The Top 5 Texas Flat Fee MLS Listing Services

Top Texas flat fee MLS listing services | How do flat fee MLS listing services work? | Alternatives | FAQs

If you’re selling a house without a realtor in Texas, you may want to consider using a flat fee MLS listing service. These companies will get your house listed on the multiple listing service (MLS), the largest directory of houses for sale, so you can reach more potential buyers.

Texas flat fee MLS listing companies let you avoid paying seller’s agent commission fees, which in Texas average 2.71% of the home’s sale price. You typically have to pay for a flat fee MLS listing upfront, but you’ll pay thousands less in realtor fees when your house sells.

The disadvantage of purchasing a flat fee MLS listing is that you’ll have to handle almost every step of the home selling process yourself, including: pricing, marketing, negotiations, and paperwork. It’s a lot of work and many people selling for sale by owner (FSBO) end up accepting offers for much less than what they could get with a realtor.

If you want to avoid overpaying for realtor fees but still get hands-on support from your agent, we recommend checking out Clever Real Estate. Clever negotiates flat 1% listing fees with top Texas realtors 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 and get a flat 1% listing fee now!

Quick view: Top 5 Texas flat fee MLS listing services

Who are Texas flat fee MLS listings best for?

Texas flat fee MLS listing services are best for sellers who have lots of experience with real estate transactions. 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.

Selling your home without a realtor in Texas 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 listing fee, you’ll still probably be on the hook for the buyer’s agent commission, which typically runs between 2-3%.

The average Texas 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 5 Texas Flat Fee MLS Listing Services

Flat Fee By You

If you want to pay the lowest possible price for your listing, Flat Fee By You is your best bet. The entry-level package costs just $45, and even their premium package is well below the price of some competitor’s most affordable options. The company also gets consistently good reviews for its customer service.

However, Flat Fee By You’s basic package is very barebones and only appropriate for experienced sellers. You’ll want one of the more premium packages if you need even minimal support. The company is also only available in the Austin, Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio metro areas.

Creekview Realty

If you’re an inexperienced seller or know you’ll be facing a complicated sale, Creekview Realty could be a great option. Its premium package, in particular, includes many of the services you’d get from a traditional realtor. Reviews from first-time sellers also say Creekview Realty made the process stress-free and that staff was responsive to questions and concerns.

However, that extra support comes at a cost. While other flat fee MLS listing services in Texas tend to cost a few hundred dollars, Creekview Realty costs $600 to $1,400 and you still won’t get the full service that you would from a traditional realtor.

Texas MLS Broker

Texas MLS Broker offers affordable, no-frills packages that may work for you if you have experience selling homes and are comfortable handling much of the sale process yourself. You can be confident you’re not paying for anything you don’t need.

Plus, Texas MLS Broker is a good option if you need a shorter or longer listing term. Whereas six months is the standard listing term for most flat fee MLS services, Texas MLS Broker has listing terms of six to 12 months, although you will have to pay for its premium package.

Fizber

Fizber is a nationwide flat fee MLS listing service with affordable plans and good customer service. It also offers a flexible refund policy and does a good job of promoting your listing on social media.

However, Fizber’s website makes it difficult to know what state-specific services are on offer without first talking to a representative. Without knowing what specific services you’ll get where you live, it’s difficult to know whether or not it will be a good deal for you.

Houzeo

Houzeo’s plans are a no-frills way to get your house listed on the MLS and syndicated to major real estate websites like Redfin, Zillow, and Trulia. If you have lots of experience selling homes and don’t need any extras, it could be an affordable way to get an MLS listing.

But watch out for high fees for extra services. Unlike many flat fee MLS listing companies, with Houzeo’s most basic plan you’ll have to pay $25 for each change you make to your listing. Pricing assistance — also a service that other competitors offer for free — comes at a premium with Houzeo.

How do flat fee MLS services in Texas work?

Texas flat fee MLS listing companies charge a fixed dollar amount to post your house on the local multiple listing service (MLS), a regional database of properties that are for sale in your area. These services are typically a lot cheaper than selling with a traditional realtor. But you get what you pay for: Aside from the MLS listing, the company will provide few (if any) of the services you’d expect from a real estate agent.

What do you get?

The most basic packages typically include a 6-month MLS listing with just six photos. Higher tier packages will include higher photo limits — typically up to 50 — and a longer — typically up to 12 months — listing period.

Many packages also include extra items, the most common being yard signs, pricing assistance, and lockboxes. These extra items are sometimes free or available for an extra charge.

