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Edited by Kristen Klempert
Written by Kristy Snyder
Edited by Kristen Klempert
Top Minnesota flat-fee MLS companies | Best for add-on services | Best for experienced sellers | Best for rock bottom prices | Other alternatives | Frequently asked questions
Minnesota flat-fee MLS services are a great way to boost your for sale by owner (FSBO) listing’s visibility among qualified local buyers without breaking the bank.
Of course, not all flat-fee MLS services are created equal. Some include more value-add services, some are better for specific situations, and some are outright sketchy.
Our team did a deep dive on flat-fee MLS companies across Minnesota and identified the best options in 2021 for different situations and needs.
Not sure if flat-fee MLS is right for you? Read our full guide on flat-fee MLS to learn more.
If you want to avoid overpaying for realtor fees but still want hands-on support from your agent, we recommend checking out Clever Real Estate. Clever negotiates flat 1.5% listing fees with top Minnesota 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 Minnesota 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. And remember that even though you won’t pay a traditional listing fee, you’ll still probably be on the hook for the buyer’s agent commission, which typically runs between 2-3%.
The average Minnesota 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 Minnesota flat fee MLS listing companies
Top Flat-Fee MLS Companies in Minnesota
🏅 Real Estate Corners: Best for add-on services
🏆 Savvy Avenue: Best for experienced sellers
⭐ Minnesota Flat Fee MLS: Best for rock bottom pricing
| Real Estate Corners | Savvy Avenue | Minnesota Flat Fee MLS | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $299 | $295-$495 | $990-$149 |
| Number of Photos | 24 | 6-50 | 6-25 |
| Listing Term | 6 months | 3-12 months | 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!
🏅Real Estate Corners: Best for add-on services
Real Estate Corners provides the support you need if you aren’t sure how to manage your home sale entirely on your own. Past reviews indicate Real Estate Corners provided outstanding service, including guidance at every step of the process.
You also have the option to get even more assistance so you can choose exactly how much support you need. Add-ons include color brochures, a comparative market analysis (CMA), or even getting your home listed in open house directories. That way, you can keep things basic or opt for near-full service and support.
Real Estate Corners’ packages
| Package | Price | Professional Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| For Sale by Owner Package | $299 | You'll get everything you need in this package, plus you can add on a lot of services separately if you need extra help, which is why it's our top pick. To start, this package lets you list your property for 6 months with 24 photos, which should be sufficient for most homes. But if you want more support, you can add on services a la carte to your liking. |
Other considerations about Real Estate Corners
- Cancel any time with no fees
- Requires a buyer’s agent commission between 2.5% and 3%
- Also offers a full-service option for $600 upfront and $2,900 at closing
🏆 Savvy Avenue: Best for experienced sellers
Moe Mossa of Savvy Avenue has been handling transactions since 2004, and past reviews praise the knowledge he’s developed over the years. Satisfied clients describe him as responsive, professional, and helpful, saying he made the sales process easy and fast.
The service he provides, coupled with the simple-to-navigate website for submitting your listing, ensures your transaction goes off without a hitch. That said, the company doesn’t offer any a la carte services, and none of the packages will help with the most complicated parts of the transaction. Overall, this makes Savvy Avenue a better fit for experienced sellers.
Savvy Avenue’s packages
| Package | Price | Professional Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | $295 | We don't recommend this entry-level package because of the short timeline, comical number of photos, and no state disclosure forms. It includes just 6 photos and lists your property for only 3 months. |
| Extended | $395 | We think this is a good plan because it doubles your time on the MLS and gives home buyers a much better look at your home. You can increase the number of pictures to 25, include a virtual tour, and get your property listed for 6 months. You also get access to an automated showing scheduling tool. |
| Premium | $495 | If you suspect your property may be harder to sell, this upgraded package may be an ideal fit for the extra perks. Your property will be listed for 12 months, and you can include up to 50 photos. You can also add captions to your pictures and gain access to tools that allow you to market your property on social media. |
Other considerations about Savvy Avenue
- Cancel any time at no charge
- Requires a buyer’s agent commission between 2.5% and 3%
- You can pay a fee to be listed in more than one MLS across the state
- If you’re considering Remoe.com, Success Realty Minnesota, LLC, successrealtymn.com, or Savvy Flat Fee MLS (which has slightly cheaper fees), these are all Mossa as well
⭐ Minnesota Flat Fee MLS: Best for rock bottom pricing
Minnesota Flat Fee MLS is the most affordable flat-fee MLS service in Minnesota. You’ll be able to list your property for a full six months, and the upgraded package lets you upload 25 photos, which should be more than enough to show off most homes. Listings typically go live 28-48 hours after you submit your paperwork.
