Published
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Written by
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Edited by Hannah Warrick
Written by Jared Lindstrom
Edited by Hannah Warrick
If you’re looking to sell a house and save on realtor commission fees in Iowa, we recommend hiring a discount real estate brokerage. A good full-service discount real estate broker provides the same general services and support as a traditional real estate agent but for a fraction of the price.
| Company | Our Rating | Upfront Fee | Listing Fee | Availability | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
🏅 Best overall
Clever Real Estate |
Excellent
|
None
|
1.5% ($3,000 min.)
|
Statewide
|
Learn More |
Redfin Iowa |
Very good
|
None
|
1.5% ($2,500 min.)
|
Most metros
|
Learn More |
Ruby Realty |
Very good
|
None
|
$2,500
|
Greater Des Moines
|
Learn More |
FSBOHOMES |
Very good
|
None
|
$3,000*
|
Greater Des Moines
|
Learn More |
Flat Fee Group Iowa |
Good
|
$399–1995
|
0.25–0.5%
|
Statewide
|
Learn More |
The Real Estate Witch Team evaluated 157 discount real estate brokers in Iowa based on a variety of key factors, including fee structures, customer reviews, sales performance, and more. Our guide will help you choose the right brand to fit your budget and desired level of service.
⚡️ In a hurry? Find top discount realtors near you now.
Top full-service discount real estate brokers in Iowa
Upfront Fee
Listing Fee
Customer Rating
Availability
Overview
Pricing
Reviews
Contact
Our take: Clever is our top pick in Iowa for home sellers looking to save on realtor commission without sacrificing full service.
What we like: Clever gets you discounted rates (up to 50%) from non-discount realtors. Plus, Clever’s agent matching service is highly rated and free to use with no obligation.
How it works: Clever matches you with top local realtors from major brokerages like RE/MAX and Compass. You compare options to find the best fit and get the special 1.5% listing fee (same as Redfin) no matter which real estate agent you choose.
Pros
- Sell with a traditional agent from a name-brand brokerage (not a discount agent) and receive full service
- Agents work for up to 50% off their typical rate when you go through Clever
- Most agent selection by far — choose from hundreds of top Iowa real estate agents
Cons
- No guarantee you’ll be able to work with a specific agent or brokerage you have in mind
- Add-ons like professional staging, drone photos, and 3D tours may cost extra (agents will break down what’s included during their listing presentation)
Fee structure
- 1.5% listing fee ($3,000 min.) at closing
- 2–3% buyer’s agent commission at closing
Total reviews nationwide:
| Weighted avg. | 5.0 | 3,055 |
| Trustpilot | 5.0 | 2,755 |
| 4.8 | 300 |
Total reviews from Iowa
| Weighted avg. | 5.0 | 11 |
| Trustpilot | 5.0 | 11 |
| N/A | N/A |
Website: listwithclever.com
Phone: 1-833-225-3837
Hours: 7 a.m.–9 p.m. CST, 7 days a week
Address: 4625 Lindell Blvd, 2nd FL, St. Louis, MO 63108
Upfront Fee
Listing Fee
Customer Rating
Availability
Overview
Pricing
Reviews
Contact
Our take: Redfin is a good discount real estate broker for home sellers in Des Moines, offering great value compared to the typical 3% listing fees most realtors charge.
What we like: Redfin’s low 1.5% listing fee could result in major savings, and you qualify for another 0.5% off of the listing fee when you sell and buy with Redfin within 12 months. Redfin is a trusted and well-known brand that provides more real estate agents to choose from than many local discount realtors in Iowa.
Things to watch out: Redfin’s selling model focuses on technology and relies on a team-based system, which may not suit everyone’s preferences. Most of the process is remote — you work with a Lead Agent and back-office team.
Pros
- Significant savings with a 1.5% listing fee
- A reputable brand with a decent selection of discount agents
- Appealing tech-driven approach for certain sellers
Cons
- Higher minimum commission fee compared to other options in Des Moines
- Service model may not be suitable for everyone, as it is high-volume and team-based
- Offers a smaller selection of real estate agents compared to Clever
Fee structure
- 1.5% listing fee ($2,500 min. in Iowa) at closing
- 2–3% buyer’s agent commission at closing
- 0.5% listing fee refund if you also buy with Redfin within 12 months
*Not enough data available at this time
Website: redfin.com
Phone: 1-844-759-7732
Hours: 10 a.m.–7 p.m. CST, 7 days a week
Address: 699 Walnut St, 4th Floor, Des Moines, IA 50309
Areas served: Ames, Ankeny, Bettendorf, Cedar Rapids, Council Bluffs, Davenport, Des Moines, Dubuque, Iowa City, Urbandale, Waukee, West Des Moines, and more
Upfront Fee
Listing Fee
Customer Rating
Availability
Overview
Pricing
Reviews
Contact
Our take: Ruby Realty could be a good choice if you’re an Iowa home seller looking for a flat fee discount real estate broker that offers personalized attention and local expertise.
