Houwzer Reviews: Pros, Cons, Fees, and Alternatives

Key takeaway: Houwzer is a discount real estate brokerage that offers a competitive listing fee of 1% and a very enticing buyer rebate of up to half the buyer’s agent commission. Still, legitimate concerns exist about the lack of personalized service due to the company’s business model.

Houwzer employs salaried agents who handle three times more clients on average than traditional agents and close hundreds of transactions annually, according to the company’s website. While these agents perform all the same duties as traditional agents, the higher client load could impact the level of personalized support you receive.

If you're in an ultra competitive market, are a first-time home buyer, or have a house that may take some extra effort to sell, you may find better overall value with Houwzer competitors.

💰 Search for low commission real estate agents near you: Fill out a short form to get matched with top local agents offering a 1.5% listing fee. Compare agents' credentials and services side-by-side to choose the best fit — with no added fees or obligation to move forward.

Houwzer at a glance

» JUMP TO: Houwzer vs. competitors | Reviews | How it works | Fees and savings | Bottom line

Who Houwzer Works best for

Houwzer is a good choice for budget-conscious home sellers and buyers who are comfortable with a team-based approach. 

Potential benefits of using Houwzer include:

• Significant savings for sellers: Houwzer's 1% listing fee is one of the lowest in the industry — saving sellers about $8,000 on a $400,000 home, when compared to the standard 3% realtor commission.
• Generous rebates for buyers: Buyers receive a rebate of 50% of the buyer agent’s commission, an uncommon benefit among discount brokerages.
• Full service: Unlike some discount competitors, Houwzer provides a complete range of real estate services, including pricing support, professional photography, and negotiation assistance.

Houwzer may not be the best fit for customers who value a direct line to their realtor or live in a competitive market where homes move fast.

Potential cons of using Houwzer include:

• Less personal service: Houwzer’s team-based model means agents handle a higher volume of transactions than traditional agents, which can lead to slower response times and less immediate access to your lead agent. 
• Limited availability: Houwzer only operates in select markets across the U.S., so it may not be an option for customers outside of those areas.

Houwzer reviews and complaints

Houwzer reviews are largely positive, particularly toward the specific agents who helped individual sellers and buyers. Unfortunately, the agents themselves appear to be unhappy with the model, according to the reviews we analyzed on Glassdoor, leading to a lot of turnover.

🟢 Positive themes from Houwzer reviews

Hands-On Support (48% of reviews). Houwzer customers particularly appreciate agents who are informative, patient, and attentive to their specific needs, with many highlighting how their agents went above and beyond with hands-on assistance from start to finish.

• "Simon Timm of Houwzer, who was immensely patient with us as we navigated the estate (and grieving) process. He explained the selling process thoroughly, and we understood our role which helped us plan what we needed to do to sell the home."
• "She solved many issues that came up during the process promptly and correctly/well, and replaced my presence representing me several times when I didn't have the time to come."
• "Customized service based on our very particular needs."
• "She helped us coordinate inspectors, worked with the building company on our behalf and kept us organized."
• "She was very encouraging every step of the way and took the time to really educate me."
• "Angela and her team were tireless advocates for us, their clients, throughout the selling process."

Market Expertise (47%). Reviews also highlight Houwzer agents' local market expertise, including their ability to price homes accurately, navigate challenging market conditions, and provide data-driven insights and advice.

• "Angela had extensive experience and knew the Fairfax market inside and out."
• "While the market completely changed due to the rate hikes, Heather was on top of it all…They understood the local market and were able to get us a good price."
• "She expertly set the home list price and expected range…His advice was critical to ensure I got top dollar for my home."
• "We agreed upon a price we both felt comfortable with given the market and he told us what to repair or paint and what is unnecessary."
• "Angela Allison's in depth knowledge of real estate, her knowledge was invaluable throughout the whole process."

Prompt Communication (44%). Houwzer customers also make frequent mention of quick response times to calls and texts, proactive updates, and clear communication throughout the process. Many reviewers specifically note their agent's accessibility and willingness to answer questions at any time of day or night.

• "He was both proactive and highly responsive, to the point where I joked if he actually slept."
• "She was really accessible, but I really appreciated her policy that when she is with a client, her time is all theirs."
• "quick and responsive communication, helping us solve each problem…He always answered when we called and would arrange showings even on very short notice."
• "He never failed to return a call/text or answer a question in a timely manner."
• "Extremely responsive to texts and calls…We called or emailed him and he was always right there to assist us."
• "The service was consistent with clear communication…Our coordinator Erin was responsive and kept everything on track for us."

Significant Savings (40%). Customers are equally pleased thrilled with the savings they receive with Houwzer. Reviews frequently emphasize that these savings came without sacrificing service quality, suggesting high value for money.

