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Edited by Kristy Snyder
Written by Michael Yessis
Edited by Kristy Snyder
Top flat fee MLS companies in Alaska | Best for customizing options | Best for inexperienced sellers | Best for high-tech sellers | Alternatives | Frequently asked questions
In Alaska, it’s customary for sellers to pay a 6–7% commission, with the fee split between a buyer’s agent and seller’s agent. Sellers hoping to avoid high fees may consider selling without a realtor by listing their house for sale by owner (FSBO), but doing so comes with challenges.
For starters, FSBO homes can take longer to find a buyer. Sellers need to make sure they’re marketing the property effectively — including listing it on the multiple listing service (MLS). You’ll want to get your home on the MLS because most agents use it to find properties. It’s also the source of data for most popular websites buyers use to find homes.
Unfortunately, only agents can list homes on the MLS. This means if you sell FSBO, you’re missing out on a lot of potential buyers. Luckily, a flat fee MLS service can list your property for you, but be aware that a lower price can translate to less support and fewer services.
If you want to avoid overpaying for realtor fees but still want hands-on support from your agent, we recommend checking out Real Estate Witch. We negotiate flat 1.5% listing fees with top Alaska agents from trusted brands like Keller Williams and RE/MAX. You’ll get guaranteed full service from a great local agent but pay a fraction of the typical price.
💰 Find top local agents, get a flat 1.5% listing fee now!
Who are Alaska flat fee MLS listings best for?
Flat fee MLS listing services are best for home sellers who have lots of experience with real estate transactions and are comfortable selling without a realtor. You’ll need to be confident that you can handle almost every aspect of the sale that a real estate agent would typically take care of.
If you’re determined to list your house “for sale by owner,” it’s worth investing in a basic flat fee MLS listing. This ensures that as many buyers see your listing as possible.
But selling your home without a realtor is a big time and work commitment. You’ll have to handle a lot of tasks, including pricing, listing descriptions, photography, marketing, showings, and negotiations. Even though you won’t pay a traditional listing fee, it’s still typical for sellers to offer a 2—3% concession to help the buyer pay their real estate agent’s commission.
The average Alaska home seller is better off working with a flat fee real estate agent or discount realtor who charges reduced listing fees but still offers the same basic services and support as a typical realtor. You’ll still save thousands of dollars on realtor fees, but you’ll avoid the hassle and frustration of trying to sell by owner.
Top 3 Alaska flat fee MLS listing companies
Some flat fee MLS companies are better than others; this guide will help you find three of the best in Alaska.
Top Flat Fee MLS Companies in Alaska
🥇Congress Realty: Best for customizing options
🥈Mr. Alaska Real Estate: Best for local expertise
🥉Houzeo: Best for high-tech sellers
| Congress Realty | Mr. Alaska Real Estate | Houzeo | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $299-499 | $299 | $299-379 |
| Number of Photos | 4 to max allowed | Max allowed | 6 to max allowed |
| Listing Term | 6 months | 6-12 months with free extensions | 3-6 months |
| Pricing Assistance | ✅ | ❌ | 💰 |
| Negotiation Support | 💰 | 💰 | 💰 |
| Yard Sign | 💰 | ❌ | 💰 |
| Open Houses | 💰 | ✅ | ❌ |
Not seeing a local company you like? Check out the best nationwide flat fee MLS companies!
🥇 Congress Realty: Best for customizing options
Congress Realty is based in the western U.S. and is the industry leader in the volume of homes listed and sold. They offer a variety of packages, from a basic listing to a full service package that includes negotiating with buyers. All packages include 6 months on the MLS, but some offer more flexibility than others.
Reviews of Congress Realty show that they are consistently able to help sellers get top dollar for their homes while simplifying the process.
Congress Realty’s packages
| Price | Professional Recommendation |
|---|---|
| $299 | If you’re a confident seller who just needs a few photos and an MLS listing, this is a great way to save money. Includes a showing time appointment tool and DocuSign documents, but only four photos and no agent or marketing support. |
| $399 | Ready to list FSBO but want a little more bang for your buck? Upgrade to this package for unlimited photos and up to 10 changes to your MLS listing. |
| $499 | This plan is a great option for a confident seller who needs help with marketing their home. You’ll get unlimited photos and changes to your MLS listing, but you’ll also be listed on Congress Realty’s website and social media, which can increase exposure to your home outside of just the MLS. |
Other Considerations about Congress Realty
- You also have the option to add-on yard signs, key lockboxes, and virtual tours to any of Congress Realty’s packages at à la carte pricing.
- Congress Realty offers a full service package for $399 + 0.5% commission that includes a dedicated agent, negotiation and paperwork support, and contract reviews. The only downside is we couldn’t find information on where their agents are based, so you may not get a local agent that is familiar with your specific market.
🥈 Mr. Alaska Real Estate: Best for local expertise
Rick Davids of Sun Properties LLC is the broker behind Mr. Alaska. Based in Anchorage, Mr. Alaska serves the entire state, and you can rest assured you’ll be dealing with a local who understands the unique Alaska housing market. He offers an affordable flat fee package with optional upgrades, including contract review and offer negotiations, which many sellers will find helpful.
