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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 | FAQ
A discount real estate broker is an agent or company that charges as little as 1% in listing commission. The average listing commission in Texas is 2.71%, so using a discount broker could save you thousands of dollars when selling a home.
Saving on commission with a discount broker is one way to recoup some of the money you’ll lose when selling due to shrinking prices. In San Antonio, home sales are down 24.2% from a year ago. With demand falling, it’s only a matter of time until home prices begin to fall, too.
If you do opt for a discount broker, choose carefully. Not all discount brokers are the same, and some may cut costs in ways that can put you at risk.
We did the research for you and narrowed down the best discount real estate brokers in San Antonio. Read on to see which companies we picked as the best major discount brokers, the top local brokerage, and the top choice for people who want to sell without a realtor in San Antonio.
Quick tips for choosing a discount real estate broker
- Decide what’s important to you. If savings is your number one priority, go with a flat fee MLS service like Creekview Realty. But if you value personalized service more, go with a company like Clever Real Estate that partners with traditional agents.
- Estimate actual savings. We’ve included average savings for the companies listed here, but find out how much you can save based on your home’s price point.
- Note the difference between local and national agents. National brokers likely have more resources, so they may be able to provide more services. But local agents are better connected to your market and might have the insight you need to get the best price for your home.
- Carefully vet brands and their service. Research what kinds of homes their agents have sold in the past. Read online reviews to learn about their reputation and look for recurring themes — positive or negative.
- Consider the state and type of your home. If your home is easy to sell, you can likely choose any discount broker with good reviews and pricing. But if you’re selling a vintage home in the Monte Vista Historic District, you’ll want to find an agent who knows how to showcase the home’s unique features.
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 San Antonio
| 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 | Leslie Lerner Properties | $7,500 | 4.6/5 (13) |
| Limited-service | Creekview Realty | $11,400 | 4.8/5 (89) |
Best major discount brands in San Antonio
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 San Antonio
Best Local
- Listing fee: $4,500
- Avg savings: $7,500
- Avg rating: 4.6/5 (13)
Leslie Lerner Properties offers full-service listing representation for a flat fee of $4,500 on properties up to $800,000.
Leslie Lerner Properties is a good choice for people who are selling homes with a value of $800,000 or lower. At the highest end of this price range, the company’s flat fee of $4,500 works out to just above 0.5%, which is much lower than the average listing commission of 2.71%. Even if your home sells for $300,000, the flat fee is only 1.5% of the sale price.
Though Leslie Lerner Properties doesn’t have a lot of reviews, most of them are five stars. Customers compliment their professionalism and ability to advocate for their clients.
Leslie Lerner Properties operates in San Antonio and Houston.
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 San Antonio
Limited-service
- Listing fee: $600
- Avg savings: $11,400
- Avg rating: 4.8/5
Creekview Realty is a local company offering limited real estate services for a flat fee. Its $600 basic package includes a six-month listing on the MLS. The premium package costs $1,400 and includes everything in the basic package plus full agent representation for all contracts, documents, and negotiations.
Creekview Realty provides some (but not all) of the services you’d get using a traditional agent. It’s a good choice for people who want to sell their home themselves but need a little bit of help. However, it’s more expensive than some national flat fee MLS services.
Do your research before going the for sale by owner (FSBO) route. Even with the premium package, selling FSBO is a lot of work. Plus, you’re likely to sell for less if you don’t have a listing agent, which may cancel out any money you save on commission.
Creekview Realty is available in Austin, Bryan-College Station, Central Texas, Corpus Christi, Dallas-Fort Worth, El Paso, Highland Lakes, Houston, Killeen-Fort Hood, Longview, McAllen, San Antonio, Tyler, and Waco.
Selling without a realtor is more complicated than it may sound. If you’re thinking about selling by owner in San Antonio, 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
What is a real estate brokerage?
A real estate brokerage is a company that employs agents. States require brokerages to have a designated broker who holds the brokerage's license. The designated broker is responsible for making sure all agents are in compliance with the law. Agents split their commissions with the brokerage. Learn more about real estate brokers.
What does a broker do in real estate?
A broker is a licensed professional who acts as a manager for the brokerage's agents, monitoring transactions to make sure the agents follow the law. Brokers are usually more experienced in the industry than agents and are experts in local rules and regulations. Learn the difference between a broker, agent, and realtor.
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