America’s 12 Best Real Estate Websites (2023 Rankings)

Houzeo is a 100% online home-selling platform. It is the best way to sell your home fast and save thousands in commission. Houzeo offers you 4 FSBO MLS listing packages.

• Bronze Package – $99+: This package offers Houzeo listing only for 6 months with maximum photos.
• Silver Package – $379+: This includes everything that home sellers typically look for.
• Gold Package – $379+: It is Houzeo’s signature MLS package and includes all the technology Houzeo is known for Houzeo Showings, Houzeo Offers, and DigiTransact.
• Platinum – $349+: It includes the assistance of a licensed broker to help you with negotiations, disclosures, and closing.

👉 Our Take: We recommend Houzeo’s Gold plan for most home sellers. It’s only $399 in most markets and provides you access to high-tech features like Houzeo Offers and Houzeo Showings.

» Houzeo Reviews: Houzeo has an “Excellent” rating of 4.9 out of 5.0 stars on Google & Trustpilot

Houzeo is America’s #1 Flat Fee MLS service because of 8 reasons:

• Licensed Broker Support: Houzeo allows you to sell your house by owner, with a 5-star rated customer support team.
• Homes For Sale: Buyers can explore FSBO homes for sale and directly make an offer online.
• Advanced Search: Home buyers can also access Houzeo’s advanced search feature. Using filters, you can narrow down to the exact home you’re searching for.
• Max Exposure: Houzeo MLS packages give you access to the MLS, Zillow, Trulia, Realtor.com, Redfin, and 100s of other websites.
• 5-star Customer Service: Houzeo has a fully staffed customer service desk available 6 days a week. Chats and emails are open 7 days a week. This is rare in today’s world.
• 100% Online: Houzeo is high-tech. For you, this means easy listing, fast changes, online showings, and online offers. Houzeo Mobile App is also very powerful.
• No Listing Commission: In most states, you’ll be paying just a small flat fee to list on MLS. Houzeo covers 47 states + DC. And remember, all fees are disclosed upfront, so there are no Houzeo hidden fees.
• Get Thousands Back in Buyer Rebates: In all but 10 states, brokers on Houzeo offer thousands in rebates back to home buyers.

There are no dealbreakers with Houzeo.

» Houzeo Reviews: Houzeo is rated “Excellent” with a 4.9 out of 5 star rating by 4,523 home sellers on Google Reviews and Trustpilot!

Houzeo has a 4.9/5 rating on Google & Trustpilot.

Redfin is America’s #1 discount real estate brokerage. This low-commission broker specializes in home buying. It’s technology sets it apart from all other platforms.

• Redfin Full-Service Agent – 1.5% Commission: This is a full-service package. This includes pricing assistance, listing paperwork, negotiation support, etc.
• Redfin Concierge – 2.5% Commission: The “Concierge” plan includes everything from the Full-Service package. Additionally, it includes services like professional cleaning, home staging, and more.
• Redfin Premier Agent – 1.5% Commission: This package is exclusively for luxury properties and includes everything that comes with the Full-Service package.

👉 Our Take: Redfin.com is a good nationwide discount real estate brokerage. We recommend its concierge plan because it covers everything needed for a successful real estate transaction.

» Redfin Reviews: The Reality of 1% Fees, Pros, Cons, & Alternatives!

Here are some advantages of choosing Redfin:

• Advanced Technology: Redfin is primarily known for its advanced tech platform, mobile app, and home value estimation.
• Full-Service Agents at Low Commission – 1.5%: Redfin’s full-service package is priced at 1.5%. It saves you thousands compared to the traditional 3% listing commission.
• Buyer Rebate – 0.5%: Clients who sell and buy with Redfin within one year get a rebate of 0.5% in the second transaction. However, this offer is available with the Full Service Plan.
• Detailed Paperwork: Redfin provides the necessary paperwork assistance with a marketing plan.
• Nationwide Coverage: Redfin covers 80+ markets in the US.

In our research, we found some red flags of Redfin, that could make your experience less satisfactory.

