Long Realty is a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate and the leading real estate brokerage in Tucson, AZ, for residential sales by volume.[1] It offers traditional full service in southern Arizona.
While this company has a lot of local knowledge and experience, it doesn't offer any built-in savings. You'll likely pay a Long agent the typical commission rate (2.5–3%).
An alternative worth considering is a discount broker — a company that negotiates lower commission rates with agents (as low as 1.5%). If you’re interested in this option, you can fill out this form to start comparing the best low-cost agents near you.
» JUMP TO: Alternatives | Customer reviews | How it works | Is it legit? | Locations | Bottom line
Who Long Realty works best for
Long Realty could be a great option if you're willing to pay full price to work with the dominant brokerage in Tucson real estate. Its agents' local expertise could be a huge asset to your sale or purchase.
As an Arizona real estate buyer, you could also get a streamlined closing by using Long Realty's in-house mortgage, title, and insurance companies. But you should shop around for the best rates and terms before committing to Long's service providers.
Long Realty may not be the best fit if you want to save money when selling a home. You don't have to pay the typical listing fee to get a full-service agent with local experience. Instead, you can work with a top discount broker.
Discount brokers have vetted, high-performing agents who charge nearly half the average commission rate. You can compare these agents with Long Realty agents to find the best fit and value.
Long Realty alternatives
Long Realty vs. top discount brokers
Traditional brokerages like Long Realty typically charge a listing fee of around 2.5–3%. Discount brokers like Clever Real Estate and Redfin charge only 1.5%, which could save you thousands of dollars in realtor commissions.
Here's what those savings could look like on a $400,000 home sale:
These savings don't come at the expense of quality. The top discount brokers offer full service (just like traditional brokerages) and vet agents in their network so you can easily connect with top-producing agents.
💰 Want to pay less in realtor fees? Use our free agent finding tool to connect with local realtors who charge a 1.5% listing fee (half the usual rate). Fill out a short form, and compare agent matches from your inbox.
Long Realty vs. other traditional brokers
Long Realty is comparable to other traditional brokers. The company's main advantage is that it's been operating in southern Arizona for nearly 100 years. It likely has great insight into the local market, which could be tough to get from a national competitor.
Like other traditional brokers, Long Realty leaves commission rates up to agents. “Commissions are always negotiable, so that would be something that you would need to determine with the agent that you chose to list your home,” a company rep told us.
Long Realty reviews: What customers say
Long Realty reviews are mostly positive. Satisfied customers often said their agents were well-informed, communicative, and courteous and went the extra mile to help close their sale. The rare negative reviews also highlight individual agents.
✅ What customers love
Tenacious, helpful agents. Customers often said their agent was helpful and able to get their difficult sale over the finish line.
She went above and beyond to get our house closed. She kept her cool and just working to get it closed.“
— Ed H., Yuma, AZ, January 2024, Google
Andrew Cannegieter worked tirelessly to get our home exposed to the market. In a short period. Due to his efforts, our home sold within a couple weeks.”
— Dick N., Yuma, AZ, November 2023, Google
The listing agent John Ovitz was awesome, professional and right on top of everything. This was especially helpful as I am in California. I depended on him for his advise and he didn't steer me wrong.”
— Janet G., San Mateo, CA, June 2022, Yelp
Great communication. Many customers noted that their agents were responsive and communicative. This reviewer said their agent even called them back after hours.
He is ALWAYS there when you need him, and even if he can't talk on his phone he will let you know and call you back, even if he has to call you at 9pm. He says realty never sleeps and niether does he.”
— Mirna C., Yuma, AZ, November 2023, Google
Agents go the extra mile. Customers frequently said their agents went above and beyond their basic responsibilities to help them complete a challenging sale. For example, one reviewer described a smooth sale that their agent conducted while the seller was in Hawaii. Another reviewer described how their agent even helped their friends and family members secure housing.
We did the complete sale and financing over the phone from Maui Hawaii. Later we flew in to sign the papers. We Only saw The MLS photos and her opinion. Which was right on.”
— Marshall G., Tucson, AZ, April 2024, Yelp
Tina found my cousin a beautiful home in a gorgeous gated community. Recently, Tina also negotiated an amazing deal for one of my good friends who already has several rental properties but wanted to upsize his own residence. For both of these clients Tina was supportive and not afraid to give her honest opinions at each and every step.”
— Michelle L., San Francisco, October 2024, Yelp
❌ Common complaints
Poor guidance. Some customers felt they were badly advised by their agents.
I hope our experience was isolated as our realtor with Long Realty did not help guide us through the home buying process or assist us very much at all as first time buyers. I compare this to our second home purchase which was literally done on the back of our realtor from start to finish and we barely lifted a finger. Our first experience with Long was unfortunate, and when asked to switch realtors due to a lack of support, the broker wouldn’t permit our request.”
