From Sapphire Shores to Cherokee Park, home sellers saved up to $16,110 on an average $537,000 home with Flat Fee MLS Florida listing services. Instead of a 3% agent commission, you list your house on the local MLS for a flat fee, typically under $300.
But beware! Many of these services are infamous for hidden fees, which are disclosed to you only at closing. To save you from such unpleasant surprises, we’ve spent hundreds of hours researching the best Flat Fee MLS Sarasota services.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Flat Fee MLS saves you a whopping $16,000 on a median-priced $537,000 2-bed Sarasota home for sale.
- The 5 best Flat Fee MLS Sarasota services include Houzeo, List Now Realty, List With Freedom, Homecoin, and and Flat Fee MLS Realty.
- Houzeo is Sarasota’s #1 Flat Fee MLS service because of its MLS exposure, quick listing process, smart tech, and 5-star customer support.
- Other companies include List Now Realty, rated 4.9/5 stars, List With Freedom, rated 4.7/5 stars, and Homecoin, rated 4.5/5 stars.
- Some Sarasota Flat Fee listing services sneak in hidden fees that drastically increase your expenses. So, check the company’s policies thoroughly to avoid surprises on closing day.
- To sell your Sarasota home quickly, a few mistakes to avoid are overpricing, including inaccurate listing details, and failing to market your property effectively.
Rankings: 5 Best Flat Fee MLS Sarasota Companies in 2025
| Flat Fee MLS Service | Price | 100% Online | Offer Management | Showing Management | 5-star Reviews | Mobile App |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Houzeo | $299 | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| 2. List Now Realty | $400 | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| 3. List With Freedom | $89 | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| 4. Homecoin | $95 | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| 5. Flat Fee MLS Realty | $299 | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
Reviews: 5 Best Flat Fee Listing Services in Sarasota
1. Houzeo: San Jose‘s #1 Flat Fee MLS Service
100% ONLINE
Listing Fee: $249Houzeo dominates the Flat Fee MLS market with over 200k active Florida real estate listings. You get to choose from three packages:
- Silver Package – $249 + 0.5% at Close: This package offers MLS visibility for 6 months with 24 high-quality photos. You can take charge of showings and make unlimited changes to your listing. You also get a yard sign for free, if you submit a selfie with it.
- Gold Package – $299 + 1% at Close: You get all the Silver package benefits, plus unlimited photo uploads. Relevant documents, like Florida seller disclosures, automatically get assigned to you. You can review and sign them digitally.
- Platinum Package – $349 + 1.25% at Close: You get all the features in the Gold plan, along with a year-long listing duration. It also includes dedicated concierge support designed specifically for new home sellers.
Here’s why homeowners trust Houzeo as the #1 Florida Flat Fee MLS service:
- Max Exposure: Your Florida home listing will be visible on your local MLS and major real estate platforms like Zillow, Trulia, and Realtor.com.
- 100% Online: You can list your home, manage offers, and close deals, all at your fingertips with the powerful Houzeo Mobile App. To simplify the process, Houzeo will automatically assign the correct MLS paperwork based on your address.
- Instant Social Sharing: You can share your home listing with just a tap across social platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp, LinkedIn, and X.
- 5-Star Customer Service: You can get prompt, expert answers from Houzeo’s 5-star support team via chat 6 days a week. This helps you keep your home sale on track.
- No Hidden Fees: What you see is what you pay. All fees are disclosed upfront.
There are no dealbreakers.
» Is Houzeo Legit? Find out why savvy homeowners choose Houzeo to sell smarter, faster, and on their terms.
Houzeo boasts a 4.9 out of 5-star rating. Home sellers love its quick listing process and mobile app.
» Houzeo Reviews: Check out testimonials by over 11,000 satisfied customers who opted for Houzeo.
👉 Our Take: We recommend Houzeo’s Gold Plan for most home sellers. It gives you maximum exposure, big savings, and access to high-tech tools. You also get licensed broker assistance with home pricing, offer negotiations, inspections, and closing.
2. List Now Realty
UNLIMITED CHANGES
Listing Fee: $400List Now Realty offers two Flat Fee MLS packages for Florida home sellers:
- Flat Fee MLS Listing Package – $400: Your property is listed on the MLS until it’s sold. Also, you can post maximum photos allowed by the MLS and make unlimited changes to your listing.
- Full-Service Listing Package – 4% at Close: You get access to professional real estate photography. Also, you get assistance for negotiations and the listing process.
