Top Birmingham discount realtors | How to choose | Commission fees | Using a 1% realtor | Using a 2% realtor | Alternatives | Birmingham real estate market | Methodology
If you’re looking to sell a house and save on realtor commission fees in Birmingham, AL, we recommend hiring a low commission realtor.
A good full-service low commission realtor provides the same general services as a traditional real estate agent but for a fraction of the price. Discount realtors typically charge a 1-2% listing fee instead of the Birmingham average listing fee of 2.81%.
We found and scored the 6 best full-service low commission realtors in Birmingham. Browse our list to find the best one for you.
⚡️ Compare top-rated discount brokers near you. Enter your zip code and get matched with local agents who charge a 1.5% listing fee.
Our research team uses public business directories to identify all the discount real estate companies that operate in Birmingham. We select and rank the best Birmingham discount realtors based on the following criteria:
- Pricing: How much savings does the company offer compared to traditional brokers? (40% of ranking score)
- Services: Does the broker offer traditional listing services and/or premium services? (30% of ranking score)
- Reviews: Does the discount realtor have positive customer ratings across lots of reviews? (30% of ranking score)
A full-service discount real estate broker is a great option if you want to save money on realtor fees, but you still want the guidance and support of a real estate agent throughout your home sale. The best discount brokerages offer the same level of service that you'd receive from a traditional realtor.
In general, we don't recommend using discount realtors who have poor customer reviews or offer limited service. Before you hire a real estate agent, it's important to verify that they'll provide in-person representation and support with pricing, negotiations, and closing.
🏅 The best discount real estate brokers in Birmingham
Our Rating
Listing Fee
Minimum Fee
Takeaways
Reviews
Plan
Contact
Listing fee: Offers a low listing fee of just 1.5% (compared to the traditional 2.81% listing fee in Alabama).
Upfront fee: No upfront fee required.
Savings: The average Alabama home seller can save $2,949 using Clever (compared to using a traditional broker).
Reviews: Excellent customer review score, with an average rating of 4.9 stars across 3,650 reviews.
Standard services: Clever agents offer all the standard services at no additional cost, including photography, showing management, and more.
Premium services: Clever agents offer professional listing photography at no extra cost (other premium services may be included).
Our Rating
Listing Fee
Minimum Fee
Takeaways
Reviews
Plan
Contact
Listing fee: Charges a flat fee of $2,900 at closing, which is ideal for sellers with expensive homes.
Upfront fee: Doesn’t charge an upfront fee, which is ideal.
Savings: You'd save around $3,426 on a typical Alabama home valued at $225,130, compared to selling with the traditional listing fee of 2.81% in the state.
Reviews: Good customer review score, with an average rating of 4.9 stars across 93 reviews.
Standard services: This brokerage offers all the standard services at no additional cost, including photography, showing management, and more.
Premium services: This discount realtor offers a limited number of premium listing services to help you sell your home.
Our Rating
Listing Fee
Minimum Fee
Takeaways
Reviews
Plan
Contact
Listing fee: Charges a flat fee of $2,000 at closing, which is ideal for sellers with expensive homes.
Upfront fee: Doesn’t charge an upfront fee, which is ideal.
Savings: You'd save around $4,326 on a typical Alabama home valued at $225,130, compared to selling with the traditional listing fee of 2.81% in the state.
Reviews: Decent customer review score, with an average rating of 4.6 stars across 40 reviews.
Standard services: This brokerage offers all the standard services at no additional cost, including photography, showing management, and more.
Premium services: This discount realtor includes some premium listing services at no extra cost to help market your house.
Our Rating
Listing Fee
Minimum Fee
Takeaways
Reviews
Plan
Contact
Listing fee: Offers a very low listing fee of 1% (compared to the traditional 2.81% listing fee in Alabama).
Upfront fee: Doesn’t charge an upfront fee, which is ideal.
Savings: You'd save around $4,075 on a typical Alabama home valued at $225,130, compared to selling with the traditional listing fee of 2.81% in the state.
Reviews: Good customer review score, with an average rating of 5 stars across 12 reviews.
Standard services: This company includes most of the standard services at no extra cost, including in-person representation.
Premium services: This discount realtor offers a limited number of premium listing services to help you sell your home.
Our Rating
Listing Fee
Minimum Fee
Takeaways
Reviews
Plan
Contact
Listing fee: Charges a flat fee of $3,500 at closing, which is ideal for sellers with expensive homes.