What we like: You’ll pay a fixed fee of $2,500 at closing with Ruby Realty’s full-service Ruby Plan, which can lead to substantial savings. The flat fee listing includes valuable services like free market analysis, signage, online marketing, and the support of a local real estate agent who knows the Des Moines area inside and out.
Things to watch out for: You need to upgrade to the Diamond Plan (which comes with a 2% listing fee) if you want access to realtor-led open houses. This may offset some of the potential savings.
Pros
- Reasonably low fixed listing fee (great for higher priced homes)
- Market analysis, yard signs, online marketing, and lock boxes included
- Expertise and personalized service from an experienced Des Moines real estate agent
Cons
- Open houses only available with the Diamond Plan, which charges a 2% listing fee
- Limited customer review information is available
Fee structure
Ruby Package
- $2,500 listing fee at closing
- 3% buyer’s agent commission at closing
Diamond Package
- 2% listing fee at closing
- 3% buyer’s agent commission at closing
Website: ruby-realty.com
Phone: (515) 987-8400
Address: 974-73rd #8, West Des Moines, IA 50266
Areas served: Altoona, Ankeny, Bondurant, Des Moines, Lovington, Norwoodville, Pleasant Hill, Saylorville, West Des Moines, and Windsor Heights
Upfront Fee
Listing Fee
Customer Rating
Availability
Overview
Pricing
Reviews
Contact
Our take: FSBOHOMES offers a DIY home selling solution for experienced homeowners in Iowa looking to sell at a flat fee, but extra charges could offset your savings with this discount realtor.
What we like: FSBOHOMES advertises a full-service marketing package at a competitive flat fee. This package includes 3D virtual open houses, custom yard signs, targeted local and online marketing, and listings on national real estate sites. You also have the flexibility to choose between upfront or at-closing payment options.
Things to watch out for: The fee varies by ZIP code, and you’ll pay more if you choose the at-closing option. FSBOHOMES may also charge more than full-service discount real estate brokerages in the area. You might pay more based on home size or location, and local MLS listings come at an extra cost.
Pros
- Flat fee structure keeps costs low and can potentially save home sellers money
- Includes valuable features like 3D virtual open houses, yard signs, and targeted advertising
- Highly positive customer reviews
Cons
- Upfront fee may pose a barrier for some sellers
- Additional fees may apply based on property size or location
- Local MLS listings aren’t included in the flat fee
Fee structure
- $2,500 upfront or $3,000 at closing
*Fee is reflective of the Des Moines market, all fees are subject to change, additional charges may occur based on property location or size
Website: fsbohomes.com
Phone: (515) 393-4688
Address: 110 N Ankeny Blvd, Ste 600, Ankeny, IA 50023
Areas served: Ankeny, Clive, Des Moines, Grimes, Johnston, Urbandale, Waukee, and West Des Moines
Upfront Fee
Listing Fee
Customer Rating
Availability
Overview
Pricing
Reviews
Contact
Our take: Flat Fee Group’s discounted commission structure is a great value, but you need to be careful when choosing a listing package.
What we like: Flat Fee Group presents Iowa home sellers with an attractive option of a low upfront fee ranging from $399–1,995 paired with listing fees as low as 0.25% to 0.5%. This combination has the potential to result in significant savings. The full-service package includes one year of MLS listing, in-person open houses, yard signs, and assistance with contract negotiation.
Things to watch out for: The flat fee discount real estate broker advises sellers to negotiate the lowest buyer’s agent commission possible — as low as 1%. While this approach may save you money, it could limit collaboration with buyer’s agents in your area. All fees, including the upfront fee, are non-refundable (even if you’re dissatisfied with the service provided).
