Published
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Written by
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Edited by Josiah Wilmoth
Written by Thomas O'Shaughnessy
Edited by Josiah Wilmoth
Editor's note: In March 2024, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) lost an antitrust lawsuit, leading to changes in real estate fees nationwide. As of August 17, 2024, buyer's agent commissions are no longer covered by the seller and must be negotiated separately.
What is REX Real Estate? | REX fees | Buyer rebates | How it works | Locations | REX vs. traditional realtors | Top REX alternatives | Find REX reviews from customers
REX Real Estate is a discount real estate brokerage that claims it can save home sellers up to 50% on realtor commissions.
However, REX’s assurance of savings is misleading — and its approach is EXTREMELY risky. REX doesn’t list homes to the MLS, making it much more difficult for you to find a buyer willing to pay what your home is worth.
As the REX Real Estate reviews we’ll cover illustrate, most sellers will find better value with other discount brands.
For example, we offer a 1.5% listing fee, nationwide service, and an agent-matching process that connects you with the top realtors in your area. Learn how to start saving today!
✍️ Key Takeaways
- REX Real Estate aims to bypass the MLS and connect home sellers with buyers who haven’t hired a realtor
- This is a risky approach: 89% of buyers work with an agent, so listing with REX shrinks your pool of potential buyers dramatically
- If it does work, you won’t have to cover buyer’s agent commission, which typically costs 2.5-3% of the sale price
- REX operates in a handful of states across the U.S.
- REX has an average customer rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars
P.S. Just looking for Rex Real Estate reviews? Find them here!
What Is REX Real Estate?
REX Real Estate’s business model attempts to help home sellers save on realtor commissions by cutting the buyer’s agent out of the equation.
In a typical home sale, the seller offers 5-6% of the home’s sale price in total commission fees. The seller’s agent and buyer’s agent split these fees, each earning 2.5-3%.
If you sell with REX, you’ll still pay a 2.5% listing fee. But REX claims you WON’T have to pay buyer’s agent commission. Instead, it advertises your home directly to potential buyers on websites like Zillow, Facebook, and Instagram.
REX’s goal is to find buyers who aren’t using an agent, so it does NOT list homes on the multiple listing service (MLS). The MLS is a database where local brokerages advertise the properties they’re selling — and it’s the most common tool realtors use to find homes for their clients. Learn more about how to list on the MLS.
The problem with REX’s approach is that eliminating buyer’s agent commission also eliminates most of your potential buyers. Nine out of ten buyers work with an agent. And the bottom line is that agents aren’t going to show your home to buyers if they won’t earn any commission on the purchase.
If you’re looking to save on realtor fees, we recommend trying a free agent-matching service like ours. Sellers who work with us will pay a low 1.5% listing fee in exchange for full service and support from a top local realtor.
How does REX work?
Most discount real estate brokerages create savings by lowering their listing fees and offsetting those discounts with various cost-cutting measures.
REX’s strategy is different — and in our opinion, FAR riskier.
REX doesn’t charge “less” than the other guys. Its 2.5% listing fee is roughly what you’d expect to pay a traditional listing agent.
When you sell with REX, all of your potential savings rest on the gamble that REX can find one of rare buyers who’s either:
- Serious about buying a home — but hasn’t hired an agent
- Willing to pay their agent’s commission out of pocket
If that strategy fails, REX will likely recommend that you then offer a buyer’s agent commission. This will bring your total realtor fees to 5-5.5%, meaning you won’t save much — if anything — compared to a conventional home sale after all!
Looking for a less risky way to save on real estate commission? We can connect you with top-rated realtors in your area who offer a full-service experience — all for just 1.5%. Find top agents near you today!
How much does REX cost?
REX advertises a flat 2.5% listing fee that “covers both sides of the transaction.” This implies that this is the ONLY fee sellers will pay. However, that’s only true if REX manages to find an unrepresented buyer. As many of REX Real Estate reviews indicate, that’s not always the case.
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Listing Fee | 2.5% (min. $9,000) |
| Buyer's Agent Commission* | 2.5-3% |
| Total | 5-5.5% |
Note that although REX charges a percentage-based commission, it also has a $9,000 minimum fee. This means that you’ll pay an effective listing fee of more than 2.5% if your home sells for less than around $360,000.
| Home price | Listing fee | Effective rate | Savings* |
|---|---|---|---|
| $100,000 | $9,000 | 9% | -$6,000 |
| $250,000 | $9,000 | 3.6% | -$1,500 |
| $500,000 | $12,500 | 2.5% | $2,500 |
| $750,000 | $18,750 | 2.5% | $3,750 |
| Average | $12,300 | 4.4% | -$325 |
REX Real Estate locations
Not all home buyers and sellers will benefit from REX’s model. REX Real Estate is currently only available in select states across the U.S.