• "We saved over $20K and we didn't lose out on anything!"
• "I saved quite a lot of money without sacrificing anything on the services performed…their flat fee worked out to under 1%. Beat that, traditional brokerages!"
• "The initial attraction to using Houwzer to sell our Maryland home was that it would save us over $10k in agent fees."
• "They offer full services at a fraction of the cost…I would definitely recommend Houwzer to all my friends who want to save money without compromising on quality."
• "Add that to the commission we saved by going with Houwzer, and we are some VERY happy customers right now."

Easy Process (35%). Reviewers also note how the company's systems and tools help make a typically complex process feel manageable. First-time buyers particularly appreciate how the process is broken down into clear, understandable steps.

• "Super smooth transaction. Everything is laid out clearly and you have a dashboard that walks you through the process seamlessly."
• "The presentation was broken down into parts that helps first time homebuyers feel comfortable with the buying process."
• "The process was straightforward, the service was consistent with clear communication…The system is straight forward and clear cut."
• "she walked us through the entire process so that it was completely understandable, efficient, and seamless."
• "Houwzer made the process of selling our home very simple and straightforward…It literally could not have gone any smoother or been any easier."
• "Their process is simple, and the online tools are helpful in seeing progress."

🟡 Houwzer complaints and area for improvement

Unprofessional service (2% of reviews). While Houwzer enjoys mostly positive reviews, complaints revolve around Houwzer’s team-based approach, where agents manage a much higher volume of transactions compared to traditional agents. These reviews mention gaps in communication and inattention to detail, which can prove costly in fast-moving or complex transactions.

• "If you seek professional service avoid Houwzer."
• "Made us sign the paperwork at least 10 times since people kept on making mistakes"
• "After we made an offer on a property, which he accepted, he completely ignored me for two days—no calls, no emails, nothing."

Some of Houwzer's harshest criticism actually comes from people inside the company. Agents express frustration with long hours, burnout, and a chaotic internal system. According to Glassdoor, less than half of reviewers would recommend working at Houwzer to a friend (as of October 2024).

• There’s no marketing. You get what you pay for. The listing agents are spread so thin, that they make countless mistakes on the listings. They don’t know about the properties they’re selling. It’s churn and burn.
• I worked on average 60-80 hours a week, I could never take time off and because I was salaried there was no overtime. Unlimited PTO was a joke, when you did take time off the manager would still call you.

Houwzer vs. competitors

Among discount brokers, Houwzer's fees can be hard to beat — even compared to leading brands like Redfin, which charges a variable listing commission of 1.5–2% depending on the market, compared to Houwzer's straight 1% across the board. Houwzer also offers uncommonly good savings for buyers.

However, both Houwzer and Redfin have potentially overextended real estate agents, as they juggle 2-3x as many clients as a typical realtor.

Top-rated agent matching services like Clever Real Estate and Ideal Agent also provide significant commission savings but generally offer a wider agent selection through their nationwide networks. Clients who find their agents through these networks get the guarantee of working with a highly vetted local agent while benefitting from prenegotiated listing fees of up to 50% off the industry average. Clever also offers buyers modest cash back savings of up to $500.

Requesting agents through these services is free and without obligation. So if Houwzer’s team-based model doesn’t suit your needs, consider these alternatives as you explore your options.

Note: Houwzer’s sister brand, Trelora, has a similar operating model, so it’s worth considering as an alternative depending on where you live. Houwzer primarily serves the West Coast, while Trelora covers the East Coast.

Houwzer fees and savings

The standard realtor commissions varies somewhat by market but typically adds up to 5–6% of a home's final sale price, with 2.5–3% going to a listing agent and another 2.5–3% going to a buyer's agent.

Houwzer’s fee structure is designed to deliver significant savings for both buyers and sellers. 

Houwzer charges a 1% listing fee to home sellers, with a $3,000 minimum. Selling a $400,000 home through a traditional real estate agent would cost close to $12,000 to list. With Houwzer, it would be $4,000 — that’s savings of about $8,000! On a $180,000 home, you’d pay the minimum fee of $3,000, but that’s still less than the $5,000 it would cost to sell with a traditional agent. 

Buyers can also save with Houwzer, which isn’t typical of a discount brokerage. In instances where the seller doesn't wish to pay the buyer's agent commission, Houwzer charges a 1% buyer broker fee, compared to the 2.5–3% average. In cases where a seller does offer to cover the buyer's agent commission, Houwzer provides a rebate of up to 50% on anything over the 1% minimum. 

When compared to alternatives, Houwzer’s fees are among the most competitive in the industry. However, buyers and sellers looking for broader agent selection or more hands-on support might consider other low-commission options.

How Houwzer works

Houwzer’s service model differs from traditional realtors in that you work with a team of agents instead of one dedicated agent. There are 1–2 salaried realtors dedicated to each of Houwzer’s locations, as well as several other associate agents and specialists that help support each real estate transaction. 