Pros
- Potential savings compared to traditional brokerages
- Combination of low upfront fee and discounted listing fee offers flexibility
Cons
- Risk of losing the upfront fee if you cancel service
- Aggressive negotiation of buyer’s agent commissions may affect sales potential
- Limited customer reviews
Fee structure
Basic Listing Package:
- $399 upfront + 0.5% at closing
- 1–3% buyer’s agent commission recommended at closing
Premium Listing Package:
- $799 upfront + 0.5% at closing
- 1–3% buyer’s agent commission recommended at closing
Full-Service Package:
- $1,995 upfront + 0.25% at closing
- 1–3% buyer’s agent commission recommended at closing
*Not enough data available at this time
Website: flatfeegroup.com
Phone: (515) 770-2491
Areas served: Altoona, Ames, Ankeny, Bellevue, Belmond, Bennett, Bettendorf, Bloomfield, Boone, Burlington, Cedar Rapids, Clinton, Clive, Coralville, Council Bluffs, Davenport, De Soto, Decorah, Denison, Des Moines, Dubuque, Fort Dodge, Glenwood, Grand Junction, Greene, Grinnell, Grundy Center, Guthrie Center, Indianola, Iowa City, Johnston, Keokuk, Marion, Marshalltown, Mason City, Muscatine, Newton, North Liberty, Oskaloosa, Ottumwa, Pella, Pleasant Hill, Sioux City, Spencer, Storm Lake, Urbandale, Waterloo, Waukee, West Des Moines, and more
Other discount real estate brokerages in Iowa
Assist-2-Sell is a nationwide flat fee discount real estate brokerage that serves Iowa home sellers, but it did not make our list because the fee varies by location and there’s limited service information available. These factors kept us from providing specifics about its service offerings and made it hard to compare Assist-2-Sell to other discount realtors in Iowa.
Discount Realtor matches sellers with local real estate agents who offer their services at a flat fee or discounted rate. A lack of concrete pricing and service information kept Discount Realtor from making our list of best discount real estate brokers in Iowa.
Next Generation Realty advertises a bundled flat fee commission based on your home’s value. The broker missed our list of best discount real estate brokerages in Iowa because the commission structure could be confusing for sellers and might impact collaboration with buyer’s agents.
Space Simply serves the greater Des Moines area with a flat fee real estate listing option, but this broker did not make our list due to its limited service area. The real estate company also fails to mention its MLS listing period online, making it hard to compare its contract offerings to more transparent brokers.
Limited-service and flat fee MLS Iowa brokers
Sellers who have more experience in real estate may be interested in using limited-service or flat fee MLS companies. These brokerages offer less support but for a lower fee than full-service discount realtors.
| Company | Our Rating | Listing Fee | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Best choice for a user-friendly platform
Houzeo |
9,000+ reviews
|
$399 – $499 upfront + .50% – 1% at closing
|
Learn More |
Unreal Estate |
100+ reviews
|
$0–599 upfront + 0.5% at closing
Use code “Clever” to save
|
Learn More |
FSBO.com |
50 reviews
|
$399.95
|
Learn More |
» MORE: Compare all flat fee MLS services in Iowa.
Next steps: Start interviewing real estate agents
Related articles
Average Real Estate Commission in Iowa: Knowing the standard commission rate in your area can help you accurately estimate costs when you sell your home and avoid overpaying for a real estate agent.
How to Sell a House Without a Realtor in Iowa: Selling your home without a realtor means you won’t have to pay a listing commission, but do the positives outweigh the negatives? Read this guide to find out if FSBO in Iowa is right for you.
How to Negotiate Realtor Commissions: Negotiating real estate fees centers on knowing the market and your situation, then using that info while talking to multiple agents.
How to Choose the Right Realtor to Sell Your House: When selling a home in today’s market, choosing the right listing agent is key. Most people hire the first traditional real estate agent they interview — here’s a better approach.
Why trust us
Data sources
Our Research Team gathered 372 discrete pricing and service models to create our initial list of Iowa discount real estate brokerages. We then compiled and analyzed a further 12,771,081 publicly available data points tied to past transactions, customer reviews, licensing info, and more to categorize each service and create our final list and rankings.
Methodology
The Real Estate Witch Team used public business directories to identify every company in Iowa calling itself a discount real estate broker or agent. We then filtered that list down and ranked the top Iowa options based on the following criteria:
- Service level: We only included and rated full-service discount real estate brokers to start, which we think are the best option for most home sellers. These companies offer the same key services you’d expect from a traditional realtor, including in-person representation and end-to-end support.
- Pricing: We assessed each company’s fee structure and cross-referenced it with the service model to determine who was offering (a) the best overall value — price vs. service — and (b) the fewest unfavorable pricing terms, like high minimums, nonrefundable upfront fees, or other hidden costs.
- Customer reviews: We evaluated all verifiable customer reviews for each service. We considered not only the total review counts, average customer ratings, and key positive and negative themes, but we also assessed factors like how recent and relevant the reviews were to customers making hiring decisions right now.
- Sales activity: We looked at available data about past transactions to gauge sales performance and activity level.
Editorial policy
Credible, primary sources power our pages. When you hire a service through a link on this page, we may earn a small commission. But this doesn’t influence our advice or ranking methodology. Learn more about Real Estate Witch here.
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