Not in REX’s service area, or just want to compare your options? Check out our rankings of the best low commission real estate companies — and find a low cost realtor near you!
REX vs. traditional realtors
REX’s website claims its agents offer the “greatest service” at the “lowest cost.” But the truth is that listing with REX comes with HUGE disadvantages compared to listing with a traditional realtor.
REX’s approach may turn away up to 90% of buyers
The biggest tradeoff to listing with REX Real Estate is that it reduces your supply of potential buyers by as much as 90%.
Remember: REX’s savings come from eliminating the buyer’s agent commission. Since realtors aren’t going to work for free, that means either:
- Selling to one of the 10% of buyers who don’t use an agent
- Convincing a buyer to pay an extra 2.5-3% to cover their agent’s fee
Neither of those scenarios is likely. Serious buyers hire an agent to protect their interests. Besides, sellers typically cover buyer’s agent commission, so buyers don’t really have any incentive NOT to work with a realtor.
Additionally, buyers have LOTS of out-of-pocket closing and move-in costs. Most don’t have the cash to pay their agent too. And even if they do, they’ll likely expect you to accept a lower sale price since they’re footing the bill for their agent.
REX’s customer service model is risky
With REX, you’ll also work with a team of REX employees rather than a single dedicated agent.
While this team-based approach arguably increases efficiency, it also increases the risk of problems. The more people involved in your transaction, the greater the likelihood that you’ll encounter miscommunications and mistakes.
In a highly-regulated real estate transaction, even something as simple as missing a deadline to complete paperwork or submit a counteroffer could be enough to derail a potential sale.
Discount realtors like REX typically don’t provide as much hands-on service as traditional realtors. But REX isn’t your only option! At Real Estate Witch, we negotiate with top-performing agents to deliver you five-star service at a discount price.
Selling with REX
In some respects, listing with REX should be a comparable experience to selling with a traditional brokerage. Your agent — or another REX team member — will assist you during each stage of the process.
This includes support for things like:
- Pricing
- Professional photography
- Open houses
- Reviewing offers
- Negotiating with buyers
- Closing coordination and other logistics
The biggest difference between selling with REX and a traditional realtor is that REX doesn’t list your home on the MLS. Instead, it uses targeted digital advertising to market your home to potential unagented buyers.
But, as REX Homes reviews indicate, this approach has mixed results. This increases the risk that your home will struggle to attract buyers, so it could take a lot longer to sell than if it was listed on the MLS. And the longer your house sits on the market, the less likely you’ll be to find a buyer willing to pay the full asking price.
Buying with REX
REX also offers savings for home buyers — but only if you’re buying a home that’s NOT listed by REX. If your purchase qualifies, you could earn a commission rebate worth up to 1.5% of the sale price.
Lots of discount services offer home buyer rebates. These refunds always come with many terms and restrictions, so read the fine print to verify that you’ll qualify. And remember that REX’s eligibility restrictions aren’t the only factor. State regulations and even your mortgage lender’s policies could limit your ability to earn a commission refund.
What if you want to purchase a home from a REX seller? First, you should be aware that you won’t be eligible for REX’s rebate. Second, with REX’s approach, the seller will expect you to either buy the house without an agent or pay your agent’s commission out of pocket.
In other words, buying directly from REX offers no built-in benefits — and a LOT of built-in risk.
REX Real Estate reviews: Pros, cons, and areas of concern
As REX Homes reviews show, this company offers some advantages compared to traditional real estate brokerages. But it’s important to weigh those benefits against the risks. Only then can you decide if REX is your best option, or if another discount service provides superior value.
Pro: Big savings…if REX’s strategy works
REX’s model is risky, but if it works, you’ll save big on realtor fees by avoiding the buyer’s agent commission altogether. On a $1 million home sale, you’d pay up to $30,000 less than if you’d offered a 3% commission to the buyer’s agent.
Mixed REX Homes reviews indicate that the company’s approach doesn’t always work. But savings are a consistent theme among sellers who have left positive feedback.
For example, this Facebook reviewer was initially skeptical about using REX to sell a house in Houston. His gamble ultimately paid off, saving him a “bundle on commissions.”
