Listing Fee
Our take
Service packages
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 customer service, it allows sellers significant savings by avoiding traditional realtor fees. The company’s professionalism and streamlined process have garnered positive customer feedback, which highlights 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
Unreal Estate is a flat fee MLS listing service platform that offers for sale by owner (FSBO) services in 28 states and Washington, DC. It serves five more states through its subsidiaries, including US Realty.
Unreal Estate's four flat fee service plans — Starter, Basic, Deluxe, and Premium — range from $99 to $449 upfront. Regardless of the plan, you'll also pay 0.5% of the home's final sale price at closing.
If you’re a real estate novice, you may be in over your head trying to sell with Unreal Estate instead of a full-service agent. We recommend using a low-commission agent instead so you can save on fees and still get full support.
But like other FFMLS companies, Unreal Estate could meet your needs if you're willing and able to handle the complicated details of a home sale yourself.
Unreal Estate reviews
| Review site | Average rating (out of 5) |
|---|---|
| 4.6/5 (90+ reviews) | |
| Trustpilot | 4.2/5 (130+ reviews) |
| Zillow | 4.2/5 (10+ reviews) |
| Weighted average | 4.4/5 (230+ reviews) |
Unreal Estate reviewers report mixed experiences. Note: Our analysis includes reviews of USRealty.com, the former name for Unreal Estate.
Reviewers on Trustpilot agree that Unreal Estate offers value. Sellers boast about saving thousands of dollars in fees by using Unreal Estate's FFMLS service, even after paying the customary 3% buyer's agent commission.
Unreal Estate has repeat customers from sellers who don’t mind showing and managing the sale of their own property.
Reviewers on Trustpilot and Google complain about hidden fees. Sellers say charges for making changes to listings blindsided them or when they had a delay submitting their paperwork. One user was surprised by a $350 standard fee at closing. Another complained that Unreal Estate hid that it takes a 0.5% share of the buyer's agent commission.
Trustpilot reviewers report varied experiences with customer service. On one hand, customers say Unreal Estate agents were quick to respond by email or over the phone to address mistakes in an MLS listing. Customers also appreciate having a licensed broker involved in the deal to help with paperwork.
Other reviewers say they experienced a lack of communication and follow-up from the Unreal Estate team, even once a property had gone under contract; some reviewers found this particularly frustrating in the evenings or over the weekends, which are popular times for offers and inquiries.
Unreal Estate services
Pros
- Each service plan gets your home listed on the MLS
- Premium plan includes unlimited listing edits and the maximum number of photos
- Listings last for at least six months
Cons
- Only the premium plan meets all of our key service quality standards
- Basic plan allows only two free listing changes
- Details of Concierge service are difficult to find
Each of Unreal Estate's four plans meets our most important service criteria: listing your house on your local MLS and pushing your listing to real estate sites like Zillow, Trulia, and Realtor.com. Your listing should appear on the MLS within 48 hours of completing the necessary forms.
But only the Premium plan meets all of our key service quality standards. In addition to listing your home on the MLS, the Premium plan includes unlimited listing or price edits and the maximum number of listing photos.
We evaluated Unreal Estate's plans on several metrics:
Number of photos
Only Unreal Estate's Platinum plan reaches our ideal of including the maximum allowable photos with your listing. The maximum number of photos allowed will depend on your local MLS. Here's the breakdown of the number of photos Unreal Estate allows in each plan:
| Plan | Photos allowed |
|---|---|
| Starter | 5 |
| Basic | 15 |
| Deluxe | 25 |
| Premium | Max allowed on local MLS |
Number of listing changes
Again, only the Platinum plan meets our service quality standard of unlimited free listing changes. Otherwise, Unreal Estate stacks up as follows.
| Plan | Listing changes allowed |
|---|---|
| Starter | Not specified on website |
| Basic | 2 |
| Deluxe | 4 |
| Premium | Unlimited |
Duration of listing
Each plan includes a 6–12 month MLS listing. The specific duration depends on your local MLS.
Unreal Estate nice-to-have services
Unreal Estate offers nice-to-have services like "for sale" signs and social media marketing through its Concierge service ($599). Unreal Estate's site offers few details about this service, but from the information provided, it may not be worth the added cost compared to other top FSBO websites.
Unreal Estate costs
Pros
- The Starter plan doesn't require any money upfront
- Each plan can save you a lot of money compared to using a traditional listing agent
Cons
- Each plan requires a 0.5% fee at closing
- There's a cap on free listing changes except with the Platinum plan
- You can get more bang for your buck with other FFMLS providers
Unreal Estate has four pricing plans, ranging from $0 to $449 upfront, plus 0.5% at closing.