While Houwzer agents may be more hands-off, customers can still expect a full range of real estate services — including help with pricing, showings, offers, negotiations, and closing.

Selling a home with Houwzer

When you sell with Houwzer, you can generally expect the process to follow that of a traditional home sale:

1. Book a consultation with a Houwzer pricing agent to discuss a pricing and marketing strategy. This will generally include a comparative market analysis as well as advice on staging and home prep. 
2. If you choose to sign on with Houwzer, your pricing agent will arrange for a professional photographer to visit your home.
3. Your Houwzer agent and their team will handle your MLS listing, marketing, showings, and open houses. Once you have an offer you'd like to accept, your Houwzer listing agent will finalize the contract with the buyer's agent.
4. Your Houwzer agent and team will then guide you through your home’s appraisal, inspection, and closing.
5. At closing, you’ll pay a 1% listing fee or a minimum of $3,000.

Buying a home with Houwzer

Buyers can also expect a full service experience with Houwzer:

1. Submit an online form to book a consultation with a Houwzer buyer agent.
2. To start touring homes with Houwzer, you’ll need to sign a buyer agreement, but it can be canceled at any time.
3. You can schedule showings through Houwzer’s app; a showing agent will take you to unlimited showings.
4. If you find a home you like, a Houwzer buyer’s agent will help you make an offer and negotiate any changes to the original contract following inspection and appraisal results.
5. Houwzer's transaction management team will stay on top of deadlines and compile all the paperwork needed to close.
6. At closing, you’ll pay a 1% buyer broker fee. If the seller offers more than that, you’ll get the additional commission as a rebate.

Compare top home buyer rebate offers from discount brokerages near you.

Is Houwzer legit?

Yes, Houwzer is a legitimate real estate brokerage offering reduced commission rates for home sellers and buyers. Houwzer also provides in-house mortgage and title solutions to its clients.

The company was founded in 2015 by Mike Maher and is headquartered in Philadelphia. Since its launch, Houwzer has expanded into several key markets, including Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Florida, and Washington, D.C. 

Houwzer has earned a reputation as a real estate disruptor for its low commission model and team-based approach.

Additional Houwzer services

Houwzer locations

Houwzer is available in select markets in Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia, Washington, and Washington DC.

Houwzer news and updates

Houwzer, founded in Philadelphia in 2014, has facilitated over $1 billion in real estate transactions since its launch.

In 2022, Houwzer acquired competitor Trelora, and formed a new parent company, Newfound. Both companies work similarly but operate in different states.

In 2023, Houwzer's pricing structure for sellers changed from a flat $5,000 fee to a 1% listing fee.

Also in 2023, Houwzer's parent company, Newfound, launched HomeRise, a flat fee MLS option for sellers who want to pursue even greater savings by selling without a realtor.[1]

Bottom line: Should I use Houwzer?

Houwzer is a strong option for sellers looking to save on commission fees. However, commission rates aren’t the only factor to consider when choosing a realtor. According to recent research, 1 in 3 home sellers felt their realtor failed to meet expectations — highlighting the importance of evaluating an agent’s track record alongside their fees.[2]

When choosing a real estate agent, consider the overall value the agent will bring to the table. For example, will the agent handle showings, negotiations, and marketing directly, or will they fall to less experienced associates? Will they be experienced enough to price your home accurately and hands on enough to market it aggressively to buyers? Will the agent be available to you if you need to act quickly on an important decision? And will they do all of this for a reasonable commission rate?

To make the best choice, compare Houwzer with other low-commission options to find the right balance of savings, service, and expertise.

Related reading

Best 2% Commission Realtors Near Me. A 2% real estate commission can save you thousands of dollars on your home sale. Find the best brands in your area.

Top-Rated Low Commission Realtors Near You. Save on realtor fees with low commission realtors charging 1.5% vs. 2-3% listing fees.

Best Discount Real Estate Brokers for Big Savings. See our top picks for discount real estate brokers that offer commission savings and great service.

Methodology

The Real Estate Witch team evaluated Houwzer on various factors, including savings, customer service, online reviews, agent quality, and how it compares to the competition. Our mission is to empower you to make an informed decision about whether Houwzer is right for your next real estate transaction.

Our low commission real estate brokerage rankings are based on three key criteria:

• Cost and savings. We compared Houwzer’s pricing model to top competitors and average prices across the U.S., including the average listing fee, minimum fees, and any buyer incentives offered.
• Customer service. We performed an in-depth analysis on Houwzer’s customer reviews across review sites. We broke down the sentiment of reviews, looking at themes around agent responsiveness, expertise, and meeting customer expectations.
• Ease of use. We evaluated how efficient it is for customers to find, compare, and select an agent through Houwzer, evaluating their agent network size, technical platforms, communication methods, and post-transaction support.