Pro: Solid commission rebate for buyers who qualify
If you buy a non-REX home with a REX agent, you may earn a commission rebate worth up to 1.5% of the purchase price. Those savings can help offset closing costs and other upfront expenses you’ll encounter when buying a home.
The buyer on Zillow saved $8,250 with REX, which they said made an otherwise “very good experience” even better.
Pro: REX agents provide in-person support
Unlike some of its competitors, REX offers in-person support throughout the home-selling process.
While technology allows realtors to handle many aspects of a real estate transaction remotely, there’s no substitute for having an agent physically present for crucial activities like:
- Visiting your home to help you decide on an appropriate list price
- Recommending how to stage your home to increase its marketability
- Hosting open houses for prospective buyers
The Google user who wrote this REX review received multiple offers on their home after a REX agent hosted an open house. They enjoyed the quick and easy sale.
Con: REX’s approach has a high failure rate
We can’t say it enough: The biggest disadvantage to selling with REX is that its primary strategy — finding buyers who aren’t using an agent — has a high failure rate.
A consistent theme among negative REX Homes reviews is that sellers believed they’d save big on realtor fees — but REX failed to produce an unrepresented buyer.
Despite REX’s marketing, many sellers DO end up paying buyer’s agent commission in the long run. And since they’re paying REX a 2.5% listing fee, they don’t actually save much compared to selling with a conventional realtor.
Con: No MLS listing reduces your home’s visibility
Because REX is trying to find unrepresented buyers, it markets your home directly to potential house-hunters. Instead of listing your home on the MLS, REX places digital ads on social media and other websites.
However, most serious buyers are working with agents, and the MLS is the top tool buyer’s agents use to help their clients find homes!
As the Google REX review below illustrates, there’s a substantial risk that prospective buyers won’t even know your home is for sale.
Con: REX has a reputation problem
REX’s misleading marketing tactics and combative attitude toward old-school real estate brokerages have given it a poor reputation among traditional realtors, at least in some parts of the U.S.
Unsurprisingly, many agents refuse to show buyers REX listings that offer no buyer’s agent commission. And REX’s poor reputation could negatively impact sellers even when they do offer to pay the buyer’s agent’s fee.
Here’s a review from a realtor whose client bought a REX home from a seller who ultimately paid buyer’s agent commission. The reviewer claimed they had a horrible time working with REX and said they would actively attempt to dissuade future buyers from looking at REX properties.
REX alternatives to consider
Although it claims to offer the “lowest fees” in the real estate industry, many REX Real Estate competitors offer much better value with a LOT less risk.
| Company | Average Rating | Locations | Listing Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| REX | 4.7 (1,041 reviews) | AZ, CA, CO, FL, GA, MD, NV, NJ, OR, PA, TX, WA, DC | 2.5% (min. $9,000) |
| Clever | 5.0 (2,940 reviews) | Nationwide | 1.5% (min. $3,000) |
| Redfin | 2.9 (331 reviews) | Nationwide (select markets)
| 1.5% (min. fees vary) |
| Trelora | 4.7 (1,317 reviews) | AZ, CA, CO, GA, NC, SC, WA
| $3,000-4,000 |
1. REX vs. Clever Real Estate
National
- Listing fee: 1.5% (min. $3,000)
- Available nationwide
- Full service, zero trade-offs
Sellers save an average of $5,625 when they list with Clever, compared to a traditional 3% listing fee.*
*Average savings based on listing fees at four common price points: $100,000, $250,000, $500,000, and $750,000.
Clever has a 5.0 out of 5 rating (2,940 total reviews) on popular review sites like Google, Facebook, and Trustpilot.
Clever is available to sellers and buyers nationwide.
Clever Real Estate is one of the best alternatives to REX if you want to save, but don’t want to sacrifice service.
Clever pre-negotiates discounted commission rates with traditional realtors throughout the U.S. Unlike REX, Clever’s agent-matching service connects you with top-rated realtors in your area and they handle all selling responsibilities — including your MLS listing. With Clever, you can also interview as many agents as you like until you find the one that’s your best fit.
If you sell with one of Clever’s partner agents, you’ll pay a listing fee of just 1.5%. Eligible buyers may also receive commission rebates.
Read the full Clever Real Estate review.
2. REX vs. Redfin
National
- Listing Fee: 1.5% (min. fees vary)
- Available in 80+ U.S. Markets
- Listings Featured on Redfin App
Sellers save an average of $5,550 when they list with Redfin, compared to a traditional 3% listing fee.*
*Average savings based on listing fees at four common price points: $100,000, $250,000, $500,000, and $750,000.