Here are some of the benefits that you get with List Now Realty:
- Local MLS Listing: With List Now Realty, your property gets listed on local Florida MLSs, increasing your property’s visibility to both local agents and buyers.
- Maximum Photos: You can upload the maximum number of photos allowed by the MLS.
- Free Listing Changes: You can make unlimited updates to your listing in both packages.
- Buyer Leads Forwarding: All buyer leads are directly forwarded to you with no agent involvement. This allows you to connect directly with the buyers.
- No Cancellation Fee: List Now Realty charges no cancellation fees if you choose to cancel your Florida Flat Fee MLS listing.
In our research, we found some drawbacks of List With Freedom that could make your selling experience less satisfactory:
- Limited Coverage: List Now Realty provides its services only in 37 Florida counties. As a result, many sellers won’t be able to avail of their services.
- Non-Refundable Listing: You are eligible for only a 50% refund if you cancel before your property is listed on the MLS. Once your property is listed, you don’t get any refund.
- Lack of Marketing Tools: Yard signs and lock boxes are vital tools for attracting more offers. However, List Now Realty does not offer these tools in their basic package.
List Now Realty has 4.9 out of 5 stars from 35 reviews on Google.
» List Now Realty Reviews: Check our in-depth review to know if List Now Realty is a good choice for your Florida Flat Fee MLS listing.
👉 Our Take: We recommend List Now Realty for experienced sellers who are comfortable handling most aspects of the sale themselves. However, if you want full-service assistance, you’ll have to pay a hefty 4% at close, which means paying thousands of dollars.
3. List With Freedom
EXPERIENCED BROKER
Listing Fee: $89List With Freedom is a popular Flat Fee Multiple Listing Service that offers 3 packages:
- Gold Package – $89 + 0.5% at Close: You can list your home for 6 months with 25 photos and make unlimited changes. Online showing service, open house, a professional yard sign, and other services are available at additional charges.
- Platinum Package – $195 + 0.25% at Close: You get everything in the Gold plan, but instead of 25 photos, you can list with the maximum number of photos.
- Platinum Plus Package – $395 + 0.25% at Close: This package provides a 12-month listing term with an online showing service, virtual tour, and other features. Add-on services come with additional costs.
Here are some advantages of choosing List With Freedom:
- Affordable Pricing: Listing packages start as low as $89, making home selling accessible and budget-friendly.
- Unlimited Listing Changes: Regardless of the plan you choose, you can update your listing as often as needed at no extra cost.
- Extensive Nationwide Coverage: List With Freedom operates in over 45 states, providing broad market access for sellers across the U.S.
Here are some drawbacks of using List With Freedom:
- Extra Charges: You need to pay a compliance fee of 0.25% to 0.5% when your property is sold. This can significantly increase your expenses at closing.
- Costly Add-Ons: Optional services like virtual tours, open houses, and offer reviews increase transaction costs. List With Freedom charges $49 for a yard sign, and you have to pay the installation costs.
- Limited Online Showing Service: Online showing services are not available in all areas. Additionally, if the service is included in your listing package, the company doesn’t provide a refund or credit.
- No Mobile App: You handle all property management tasks through a web browser. You miss out on instant mobile notifications when buyers express interest. Also, it becomes less convenient to manage features like one-tap responses to inquiries or quick photo uploads.
List With Freedom has a 4.7 out of 5-star rating from 840+ reviews on Google.
» List With Freedom Reviews: Is this flat fee company the right choice for your home sale? Read our in-depth review to find out!
👉 Our Take: List With Freedom charges a 0.25% – 0.50% compliance fee at closing, which can significantly increase your expenses. Instead, opt for a Flat Fee MLS service that discloses all its fees upfront so you don’t get any surprises later.
4. Homecoin
AFFORDABLE SERVICE
Listing Fee: $149Homecoin offers a single Flat Fee MLS package:
- Listing Package – $149: You get a 12-month listing term with a free Homecoin sign.
Additional Services:
- Post Rental: $99+ (price varies by area)
- Lockbox Rentals: $125 (price varies by MLS)
- Pro Real Estate Photography: $182 (price varies by area)
- Seller Agent (varies): You can avail two packages for seller agent. Standard package costs $149/hr and the premium package costs $2,999.
Homecoin offers the following advantages to home sellers:
- Free Disclosures: You get all the necessary state and federal seller disclosures.
- Covers 22 States: You can avail Homecoin services in 22 states across America. Some of the major states they cover are Florida, California, Texas, and Arizona.
In our research, we found some limitations of Homecoin, which could make your experience less satisfactory:
- Essentials as Add-Ons: Homecoin will charge you extra for essential features like showing management and a lockbox.