However, there are no online reviews of Minnesota Flat Fee MLS, and its phone number belongs to a company in Florida, so there’s no guarantee of the level of service it provides in Minnesota.
Minnesota Flat Fee MLS’s packages
| Price | Professional Recommendation |
|---|---|
| $99 | Although the price of the entry-level package is very low, you only get 6 photos. This really isn’t enough to paint a very clear or enticing picture of your home for online house hunters. |
| $149 | We suggest coughing up the extra $50 for this package, which allows up to 25 photos. Other features remain the same as the entry-level package, but the additional pictures are generally well worth paying for. |
Other considerations about Minnesota Flat Fee MLS
- Cancel at any time at no charge
- Must offer a buyer’s agent commission (you choose the amount)
- MLS coverage available in Duluth, North Star, Southeast Michigan, St. Cloud, and the West Central area
Flat-fee MLS alternatives
There are multiple alternatives to flat-fee MLS companies that allow you to sell your home with less work while saving money. Two of the most popular are iBuyers and discount brokers.
Discount real estate brokers are another option that offers some of the benefits of selling with a full-service agent without the hefty price tag. But they’re still relatively expensive (particularly compared to flat-fee MLS companies) and usually don’t provide the same degree of service you’d get from a full-service realtor.
If you’re keen on saving money but would prefer the peace of mind that comes with listing with a full-service agent, we recommend going with our friends at Clever Real Estate.
Clever is an agent matching service that pairs you with top realtors in your Minnesota neighborhood. Best of all, Clever pre-negotiates discounted listing fees of just $3,000 or 1.5% on your behalf — a huge discount compared to the typical 3%.
FAQs about flat-fee MLS companies in Minnesota
What is the best flat-fee MLS listing service in Minnesota?
Our favorite Minnesota flat-fee MLS provider is Real Estate Corners. We love that you can choose a basic MLS listing service or add on additional support if you need it. This makes it a great pick for FSBO sellers who might need a little more assistance but still don't want to pay a full 3% seller's agent commission. That said, flat-fee MLS is not right for every seller. To learn more about flat-fee MLS services, read our guide.
Are flat-fee MLS companies in Minnesota worth it?
When selling your home in Minnesota, companies like Real Estate Corners and Savvy Avenue can help you reach more buyers with their flat-fee MLS packages. That said, even though your home will get exposure to buyers, statistics show it will probably sell for less unless you use an agent. To help your home sell for more, you might be better off working with an agent that just charges a low commission fee. See our top picks for low real estate commission companies.
How do I tell if a flat-fee MLS company is legit?
To assess the legitimacy of a flat-fee MLS company, consider whether past clients had a positive or negative experience. Read reviews carefully to identify past problems. If many other customers had a poor experience, you can likely expect the same problems in your transaction. You should also read your contract with the company carefully to find out if there are any hidden fees, as surprise costs are a common complaint among clients of flat-fee MLS services.
Do you need to pay a buyer’s agent commission with flat-fee MLS?
If you do not offer a commission to a buyer’s agent when you list your property with a flat-fee MLS service, it’s likely agents will steer their clients to other properties offering the standard commission. Most home buyers have a real estate agent who represents them. Traditionally, sellers pay a 3% commission to this buyer’s agent, so agents will expect it.
Are seller disclosures required in Minnesota?
Minnesota law requires sellers to complete a disclosure prior to signing an agreement to sell residential property. The disclosure needs to be in good faith and based on the seller’s best knowledge. Sellers must disclose any issues that could affect the buyer’s enjoyment of the property. If the seller knows the buyer intends to use the property in a certain way, they must disclose any conditions that could adversely impact their intended use.
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