Redfin has a 2.9 out of 5 rating (331 total reviews) on popular review sites like Google, Yelp, and Consumer Affairs.
Redfin is available in AZ, CA, CO, DC, FL, HI, IL, IN, LA, MA, MD, MI, MN, MS, NC, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, TN, TX, VA, and WA.
With nationwide brand recognition and a proven savings model, Redfin is a solid option for most home sellers. Its 1.5% listing fee isn’t the best rate available, but it’s a lot cheaper than what REX charges. Sellers may be eligible for additional discounts if they buy a house with Redfin too.
One potential drawback is that Redfin agents handle 3x as many clients as traditional realtors. As a result, sellers may not get as much hands-on, personalized support as with a conventional brokerage.
Read the full Redfin review.
3. REX vs. Trelora
Regional
- Listing Fee: $3,000 or 1.5%
- Limited Service Area
- Big Service Risks
Sellers save an average of $7,375 when they list with Trelora, compared to a traditional 3% listing fee.*
*Average savings based on listing fees at four common price points: $100,000, $250,000, $500,000, and $750,000.
Trelora has a 4.7 out of 5 rating (1,317 reviews) on popular review sites like Google, Yelp, and Zillow.
Trelora is available in the following areas: AZ, CA, CO, GA, NC, SC, WA.
Trelora is a discount brokerage with locations in five states: AZ, CO, NC, SC, and WA. Instead of percentage-based commission, Trelora charges home sellers a flat listing fee that starts at $3,000. Since sellers pay the same fee regardless of what their home is worth, Trelora offers the most savings on high-end properties.
However, like REX, Trelora has a poor reputation among buyer’s agents. Its own CEO even admitted that as many as 40% of Denver-area realtors refuse to show Trelora homes.
Read the full Trelora review.
REX Real Estate FAQs
Is REX Real Estate legit?
Yes, REX Real Estate is a legitimate discount real estate brokerage with licensed agents throughout its service area. That said, the way REX creates savings is extremely risky — and could cost you money in the long run. Other low commission companies offer bigger discounts with fewer risks.
How does REX work?
REX attempts to save you money on commission by eliminating the buyer's agent fee. It markets your home directly to buyers using digital ads, instead of posting it on the multiple listing service (MLS). If REX finds you a buyer who isn't using a realtor, you won't be responsible for buyer's agent commission. But, since nearly 90% of buyers work with a realtor, this approach is a HUGE gamble. Find better ways to save on real estate commission.
How much does REX cost?
REX charges a 2.5% listing commission, which is subject to a $9,000 minimum fee. Considering that most traditional realtors charge 2.5-3%, REX's fee isn't much of a discount. Some of REX's top competitors offer listing fees as low as 1%. Find the best 1% commission realtors.
Is REX really 2.5%?
Yes and no — REX charges a 2.5% listing fee, but this doesn't include buyer's agent commission, which typically costs another 2.5-3% of the sale price. REX claims its approach will help you avoid covering the buyer's agent fee, but as we explain in our review, this is FAR from a guarantee. Additionally, REX charges a $9,000 minimum fee. If your house sells for around $350,000 or less, you'll pay more than 2.5%. See how REX compares to other top low-fee brokers.
Who are REX's top competitors?
REX's top competitors include discount real estate services like Clever, Redfin, and Houwzer. Want to compare your options? See our complete rankings of the 10 best low commission companies.
Where does REX Homes operate?
REX Real Estate currently operates in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Washington. However, REX is rapidly shrinking, and they recently closed their offices in six states including New York and Illinois. This pattern suggests that REX is not delivering enough value to customers. Many home sellers and buyers will find better rates and service with another low commission brokerage.
Related links
If you’re looking to save on realtor commission, REX Homes may not be your best option. We recommend reading the following resources to learn more about alternatives that offer better savings with fewer risks.
What Companies Offer the Lowest Real Estate Commission Fees?: Which companies actually offer the lowest commission fees? Compare your options and learn how to find the best discount realtors near you in this complete guide!
Clever Real Estate: Must-See Reviews: Clever connects home buyers and sellers to top-rated real estate agents from traditional brokerages like Keller Williams and RE/MAX, then negotiates huge savings on their customers’ behalf. Learn more about how Clever works and see how much you can save.
Redfin Reviews: Find Pros, Cons, and Better Alternatives: Redfin is known for their low commission, high-tech website, and agent teams. How have other customers rated their service? Read the full review to find out.
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