— Ryan P., Yuma, AZ, 2020, Google
Long Realty responded to this review with an apology and invited Ryan to reach out to the company.
Had the worst experience with Lori who not only failed to listen to our basic parameters, but also tried to force us to give up our VA loan, to not do an inspection/appraisal and wanted us to overbid on homes and telling us that contingencies were not accepted. If you are someone looking to use a VA loan or are unwilling to pay half a million on a home, don't use this group. The lender for this company was just as rude.“
— Melissa B., St. Michael, MN, April 2022, Yelp
Poor communication. Other dissatisfied customers said their agents failed to act professionally.
Complete failure to respond professionally. Screaming and yelling at customers, claiming to be 'too busy'. Hanging up the phone. Extremely unprofessional and immature.“
— Susan L., San Francisco, February 2022, Yelp
How Long Realty works
Steps to sell
- Contact Long Realty. You can contact Long Realty by phone, email, or a form on its website, and the company will connect you with a local listing agent.
- Sign a listing agreement. Once you choose an agent, you'll sign a listing agreement so they can legally represent you and market your home.
- Have your agent walk through your home. Your Long Realty agent will visit your home in person and conduct a comparative market analysis to determine your home's value.
- Decide how you want to sell. You can proceed with a traditional sale or sell to a cash buyer. The company can connect you with local cash buyers who can close within 14 days,[2] though you’ll likely receive less money for your home than you would on the open market.
- List and market your property. If you decide on a traditional sale, your agent will list your home on major real estate websites and feature it in the Long Realty mobile app.[3] They’ll customize your home’s marketing plan with up-to-date reports on the local market.[4]
- Negotiate the contract. Your agent will draw up the sale contract and negotiate terms with the buyer.
- Close. Your Long agent will guide you through the complicated closing process.
Steps to buy
- Search for a property. You can use Long Realty's search portal on its website to browse local homes.
- Get pre-approved. Long partners with Prosperity Home Mortgage to help you get pre-approved quickly.
- Select an agent. Find a suitable agent on Long’s roster of agents. Once you choose an agent, you'll sign a buyer's agency agreement.
- Get guidance through closing. Your agent will help you find a home that fits your budget and other requirements. They'll also help you negotiate with the seller, do a final walk-through of the home, and complete paperwork.
Additional services
Long Realty offers a variety of extra services, including:
- Move Ready, by Curbio: This is a staging and renovation service for your home. You don't have to pay until closing.
- QuickBuy Immediate Offer: Long can help sell your home immediately to an iBuyer or cash buyer, as fast as 14 days.
- QuickBuy Lock Guaranteed Sale: With this program, you can keep your QuickBuy Immediate Offer for 150 days while you try a traditional sale. You can accept the cash offer at any time during the 150 days.
- QuickBuy Leaseback: This allows you to pay for a long- or short-term lease on your home after you close on your QuickBuy offer.
Is Long Realty legit?
Yes, Long Realty is legit. The company has operated in southern Arizona since 1926. It now has over 1,400 agents in over 40 offices[5] and is the biggest traditional real estate brokerage in the Tucson market by residential sales volume.[6]
Long Realty locations
Long Realty operates in southern Arizona, primarily in Phoenix, Tucson, and Yuma. It also has some franchises in Mexico.[7]
Long Realty news and updates
In January 2024, Long Realty was included in a long list of defendants in an Arizona lawsuit that accuses the state’s largest companies of conspiring to inflate real estate commissions.[8]
In January 2021, Renee Gonzales became CEO of Long Realty, replacing Rosey Koberlein.[9]
Bottom line: Should I use Long Realty?
If you’re in the southern Arizona market, Long Realty is a solid choice. The company has a lot of local knowledge and an impressive sales volume in Tucson.
Your real estate experience will come down to finding the right agent. You should always compare and interview several agents, including from other brokerages. You may want to compare Long Realty agents to realtors who charge lower commission, which can translate to tens of thousands of dollars in savings for sellers.
FAQ
Who owns Long Realty in Tucson, AZ?
Long Realty in Tucson, AZ, was owned solely by Steve Quinlan starting in 1998, though Long merged with Home Services of America the following year.
How many agents does Long Realty have?
Long Realty has over 1,400 agents.
Are home prices falling in Arizona?
Home prices are not falling in Arizona. After a brief dip in early 2022, Arizona home prices are up 1.7% year over year, as of November 2024.
Related reading
What Companies Offer the Lowest Real Estate Commission Fees? Real estate companies charge different commission fees, with some brokers charging half the typical rate. Learn which companies can offer you the best value for your money.
Realtor Fees: Who Pays the Commission and How Much Is It? A recent federal lawsuit radically altered how real estate commission is paid. Learn about the changes and what to expect as a buyer or seller.
How to Find a Real Estate Agent: Finding the right agent might be the most important part of your home search or sale. Read about what to look for in an agent and what to avoid.