Starter plan
The Starter plan costs $0 upfront, but you'll have to pay 0.5% of your home sale price when the home sells. You don't pay anything if your home doesn't sell. But you'll pay a cancellation fee if you cancel before the end of your agreement term.
In addition to the 6–12 month MLS listing, Unreal Estate's Starter plan includes just five photos. We recommend a FFMLS option that includes the maximum allowable photos.
Unreal Estate's Starter package has a better value than Fizber’s similar package, which doesn’t support an MLS listing.
Basic plan
Unreal Estate's Basic plan costs a flat fee of $99 (plus 0.5% of the sale price) for a 6–12 month MLS listing, plus 15 listing photos. There's no fee if you decide to cancel and hire an agent.
But this Basic package doesn’t meet some of the competition. Beycome’s comparable offering, for instance, includes an unlimited MLS listing term and the maximum number of photos allowed.
Deluxe plan
For $249 (plus 0.5% of the sale price), the Deluxe plan gets you a coveted MLS listing for 6–12 months along with automated call forwarding from Unreal Estate's office phone system to your phone. In addition, you'll get 25 photos with your listing.
List With Freedom's similarly priced package includes a six-month MLS listing term and six photos.
Premium plan
The Premium plan costs $449 (plus 0.5% of the sale price). In addition to the MLS listing and max photos, you'll get a 30-minute review of your sales contracts and related forms. The plan also includes buyer qualification information, access to sales agreement forms, and unlimited edits to the listing.
List With Freedom’s similar package offers a 12-month listing term and the maximum number of photos allowed for $295.
Concierge service
The FAQ section of Unreal Estate’s website includes a hard-to-find reference to a concierge service that costs $599. The service includes "for sale" signs and social media marketing, but the website offers no other details. It’s difficult to determine its value.
Costs after paying your plan's flat fee
You'll pay a closing fee in Colorado, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming.
Unreal Estate vs. top competitors
Listing Fee
Our take
Overview
Reviews
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
Reviews
Homecoin offers a streamlined, flat fee MLS service that stands out for its affordability and simplicity, appealing to sellers who prefer to manage their sale process directly. With a fee of $95, Homecoin makes it possible to list properties on the MLS without the hefty commissions associated with traditional brokerages. The service is praised for its straightforward approach and effectiveness in providing significant commission savings.
However, Homecoin may not provide the full spectrum of services and support some sellers seek. For those needing more comprehensive assistance, including professional photography or hands-on agent guidance, exploring alternatives is recommended.
Pros
- Cost effective service
- Allows sellers to manage their own listing process
- Straightforward, easy-to-use platform
Cons
- Limited support
- Extra services may incur additional charges
- Lacks some of full-service offerings
Listing Fee
Our take
Overview
Reviews
Beycome stands out for homeowners who want to sell their homes independently, offering valuable exposure and tools at competitive rates. It has a 4.5-star rating from its customers, and provides a 90-day money-back guarantee, making it a strong contender for those seeking to bypass traditional agent fees.
Particularly suited for experienced sellers across its served states, Beycome’s flat-fee MLS packages provide essential visibility and services. However, it might fall short for first-timers or those desiring more hands-on support. When considering Beycome, exploring other services to ensure the best fit for your selling needs and preferences is wise.
Pros
- Competitive pricing
- Good market exposure
- Money-back guarantee
Cons
- Limited support
- Customer service issues
- Services limited to certain states
Bottom line: Should you use Unreal Estate?
Unreal Estate might be a service worth trying if you’re committed to selling without an agent.
Each of Unreal Estate's plans will get your home listed on a local MLS, which is crucial for reaching buyers. However, you'll need to decide if any of the company's plans meet the rest of your selling needs.
If you haven't sold a house without a realtor before or you don't have the time to learn the responsibilities an agent usually manages, explore other options, like a low-commission real estate service.
Related reading
Methodology
We evaluated each flat fee MLS (FFMLS) and for sale by owner (FSBO) listing service based on three core criteria and created a weighted score:
Customer experience
Our evaluation:
- Aggregated customer reviews from across the web and created a weighted average rating
- Checked for complaints with the Better Business Bureau
- Evaluated how easy the company app or portal was to use, and how easy it was to upload and manage the listing
Service quality
FFMLS companies should provide basic services, including:
- Listing to your local MLS
- Pushing listings to sites like Zillow and Trulia
- Maximum allowable photos
- Unlimited free listing changes
- Keeping a listing active until you cancel or close on your home
We noted add-on services that actually help you sell and manage your sale, like professional photography or an online dashboard. We didn’t give credit for fluffy offerings, such as video tours that are just photo montages or listings on Craigslist.
Cost
We compared pricing tiers for services with baseline national averages and other brands.