Best Texas flat fee MLS listing services | Should you use a flat fee MLS listing service? | What's included with a flat fee MLS listing? | Typical pricing | Alternatives | FAQ
If you’re selling for sale by owner (FSBO) in Texas, a flat fee MLS listing service can get your home on the multiple listing service (MLS) for a one-time fee starting as low as $100. You get the same online visibility as you would selling with a realtor, without having to pay a 2.5–3% commission to a listing agent.
The downside is that you have to do most of the work yourself — which is often a lot more than first-time FSBO sellers realize.
Additionally, FSBO homes sell for an average of 6% less than comparable homes sold with an agent. So you need to weigh the commission savings against the potential profit loss — especially since you still need to pay a buyer's agent if your buyer uses a realtor.
Should you use a flat fee MLS listing service?
Using a flat fee MLS service instead of a real estate agent can save you thousands in realtor commission. But you’ll work hard to earn those savings by doing the tasks a realtor normally does, so it's best if you have some experience with real estate transactions.
Here are the pros and cons of using a flat fee MLS listing service:
Pros
- Commission savings. You pay a few hundred dollars to a brokerage instead of a 2–3% commission to a listing agent.
- Control over the sale. Because you’re selling without a realtor, you have direct control over pricing, presentation, and negotiations.
- Pay-per-service. Many flat fee MLS companies offer multiple service packages and add-ons (such as a lockbox or help reviewing offers) so you can pay only for what you need.
Cons
- Lower sale price. FSBO homes generally sell for less than homes sold with an agent. In 2022, the median sale price for FSBO listings was $225,000, compared to $345,000 for agent listings.
- Missed leads. MLS rules prevent your contact info from being posted to public sites like Zillow. Unless your MLS package comes with automated lead forwarding, buyers have to go through your broker, who may be slow to respond.
- Hidden costs. Flat fee MLS companies often charge fees for their most valuable add-ons. And in most cases, you should still expect to offer seller concessions to help the buyer cover some costs.
If you're on the fence about selling FSBO but still want to save, we recommend using an alternative like us. We can connect you with top local agents who offer a 1.5% listing commission through its network. You’ll still save thousands, but you'll have a full-service realtor by your side.
If you decide a flat fee MLS listing is right for you, Texas has several decent listing services to choose from. We've compiled a list of regional and nationwide companies that offer good value at various price points.
Quick view: 8 best Texas flat fee MLS listing services
What is a flat fee MLS listing?
A flat fee MLS listing allows sellers without a realtor to post their home on the multiple listing service (MLS), the same place where realtors list their clients' homes.
Once on the MLS, property listings get syndicated to popular home buying websites like Zillow, Realtor.com, and Redfin. If your home isn’t listed on the MLS, most buyers won’t even know it’s an option — so it's pretty much a necessity.
While you'd normally hire a realtor to handle your listing, since only licensed real estate professionals can access the MLS, a flat fee MLS service provides a low-cost workaround. With this type of brokerage, you get a legal MLS listing through a licensed broker without having to pay for the other services a realtor typically provides.
What's included with a flat fee MLS listing?
The most basic packages typically include a six-month MLS listing with just six photos. Higher tier packages will include higher photo limits (typically up to 50) and a longer listing period (typically up to 12 months).
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 include broker assistance with contracts and closing paperwork, the cost often makes them poor value for money. And when it comes to pricing and contracts, it's probably better to have someone local to your market.
If you'd prefer to have some help from a realtor, you may be better off hiring a low commission realtor who knows your market and can provide hands on support for similar savings.
How much do flat fee MLS listing services cost?
Flat fee MLS listing companies in Texas can cost anywhere from less than $100 to over $1,400, with most falling in the $200–400 range for an MLS listing and a couple free services, like disclosure forms and flyers. Typically, the cheaper the plan, the less that’s included. And you may have to pay extra for important items, such as lockboxes, extra photos, and changes to your listing.
Several flat fee MLS companies in Texas — including Congress Realty, Unreal Estate and Houzeo — have higher-tier packages that cost a few hundred dollars upfront, plus an extra 0.5–1% at closing. These packages often include agent advice on offers and negotiations.
How do flat fee MLS listing services work?
Most flat fee MLS listing services follow the same basic steps. To get an MLS listing, you can:
- Visit the company website and choose a service package.
- Place an order online or over the phone.
- Fill out forms with your home's information and submit photos.