Upfront fee: Doesn’t charge an upfront fee, which is ideal.
Savings: You'd save around $2,826 on a typical Alabama home valued at $225,130, compared to selling with the traditional listing fee of 2.81% in the state.
Reviews: Decent customer review score, with an average rating of 5 stars across 8 reviews.
Standard services: This company includes most of the standard services at no extra cost, including in-person representation.
Premium services: This discount realtor offers a limited number of premium listing services to help you sell your home.
Our Rating
Listing Fee
Minimum Fee
Takeaways
Reviews
Plan
Contact
Listing fee: Offers a very low listing fee of 1% (compared to the traditional 2.81% listing fee in Alabama).
Upfront fee: Doesn’t charge an upfront fee, which is ideal.
Savings: You'd save around $4,075 on a typical Alabama home valued at $225,130, compared to selling with the traditional listing fee of 2.81% in the state.
Reviews: Decent customer review score, with an average rating of 5 stars across 5 reviews.
Standard services: This brokerage offers all the standard services at no additional cost, including photography, showing management, and more.
Premium services: This discount realtor includes some premium listing services at no extra cost to help market your house.
How to choose a low commission real estate broker in Birmingham
Finding the best low commission or discount realtor isn’t just about finding the lowest commission rates. There’s a lot to consider when choosing a discount real estate broker, from the services offered, quality of agents, and fees at closing.
🏠 What services are included?
Full-service discount real estate brokers typically offer all the traditional services you'd expect from a conventional realtor, including:
- In-person representation
- Pricing assistance
- Multiple listing service (MLS) syndication
- Listing photography
- Online marketing
- Yard sign and lockbox
- Showing management
- Negotiation assistance
- Closing support
Some discount realtors include premium services or offer them at an additional cost. These services include things like:
- Drone photography
- Virtual tours
- Floorplans
- Virtual staging
- Social media marketing
When considering your options, make sure the broker offers all the services you need. Some discount realtors will offer lower rates, but core services, like photography or closing support, are missing. Other companies will charge high
⭐ Do they have good reviews?
Customer reviews provide an inside look at the quality and recent activity of a discount real estate broker. Read online customer reviews and look for at least 10-20 recent reviews with an average 4-5 star rating (out of 5). Read both positive and negative reviews to find consistent themes. Expect local discount realtors to have fewer reviews than nationwide brands, due to company size.
💵 Are you getting a good deal?
The average listing commission for Birmingham is around 2.81% of the home's sale price. So ideally, you’d want to find a discount realtor willing to list your home for a 2% real estate commission or less to achieve significant savings. A few discount realtors even charge as low as a 1% listing fee while still offering full service.
Some discount realtors charge nonrefundable, upfront fees and lower commission rates at closing. These pricing models present more risk for the seller, as the upfront fee is usually not refundable.
Other discount real estate brokers charge flat fees instead of percentage-based commissions. These pricing models typically work best for sellers with more expensive homes. Make sure that the flat fee doesn't exceed 2% of your home's estimated value.
Average real estate commission rates in Birmingham
In Birmingham, sellers are responsible for paying the listing agent directly. The average listing fee in Birmingham is 2.81%, though you can pay lower rates by using a discount real estate agent.
Traditionally, sellers also set the fee they were willing to pay a buyer's agent. But a 2024 lawsuit against the National Association of Realtors changed this so buyer's agents have to negotiate rates directly with the buyers they represent.
Most buyers will still ask sellers to pay this fee as a concession from their sale proceeds, so the buyer doesn't have to bring more cash to closing.
The average buyer’s agent commission in Birmingham is 2.50%. That’s $6,188 on a home in Birmingham with the median sale price of $280,600.
Should I use a 1% commission realtor?
Using a 1% commission realtor to sell your home can be a great option if you’re looking to maximize your profits. You’ll save money on commissions compared to the traditional 2.81% listing fee in Birmingham.
However, it's important to choose the best realtor for your situation — not just the realtor with the lowest commission rate. Before you choose to sell with a 1% realtor, verify that they offer all the same services that you'd get from a traditional realtor. Avoid any 1% realtors that don't offer in-person support, negotiation assistance, or hands-on support during closing.
It's also a good idea to read online reviews from former clients to learn about how the agent works. If you have time, interview 2–3 agents from different discount brokerages and choose the agent that you feel the most comfortable with.
Should I use a 2% commission realtor?