Mr. Alaska Real Estate’s packages
| Price | Professional Recommendation |
|---|---|
| $299 | Includes basic services like unlimited photos and listing on MLS, including on Alaskarealestate.com. While there aren’t any independent reviews on Mr. Alaska, his testimonials page and personal experience indicate you’re in good hands with his knowledge of the unique Alaska real estate market. |
Other Considerations about Mr. Alaska Real Estate
- Optional upgrades to the basic package include a $450 one-time contract write-up fee if you find a buyer with no agent; or a contract review and counter offer write-up for a $250 total fee.
- Mr. Alaska offers a free six-month extension to your MLS listing if you need it.
- If you decide FSBO is too much work, Mr. Alaska is also a full service real estate agent who offers a discounted commission rate of 4.5% total.
🥉 Houzeo: Best for high-tech sellers
Houzeo is a national chain that has moved the home-selling process online and puts control in your hands instead of relying on an agent. You can edit your listing, do paperwork, and order supplies all online. Just be aware they charge individually for some services — such as changing your MLS listing — that other companies include as part of the package. It can be an affordable option if you keep an eye on the fine print, but also be aware their standard fees are higher in Alaska than in other states.
Our guide to Houzeo will tell you more about the company, what you can expect from their services, and reviews from previous clients.
Houzeo’s packages
| Package | Price | Professional Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Bronze | $229 | This package has all the basic features you need to list your property, but one catch to watch out for: every change you make to your MLS listing costs $25. For $50 extra, upgrade to the silver plan and unlimited changes so you aren’t surprised with a higher bill than you expected. |
| Silver | $279 | Likely the best value of Houzeo’s packages due to its flexibility and basic offerings. If you’re confident in your ability to sell without a lot of help, this is a good balance of cost savings and features. |
| Gold | $379 | For a less experienced seller, this package offers more tools to make your life easy and worry-free. You’ll get access to Houzeo’s proprietary showings and offers platform that will help you market your home and negotiate a sale in no time. |
Other Considerations about Houzeo
- Houzeo offers a full service package for $479 + 0.5% due at closing (minimum of $995). You’ll get all the benefits of the gold package, plus help with contract reviews, pricing assistance, forms, and closing. However, Houzeo is a national organization, not local to Alaska, which means your agent may not be familiar with the specifics of your market.
- Having a completely online platform is convenient for some, but sellers who aren’t comfortable navigating tech on their own may find Houzeo harder to use than other platforms.
Alternatives
Flat fee MLS companies aren’t the only way to save money when selling your home. There are alternatives that allow you to sell your home with less work and still let you save a significant amount of money.
Selling with a discount broker gives you all the benefits of having a licensed real estate agent guiding you through the selling process while saving you money on commission. You’ll still need to pay 2–3% to your buyer’s agent, but you’ll save by only paying your listing agent 1–2%.
Not convinced selling without an agent is right for you? If you want a full-service experience while saving money, try our agent-matching service and 1.5% commission savings now!
Frequently asked questions about flat fee MLS in Alaska
What is the best flat fee MLS listing service in Alaska?
For the price, expertise, and variety of package offerings, Congress Realty is a great choice of flat fee MLS listing service in Alaska. Previous clients highly recommended them, and one of the highest-volume services in the nation. But, like any flat fee MLS company, they have drawbacks that make them a risky choice for some sellers. Read our complete guide to flat fee MLS services to learn more and decide if they’re the right choice for you.
What is a flat fee MLS company?
A flat fee MLS company lists homes for sale on the multiple listing service (MLS), which is a local database with comprehensive data about properties on the market.
Since only agents can list on the MLS, home sellers without an agent often work with a flat fee MLS company. This allows their property to show up on popular online home search websites.
Some flat fee MLS companies offer services beyond just listing your property, but the quality and level of assistance you receive is often below what a full service agent offers. While you will save money by paying a flat fee MLS service instead of a listing agent’s commission, your home may take longer to sell and may sell for less money.
How to tell if a flat fee MLS company is legit?
There’s two primary resources to consult to determine if a flat fee MLS company is legitimate. Look for online reviews to see if the company provided the promised services and did so competently. Watch for trends in the reviews; if the same problem keeps coming up, you can expect that to happen for your sale too.
You should also review the company’s contract to see if there are hidden fees or unadvertised fine print. If there are surprise costs you’ll incur or if many reviews indicate there were problems with the flat fee MLS service, you should consider working with a different company.
How much do flat fee MLS services cost in Alaska?
There’s a wide variation in the cost of flat fee MLS services, as well as in the level of support they provide throughout the transaction. You can expect to pay around $299 for a basic flat fee listing package in Alaska.
Remember, though, that while flat fee MLS services cost less than the commission a listing agent will charge, you will receive less support during your home sale.
Do you need to pay a buyer’s agent commission with a flat fee MLS?
Buyer's agents negotiate their fees with the buyer. However, it's common for home sellers to offer a concession of 2—3% to help the buyer cover their agent's fee. You can offer this concession voluntarily, or the buyer may request it.
Are seller disclosures required in Alaska?
Alaska sellers must complete a seller’s disclosure form providing details about the property.
This includes information about freeze-ups and any history of frozen water lines or problems with HVAC systems; permafrost problems, which occur when the ground a home was built on becomes unstable due to soil remaining frozen for multiple years; environmental concerns such as avalanche or mudslide areas, flood zones, and erosion zones; and if a suicide or homicide occurred on the property within a year of the sale.
These disclosures are in addition to ordinary ones required by federal law, including a lead paint disclosure for homes built prior to 1978.
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