Also be sure to keep an eye out for listing change fees. While some flat fee MLS companies allow for some or even unlimited free listing changes, others do not. Even a few changes can quickly add a significant charge to your final bill.

Flat fee MLS listing services typically don’t include broker assistance, meaning you’ll largely be left on your own to manage the pricing, marketing, and negotiations. While some premium plans do include broker assistance, the cost often makes them poor value for money. If you do need broker assistance, you’re better off getting a discount real estate broker.

How much do they cost?

Flat fee MLS listing companies in Texas can cost anywhere from less than $100 to over $1,000, with most falling in the $200-300 range for an MLS listing and a couple free services, like disclosure forms and yard signs. Typically, the cheaper the plan, the less that’s included. And you may have to pay extra for important items, such as changes to your listing and lockboxes.

Alternatives

Sell FSBO without an MLS listing

The MLS is often the most effective way to get your home noticed, but it’s certainly not the only way. Here are other places where you can list your home for sale that aren’t on the MLS.

• List FSBO on Zillow: Zillow is the world’s largest real estate website and anybody can list on it for free. There is a catch though: if you don’t have a real estate agent, your listing will be relegated to a separate and much harder to find section of the site. So, while you’ll technically be on Zillow, most potential buyers on the site will likely never see your listing.
• Sell your house on Craigslist: While not as popular as it used to be, Craigslist still attracts a large audience and is completely free to list your house on. Beware, however, that it tends to attract a lot of scammers. And the serious buyers who are on the platform are often investors who are looking for a good deal, so they may try to aggressively bargain you down on the sale price.
• Use another free FSBO site: Aside from Zillow and Criagslist, other websites like Forsalebyowner.com and Facebook Marketplace also let you list your house for free. However, these sites won’t get you on the MLS, which will severely limit the number of potential buyers who will actually see your listing.

Flat fee real estate agents

While most real estate agents work for a percentage-based commission, some also work for a fixed dollar amount. If you choose to work with a flat fee real estate broker, we recommend one that offers full service. Limited or reduced service flat fee real estate agents will often leave you managing important and difficult steps of the home selling process yourself.

With a full service, flat fee real estate broker — like Clever or Houwzer — you’ll get all the services that you would get with a traditional realtor, but often at a much lower price. That way you can rest assured knowing that you’ll still have a realtor on your side helping you with marketing, negotiating, pricing, showings, and paperwork.

Discount real estate brokers

If you want to save money but you don’t want to deal with the hassle of trying to sell your house completely on your own, a discount real estate broker is the best alternative. Discount real estate brokers offer some or even all of the services a traditional realtor offers, but for less than the traditional 2-3% listing fee.

It’s important to research what each discount real estate broker gives you before deciding on one. Some offer limited service, whereas others offer the exact same services that a traditional realtor offers.

The best option for most people is Clever Real Estate, which negotiates 1% listing fees with top agents at traditional brokerages like Keller Williams and Berkshire Hathaway. That’s the lowest rate in the industry, plus you still get to work with an experienced agent from a trusted brand.

FAQs

Methodology

Our team of researchers and mystery shoppers spent weeks looking into various Texas flat fee MLS listing companies to find the best ones for you. In coming up with our rankings, we considered price and the range of services offered as the most important factors. However, we also took into account other factors, like the number of areas served, customer service, and customer reviews. We update our reviews on a regular basis to ensure they are providing you with the most up to date information.

More ways to save on realtor fees

Low commission real estate agents: Trying to save money on your next real estate transaction? Check out our rankings of the top real estate agents and companies that offer low commission fees.

2% Real Estate Commission Companies: Compared to the 3% listing fee that realtors typically charge, a 2% commission can net you some serious savings. We rank the best 2% commission companies that can help you keep more money in your pocket.

Top 12 Best For Sale By Owner Websites: If you want to go it alone, selling for sale by owner (FSBO) can save you a lot in fees. We take a look at the top FSBO websites, including their benefits and red flags to watch out for.

Negotiating Realtor Fees: 5 Tips to Lower Commission: Realtor fees aren’t set in stone. Check out some of the best strategies for negotiating realtor fees down while still getting full service from your agent.

More Texas home selling guides

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Realtor Fees in Texas: Wondering what average realtor commission is in Texas? We break down typical real estate agent fees for buyers and sellers — and we look at how you can save money on realtor fees on your next real estate transaction.

The True Cost to Sell a House in Texas: From realtor fees to closing costs, there are a lot of expenses to keep track of when selling a house in Texas. In this article we break down what the true cost to sell in Texas is so you can be better prepared.

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