Choosing a 2% commission realtor can still provide you with significant savings compared to a traditional realtor. But as with any real estate brokerage, the level of service can vary by agent, so it's important to clarify exactly what's included.
Your decision should be based on your local market dynamics, the complexity of your sale, and your comfort level with handling certain aspects of the process yourself. Always interview multiple agents and compare their track records and customer reviews before making a choice.
Should I use a flat fee realtor?
Using a flat fee realtor can be a good way to save thousands of dollars compared to traditional percentage-based commissions — particularly if you're selling a high-value home. But, if you're selling a less expensive property, you may get more savings by choosing a discount realtor who charges percentage-based commission. It all depends on the amount of the flat fee and how that compares to your home's potential sale price.
Additionally, consider the level of service you require and ensure that the flat fee option provides all the assistance you need throughout the selling process.
Alternatives to using a discount real estate broker in Alabama
- Sell to a cash home buyer in Birmingham: This is a good option if you need to sell your house as fast as possible, don't have time to make repairs, and don't mind selling for less than you'd get on the market.
- Sell to an iBuyer: Similar to a cash buyer, iBuyers are companies that make quick, all-cash offers on homes. However, they typically have strict criteria for the homes they buy and generally only buy move-in ready homes in hot markets. They may request you make certain repairs on your home before completing the offer.
- Sell without a realtor and use a flat fee MLS company in Birmingham: This option allows you to list your home on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) for a flat fee, typically a few hundred dollars. You'll handle most of the sale process yourself, including pricing, marketing, and negotiations. While this can save you money on commissions, it requires more time and effort on your part, and you may not have access to a realtor's expertise and network.
- Negotiate realtor fees yourself: Instead of accepting standard commission rates, you can try to negotiate lower fees with full-service realtors. This approach allows you to potentially reduce costs while still benefiting from professional services. Your success may depend largely on market conditions, the complexity of your sale, and your negotiation skills. Be prepared to discuss what services you need and what you're willing to pay for them.
Overview of the Birmingham real estate market
📊 Current market data
- Median home value: $247,509 — down by 0.11% compared to last year[1]
- Median listing price: $289,788 —down by 0.04% compared to last year[2]
- Median sale price: $280,600 — up by 5.40% compared to last year[3]
By understanding what’s happening in your local real estate market, you and your discount realtor can make the best decisions about your selling strategy. The market can influence everything from your listing price to the time your listing sits on the market.
Your discount realtor should provide you with a comparative market analysis (CMA) report that gives an estimate of your home’s fair value based on what similar homes have recently sold for in your area. Based on this analysis, you’ll set a listing price with your agent that’s both reasonable and competitive in your local market.
Ranking methodology
Our Research Team gathered 28 discrete pricing and service models to create our initial list of the best Birmingham discount real estate brokerages. We then compiled and analyzed a further 12,742 publicly available data points tied to customer reviews, pricing, service offerings, and more to create our final list and rankings of the best discount realtors in Birmingham.
We evaluated each company based on the following criteria:
- Pricing: We assessed each company’s fee structure and cross-referenced it with the traditional listing fee of 3% to determine who was offering (a) the best overall savings and (b) the fewest unfavorable pricing terms, like high minimums, nonrefundable upfront fees, or other hidden costs. (40% of the ranking score)
- Service level: We only included and rated full-service discount real estate brokers, 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. We also assessed whether the companies offer premium services, such as virtual tours and floorplans, at no additional cost. (30% of the ranking score)
- Customer reviews: We evaluated all verifiable customer reviews for each service. We considered the total review counts, average customer ratings, and key positive and negative themes by using our AI sentiment analysis tool. (30% of the ranking score)
Housing market data in Birmingham comes from vetted sources, including Zillow, Realtor.com, and Redfin. As our primary sources update, we refresh the data on our pages. Before making any decisions based on housing market data, we recommend speaking with a real estate agent to get a better understanding of your local market.
✍️ Editor’s note: Limited or missing data doesn’t disqualify a real estate company from our list, but it does lower the company’s ranking. We base our rankings on objective measurements, and we can only measure what we can see. We regularly try to find missing data to update our rankings accordingly.
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.
The Real Estate Witch content team created parts of this page with the assistance of an AI tool. Our team of humans researched the companies, collected and analyzed the data, ranked the companies, and then used AI to assist in identifying positive and negative themes from company reviews. Our team fact-checked and edited the text, as we do for all of our content.