For basic MLS listings, that's pretty much it! If your service package includes additional features like a lawn sign, lockbox, or professional photography, you'll coordinate with the company to pick up items or schedule a photo shoot.
Once the company lists your home on the MLS, a broker will likely manage your listing and forward buyer leads to you
Full breakdown: 8 best Texas flat fee MLS listing services
About our rankings
To find the best flat fee MLS services in each state, we spent dozens of hours researching companies across the country. Our research process involved:
- Investigating more than 140 local flat fee MLS services to ensure our information about service packages, cost, and contract terms is up to date
- Mystery shopping over 20 flat fee MLS companies to gain insight into the consumer's experience
- Interviewing sellers and real estate agents who have experience with flat fee MLS services
- Combing through Google, Trustpilot, BBB, and Facebook reviews for each business
- Browsing user forums like Reddit and Bigger Pockets for additional perspectives
Listing Fee
Our take
Overview
Availability
Unreal Estate distinguishes itself in the flat fee MLS listing service market, focusing on For Sale By Owner (FSBO) offerings. Known for its easy-to-navigate platform and strong ustomer service, it allows sellers significant savings by avoiding traditional realtor fees. The company’s professionalism and streamlined process have garnered positive customer feedback, appreciating both the ease of use and the financial benefits.
Pros
- User-friendly platform
- Significant cost savings
- Positive customer reviews
Cons
- Limited marketing resources
- Less personalized support
- May offer less value than competitors
Listing Fee
Our take
Overview
Availability
Creekview Realty offers more support than many flat fee MLS listing companies, making it a good choice if you're inexperienced or have a complicated sale.
However, that extra support comes at a cost. While other services in Texas cost a few hundred dollars, Creekview Realty costs $600–1,400. And you still won’t get the full service that you would from a traditional realtor.
Pros
- You’ll get the support and many of the services that traditional agents offer.
- The company is highly rated by customers.
Cons
- It’s more expensive than many other flat fee MLS listing services.
- The photo limit depends on the size of your house and your location.
Listing Fee
Our take
Overview
Availability
Texas MLS Broker offers affordable, no-frills packages that are best if you're an experienced seller. You can be confident you’re not paying for anything you don’t need.
The company is also a good option if you need a flexible listing term. While six months is the standard term, Texas MLS Broker has listing terms of 3 to 12 months, depending on the package.
Pros
- The packages are affordable.
- You get a flexible listing term of 3–12 months.
- A comparative market analysis is included in all plans.
Cons
- There are fewer extras than other flat fee MLS listing companies offer.
- The broker support on higher-cost plans is limited compared to some competitors.
- The standard package includes only a three-month listing.
Listing Fee
Our take
Overview
Availability
Fizber shines as a cost-effective, straightforward platform for FSBO sellers aiming for MLS listings with various service levels. While the low upfront costs are appealing, mixed reviews about customer service and aggressive sales tactics are worth considering. Before deciding, compare Fizber with other services to find the best match for your selling needs and preferences.
Pros
- Cost-effective
- User-friendly
- Listings get good visibility
Cons
- Mixed service reviews
- Aggressive sales
- Limited support
Listing Fee
Our take
Overview
Availability
Congress Realty is a licensed brokerage that offers four affordable MLS listing plans and good customer service. It also provides add-ons so you can tailor the services to your needs.
However, lower-priced packages don’t include some features that most MLS listing services provide. For instance, the Basic plan only offers up to four photos and limits the number of changes to the listing.
Pros
- Showing schedule tool on all plans
- Responsive, knowledgeable customer support
Cons
- Basic plan limits photos to four
- Basic and Plus plans restrict listing changes
- Sales comps only on Full Service plan
Listing Fee
Our take
Overview
Availability
Texas MLS Flat Fee offers three MLS listing plans at affordable prices. The service is completely paperless and has online tools to simplify the selling process, making it one of the most convenient options.
However, the company doesn't provide agent support, which may make it less useful for inexperienced sellers.
Pros
- The process is paperless.
- Various online tools make the process easier.
- You can create color brochures with the flyer creator tool.
Cons
- There are no customer reviews.
- The Silver package allows only six photos.
- The company doesn't provide a comparative market analysis or agent support.
Listing Fee
Our take
Overview
Availability
Flat Fee Group is great for sellers who want to pick their broker. But, with prices and services varying by state and brokers that might not be nearby, it might not suit everyone. It's a decent choice if you value transparency, but consider other options if local expertise and consistent fees are important to you.