- Variable Pricing by Location: Prices vary by location depending on your state. This makes it difficult to budget accurately without first checking your specific area’s pricing.
- No Offer Management: You lack a centralized system to track, compare, and manage multiple offers. This makes it difficult to organize competing bids and can lead to confusion when handling negotiations with several interested buyers.
- No Mobile App for iOS or Android: You manage all property tasks through their website. You miss out on instant mobile notifications when buyers express interest, and it becomes less convenient to respond to inquiries or upload photos on the go.
- Delayed Buyer Communication: You don’t receive buyer inquiries directly. All messages from interested buyers go to Homecoin first and then get forwarded to you. This creates an unnecessary delay in communication.
Homecoin has 4.4 out of 5 stars from 140+ reviews on Google.
» Homecoin Reviews: Is the company worth it? Read our blog to find out.
👉 Our Take: Homecoin offers only a single package for listing on the MLS. While the $149 flat fee is definitely attractive, the additional features, such as professional photography and lockbox rentals, come with a hefty price tag.
5. Flat Fee MLS Realty
AFFORDABLE PLANS
Listing Fee: $249Flat Fee MLS Realty offers 3 listing packages:
- Silver Package – $99: You get a 3-month listing term and can upload only 15 photos.
- Gold Package – $249: You can make unlimited changes to your listing. The package also includes open house scheduling, comparative market analysis, and a digital flyer.
- Platinum Package – $549: You can add over 25 professional HD photos and gain access to a lockbox and aerial drone photos.
🚩 $825 in Hidden Fees: Flat Fee MLS Realty costs $400 to buyer agents. They also charge you an additional $425 if you don’t use their recommended title agent. This fee isn’t mentioned upfront. Instead, it’s buried in their FAQs.
Listing with Flat Fee MLS Realty has some advantages:
- Local Exposure: Flat Fee MLS Realty gets your home on the local MLS, which makes it visible to nearby buyers and agents.
- Seller Disclosures Are Provided: Flat Fee MLS Realty provides you with a seller disclosure form that reveals known property defects and important information about the property’s condition.
- Free Listing Cancellation: Flat Fee MLS Realty does not charge you for cancelling your listing. You also get a full refund if your home is not listed on MLS.
In our research, we found a few drawbacks of Flat Fee MLS Realty:
- Poor Customer Reviews: Some customers complained their agent took a cut from both the seller and the buyer’s agent.
- Limited Listing Updates: Flat Fee MLS Realty allows you to make only 10 listing updates in their basic plan.
- Short Listing Term: With Flat Fee MLS Realty’s basic plan, you can list your home for only 3 months. For a longer listing term, you’ll need to choose an advanced package, which may increase your costs.
- Limited Marketing Tools: Flat Fee MLS Realty does not provide essential marketing tools such as a yard sign, which can limit your home’s visibility.
Flat Fee MLS Realty has 4.4 out of 5 stars from 95+ total reviews on Google.
» Flat Fee MLS Realty Reviews: Check out our detailed review to know more about Flat Fee MLS Realty’s fees and what real sellers have to say.
👉 Our Take: Flat Fee MLS Realty gets your home listed on the local MLS and allows you to set the buyer agent commission. However, we do not recommend them, as they charge an additional $825, which isn't mentioned upfront in their pricing.
🚩Beware: Various Sarasota Flat Fee MLS Companies Have High Hidden Fees
The biggest issue with Sarasota Flat Fee MLS services is the high hidden fees. For example, some companies offer a $99 MLS listing but charge an undisclosed extra fee of $300+ for add-ons like a yard sign or lockbox. These hidden fees make your home sale more expensive, which ruins your experience with all the nickel and diming!
👉 Ready to List Your Home? Houzeo discloses all its fees upfront on the Flat Fee MLS Sarasota pricing page!
How Does a Flat Fee Multiple Listing Service in Sarasota Work?
A Flat Fee MLS listing service allows you to list your home on the MLS for a fixed fee. However, only licensed agents have direct access to the MLS. They partner with agents, all you have to do is choose a plan that suits your needs. And voila! You save thousands.
With thousands of New Yorkers and New Jerseyans moving to Florida, your property will gain exposure to a larger pool of potential buyers. Once your property is listed on the MLS, agents can share it with interested buyers looking for houses for sale in San Jose.
How Much Can You Save With a Flat Fee MLS Service in Sarasota?
Almost $16,000!
