clients.
- Consider the condition and type of your home. If you think your home will be easy to sell, you can probably choose any discount broker with good reviews and pricing. But if you’re selling a recently renovated Victorian home in The Heights, choose an agent who knows how to show off the property’s unique character.
Our recommendation: Shop around! 🛍️
Take the time to weigh the pros and cons of multiple options. Gather estimates, ask companies about hidden fees, interview agents, and find the solution you feel confident in. A bit of research goes a long way.
» Easily compare top local agents with built-in discounted rates.
Best discount real estate brokers in Houston
| Best… | Brand | Avg. savings | Avg. rating |
| Overall | Clever Real Estate | $7,375 | 4.9/5 (1,995) |
| Runner-up | Redfin | $5,550 | 3.7/5 (301) |
| Local | 1% Lists of Greater Houston | $8,000 | 4.9/5 (124) |
| Limited-service | Texas MLS Broker | $11,700 | 2.5/5 (6) |
Best major discount brands in Houston
Best Overall
- Listing fee: 1.5%
- Avg savings: $7,375
- Avg rating: 4.9/5
Clever is a free, nationwide service that matches you with top agents from well-known brokerages like Keller Williams, Century 21, and RE/MAX. You’ll get full service for a listing fee of 1.5%.
Clever is our top pick because it’s a fast and free way to find a top-rated, full-service agent for less. Clever pre-negotiates discounts for you so you can save thousands.
Clever’s concierge service will match you with the right agent who fits your needs, not just the next agent on a list or someone from an out-of-town team. Best of all, there’s no catch: you’ll get the same service you would with any other traditional agent for only 1.5% commission.
Clever has a 4.9/5 on Trustpilot across 1,995 reviews. Customer reviews mention how fast and easy Clever’s agent-matching process is while praising the quality of the agents.
Clever offers low commission rates with top agents in all 50 states and Washington, DC.
Runner-up
- Listing fee: 1.5% (min. fees vary)
- Avg savings: $5,550
- Avg rating: 3.7/5
Redfin offers a 1.5% listing commission — or as low as 1% if you also buy a home using a Redfin agent.
While Redfin offers another way to save on commission, it’s our number two pick because it comes with some tradeoffs. For example, Redfin’s agents manage about three times as many clients as its competitors, meaning your agent might have less time for your questions and concerns.
Redfin has plenty of positive reviews, with a 3.7/5 rating across 301 reviews. In reviews, customers talk about Redfin’s knowledgeable and responsive agents.
Redfin is available in over 100 markets across the U.S.
Looking for more options? Check out the top 10 low-commission real estate brokerages in 2022.
Real estate agent vs. broker: What’s the difference? 🤔
A real estate agent helps their clients buy or sell homes. An agent works for a broker, whose job is to manage agents and keep an eye on transactions to make sure everything is legal. Brokers are usually more experienced and typically don’t work directly with clients. Agents and brokers generally split the commission.
Best local discount real estate broker in Houston
Best Local
- Listing fee: 1%
- Avg savings: $8,000
- Avg rating: 4.9/5
1% Lists of Greater Houston provides full-service real estate listing for 1% commission. Services include professional photography, marketing on the MLS and social media, and contract negotiation.
1% Lists of Greater Houston is a tech-focused brokerage that provides discount commission agents for home sellers. The company doesn’t have a brick-and-mortar location, which cuts down on costs. This brokerage serves Houston; the company has other independently owned brokerages across the U.S.
At 1%, this company’s commission is one of the lowest full-service commissions available. If you’re interested in using 1% Lists, be sure to interview a few agents to make sure you find someone who’s a good fit. One drawback is that the company’s agents handle more customer than traditional realtors, so they may be less responsive.
1% Lists of Greater Houston serves Houston and surrounding areas.
Want to work with a local agent, but hate to miss out on savings? Our friends at Clever Real Estate can get you both. They partner with top local agents in Texas from trusted brokerages like RE/MAX, Coldwell Banker, and Keller Williams. You’ll get local support from a traditional real estate agent for just 1.5%.
📥 Get agent matches delivered straight to your inbox!
Best limited-service real estate broker in Houston
Limited-service
- Listing fee: $175–399
- Avg savings: $11,700
- Avg rating: 2.5/5
Texas MLS Broker provides inexpensive packages designed for those with FSBO selling experience. The company offers three tiers of service: a $175 no-frills package, a $280 package that adds more photos and a comparable market analysis, and a $399 package that extends the listing period from six months to 12 months.
You can also opt to pay $899 at closing for the highest tier package, and avoid paying any money upfront.
If you have experience selling FSBO, Texas MLS Broker can be a good solution to save money on commission. However, if you’ve never sold a home before, you’re better off partnering with a traditional agent.
Even Texas MLS Broker’s most expensive package doesn’t come close to providing the level of support you’ll get with a full-service broker. The company will answer some basic questions and help with forms, but you won’t get any of the advice and insight on local market trends like you would by using a traditional agent. Plus, if you sell FSBO, you’re likely to sell for less than you would with a traditional agent.
Texas MLS Broker is available in Austin, Bryan-College Station, Central Texas, Corpus Christi, El Paso, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, Laredo, McAllen, Midland, Odessa, and San Antonio.
Selling without a realtor is more complicated than it may sound. If you’re thinking about selling by owner in Houston, read these resources first:
How we chose
Real Estate Witch evaluated more than 50 national and local discount real estate brokers and found our top picks based on average savings, clarity of costs and terms, and how customers rated each company’s service.
To narrow down our lists, we first disqualified companies that:
- Did not have an active website
- Did not have any customer reviews on the most common review sites
- Did not clearly disclose their commission rates or terms
Then, we ranked companies based on the following factors:
- Average savings. We established savings based on what consumers would pay across four typical home values — $100,000, $250,000, $500,000, and $750,000 — and compared those rates to a standard 3% listing agent commission.
- Customer reviews. We aggregated reviews from third-party websites including Google, Yelp, Facebook, Trustpilot, Zillow, and Better Business Bureau. We ranked companies based on their review score, as well as the number of reviews.
Note: Pricing data, locations, and other data points are current as of when this article was last updated.
FAQs
Who are the best discount realtors in Houston?
Clever Real Estate is the best discount realtor in Houston, followed by Redfin and local company 1% Lists of Greater Houston. For those who want to sell without a realtor, Texas MLS Broker has a great reputation as a flat fee MLS company. Learn more about choosing a discount real estate broker in Houston.
Who’s the best Houston flat fee realtor?
Texas MLS Broker is a good flat fee option if you have experience selling FSBO. Flat Fee By You and Creekview Realty also offer affordable MLS listings in Texas. Learn more about working with a flat fee realtor in Houston.
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