Pros
- Transparent brokerage
- Widely available
- Competitive pricing
Cons
- Limited local expertise
- Service is inconsistent between states
Listing Fee
Our take
Availability
Houzeo, a flat fee MLS service with a high average customer rating, shows promise in its customer service, particularly during the initial listing setup. However, limited reviews on the complete selling process suggest some challenges, including listing inaccuracies and variable service quality from partner realtors.
While Houzeo’s online dashboard and service plans appeal to FSBO sellers, potential users should weigh these mixed experiences, alongside the service's costs and refund policy, before choosing it for their real estate needs.
Pros
- User-friendly online dashboard
- Positive reviews of its customer service
- Nationwide coverage
Cons
- High fees for some services
- Varied service quality
- Restrictive refund policy
Alternatives to using a flat fee MLS listing service
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 a good alternative. The best discount brokers provide the same services as traditional real estate agents — but for a 1–2% commission instead of the typical 3%.
For most home sellers, a good place to start is with Real Estate Witch. We negotiate 1.5% listing fees with top agents at brokerages like Keller Williams, RE/MAX, and others. You'll save thousands on realtor fees and be able to choose your own agent from a trusted real estate brand.
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 Craigslist, 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.
» LEARN MORE: How to sell without a realtor in Texas
Sell with a flat fee real estate agent
Flat fee real estate agents work for a flat rate instead of the standard 3% commission most listing agents charge.
Flat fee agents can provide great savings. For example, if you’re selling a $500,000 house, a flat fee agent may charge you a set $5,000 fee instead of 3%, which would be $15,000.
But it’s important to research the brokerage before signing a contract. Many flat fee brokerages claim to provide full service, but they may actually cut corners on service to meet their price point.
To make sure you have the right realtor before committing, try a free service like ours. We give you the opportunity to interview multiple full-service agents until you find the right fit. All of our agents offer a flat fee of $3,000 on homes less than $200,000 and just 1.5% commission for homes above $200,000.
FAQ
What is the best flat fee MLS listing service in Texas?
Creekview Realty is one of the best flat fee MLS providers in Texas. The company offers comprehensive MLS listing services and support from a licensed agent, making it a great choice for inexperienced sellers. However, its services are more expensive than other companies'. To learn more about other options, check out our complete guide to flat fee MLS services.
How much do flat fee MLS listings cost in Texas?
Texas Flat fee MLS listing services can cost anywhere from $95 to $299 for a basic package, while more comprehensive services can cost almost $1,400. Sellers looking for more dedicated support but that still want to save money should consider working with a local discount real estate company. Read more about the best discount real estate companies.
Are flat fee MLS companies in Texas worth it?
Flat fee MLS listing companies in Texas like Fizber and Creekview Realty are worth it if all youre looking for is to list your property. However, properties sold without an agent often sell for less, which is why sellers that want to maximize profit prefer working with a discount agent. Learn more about the best 1% commission realtors.
What is a flat fee MLS company?
A flat fee MLS listing service allows you to get your property listed on the multiple listing service (MLS) without hiring a traditional real estate agent.
It's far cheaper to use a flat fee MLS service than to hire a full-service agent. However, you will get limited or no assistance during the sales process so you need to be prepared to handle all of the steps of the transaction on your own.
How do I tell if a flat fee MLS company is legit?
The best way to tell if a flat fee MLS company is legitimate is to carefully read the fine print of their contract. If there are many hidden fees the company doesnt clearly disclose, this is a big red flag. You could end up paying more than expected, and the companys attempts to obscure the true costs suggest they have poor business practices.
Do you need to pay a buyers agent commission with a flat fee MLS?
You should expect to offer a 23% concession to help the buyer pay their real estate agent. This isn't mandatory, but it may help make your home more affordable for buyers.
How do I get an MLS listing without a realtor?
Only individuals or companies with a real estate license can list properties on the MLS. You can pay a real estate agent or a flat fee MLS brokerage to list your home on the local Texas MLS for you. Read more about how flat fee MLS services work.
What is included in a Texas flat fee MLS listing?
The specific services and items included in your Texas flat fee MLS listing will depend on which company you use. At a minimum, youll typically get a listing of at least six months with a six-photo limit. Many companies offer packages with longer listing terms and higher photo limits. Some companies also offer pricing assistance, yard signs, listing changes, and lockboxes for free, while others charge extra for them. Learn more about what you get from a Texas flat fee MLS service.
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.
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