That’s the power of flat fee listings in Sarasota. Traditional listing agents can’t survive without their 3% MLS listing fees. But that would cost you tens of thousands of dollars in cities like The Meadows, Lakewood Ranch, and Siesta Key. For example, for a home priced at $537,000, you would have to pay $16,110 in agent fees.
On the other hand, Flat Fee Sarasota MLS listing services charge you a one-time upfront fee of just $199 to $500. So, you’d save around $16,000!
How to List My Home on MLS in Sarasota via Houzeo?
Here’s how to sell your house by owner in Florida with Houzeo:
- Create Your Account: Download the Houzeo Mobile App or go to Houzeo.com and click “Start Listing Now.” You’ll then have to provide basic information, like your name, contact details, etc., to set up your account.
- Add Property Details and Photos: Go to the Houzeo dashboard and click “Sell a Property.” Submit details about your home, such as the number of rooms and baths, square footage, etc. Also, upload high quality pictures and highlight what makes your Sarasota home special!
- Choose Your MLS Plan: Houzeo offers 3 flat fee packages. Once you select a plan, the necessary documents will be automatically assigned to you.
- Set Your Asking Price: Use online tools such as a home worth calculator to check the value of your home and set the asking price accordingly.
- Sign the Listing Agreement: Review and sign the listing agreement and complete the paperwork. If everything is in order, the real estate broker will make your listing live within 48 hours.
Pros and Cons of Listing With Sarasota Flat Fee MLS Services
Here are some pros and cons of listing your Sarasota home with Flat Fee MLS services:
✅ Pros
- Great Savings: For a Flat Fee MLS service in Sarasota, you typically pay a fixed MLS listing cost, up to $300. With an affordable Flat Rate MLS service, you can list your home for sale by owner and save up to $29,286 on an average $537,000 home.
- Max Exposure: Your home listing is shared with major Florida real estate websites like Zillow, Redfin, and Trulia. This makes your home visible to local and national buyer agents.
- Full Control: Just like with the best For Sale By Owner sites in Florida, you can set your price, negotiate directly with buyers, and control the showing schedule with a Flat Fee Sarasota real estate broker.
❌ Cons
- Limited Support: When you choose pocket-friendly plans ranging from $75 to $99, you likely end up handling a lot of paperwork, pricing, and negotiation all by yourself.
- Add On Charges: Even some of the best Sarasota Flat Fee MLS listing services do not offer critical marketing tools like yard signs, open house schedules, and pricing assistance in their basic packages. You will likely pay $500 to $1,000 more in add-ons.
- Hidden Fees: One of the biggest cons of working with Flat Fee Sarasota listing services is the hidden fee disclosed at the closing table. It’s so late you can’t even back out of the contract now!
- Time Commitment: Flat Fee MLS services mostly offer virtual broker assistance. You will have to dedicate significant time to market, list, and eventually sell your Sarasota home.
Mistakes to Avoid With a Sarasota Flat Fee MLS Service 🚫
To sell a home successfully in Sarasota, ensure that you do not:
- Overprice Your Property: An unrealistic listing price can drive away serious buyers and increase your home’s days on market. Compare the house prices in Florida before setting your listing price..
- Forget to Prepare Your Home: Most buyers aren’t interested in shabby homes needing repairs and maintenance. If you’re serious about selling, improve your curb appeal, declutter your home, and make minor fixes to attract offers.
- Neglect Marketing Efforts: MLS exposure is great, but it’s not enough in Sarasota’s competitive market. Use traditional marketing tactics like yard signs to attract drive-by traffic. Learning how to sell a house on Facebook Marketplace is another great way to get more offers.
- Ignore Legal and Paperwork Requirements: FSBO paperwork is complex. But that’s not a good enough reason to overlook crucial documents like a Florida seller disclosure. Remember to consult with a real estate attorney to verify your contracts.
- Provide Incomplete or Inaccurate Listing Details: Falsifying your listing information is the fastest way to get sued in Sarasota. Not only do you risk the deal falling through, but the MLS will also penalize you with a hefty fine. Double-check your listing to avoid more expenses.
- Dismiss Buyer Inquiries and Offers: Serious buyers have many housing options to choose from in the current Florida real estate market. Respond promptly to all inquiries and offers to avoid losing out on a serious buyer.
- Choose the Wrong Flat Fee MLS Service: The wrong flat fee company will drown you in hidden fees, outdated tech, expensive add-ons, and poor customer support. Why throw away more than $500 for nothing when you can get superior service at just $299?
» Houzeo Reviews: Read what over 11,000 customers have to say about Houzeo—Sarasota’s #1 home selling website.