• Lack of Personalized Services: Customers have often complained that Redfin agents are not able to give personalized service, as they serve a high volume of clients.
• Poor Customer Reviews: Customers have complained that agents are often unreachable and unprofessional.
• Slow Listing Process: According to Redfin’s listing agreement, a Redfin property takes 18 days to list on MLS. Services like Houzeo will list you on the MLS within 24 to 48 hours.
• Limited Agent Selection: As per customer reviews, Redfin lacks an array of agents. This means you get an agent assigned automatically without having any choice in the matter.
• Agents are Less Incentivized: Unlike traditional agents who work for commission, Redfin agents get a fixed salary. This can demotivate them from offering you services apart from Redfin’s defined services.

Redfin has an average rating of 3.3 out of 5 from 372 reviews on Consumer Affairs.

» Redfin Reviews: The Reality of 1% Fees, Pros, Cons, & Alternatives!

Opendoor is the country’s best and largest iBuyer. It offers instant cash offers on homes with flexible closing times.

• Service Fee – 5%: Opendoor makes cash offers on homes and charges a service fee of 5% of the home sale price which can go up to 14%. In 2023, Opendoor will likely offer 70% to 90% of the property’s Fair Market Value (FMV).

Mobile App: Yes

👉 Our Take: In 2023’s real estate market, Opendoor may not be the best option to sell your home to because their offer will be below fair market value.

» Opendoor Review: Opendoor will be BANKRUPT in 24 Months!

Opendoor has the following advantages which make it stand out from other cash companies:

• Cash Offer in 24 Hours: Your home selling experience with Opendoor is quick, easy, and comes with a preliminary offer within 24 hours.
• Flexible Closing Date: Once you accept Opendoor’s final offer, you can choose a closing date between 14 and 60 days.
• Opendoor Exclusives: Opendoor also offers properties that are not listed anywhere else on the market.
• Wide Coverage: It offers iBuyer services in 48 metro areas.
• Late Checkout Upto 14 Days: Opendoor allows sellers to close on their homes, receive sale proceeds, and temporarily rent their homes.
• No Cancellation Fees: You can cancel the contract without any cancellation fee.
• No Upfront Costs: When you sell to Opendoor, you skip the traditional home selling process. No need to fix, repair or stage the property!
• Fantastic UI Experience: Opendoor provides a good mobile application for its users.

» What is Home Staging: Learn more about home staging, pros, cons, and costs of staging a property.

In our research, we have found some significant drawbacks of Opendoor.

• Lowball Cash Offer: Opendoor’s final cash offer may be below the property’s fair market value, around 70%. They also deduct repair and closing costs.
• Service Fee – 5%: Opendoor charges a 5% service fee which can go up to 14%. Plus they may add on additional repair costs post the home inspection.
• Non-Negotiable Offer: Opendoor’s offer is a take-it-or-leave-it offer, which leaves you zero room for negotiation.
• Undisclosed Costs: The offer doesn’t disclose the repair cost breakdown, service fees, and closing costs.
• Opendoor May Back Out of the Deal: Some homeowners have had a bad experience with Opendoor. Opendoor backed out of the cash deal at the last minute, leaving the homeowner stranded.
• Strict Eligibility Criteria: Opendoor doesn’t pay cash for inherited properties, homes with tenants, pre-fabricated or mobile homes, and properties located in a flood zone.

Opendoor has an average rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars on Reviews.io.

Zillow is the largest real estate marketplace in the United States and has more than 40 million unique users every month.

FSBO Listing on Zillow – $0: You can list your home for free on Zillow’s FSBO platform.

MLS Listing via Zillow Premier Agent – 3% commission: A Zillow Premier Agent will assist you throughout your home selling process. However, this is the traditional way to sell your home and not the FSBO way.

👉 Our Take: If you are going FSBO, then we do not recommend Zillow as it limits your exposure. Further, you can also get multiple unsolicited calls from listing agents.

Here are some advantages of choosing Zillow:

• Biggest Database: Zillow has 135 million homes in its database. That makes Zillow the best website to start your home search on.
• Advanced Search: Zillow has saved your search criteria with its “save search” feature. It has more than 20 filters to narrow down your ideal property based on the preferences of price, beds and baths, home type, and many more.
• Largest Marketplace: With many tools and information for buyers, Zillow is the largest real estate website for buyers, renters, real estate agents, and much more.
• Mobile App: Yes.

Zillow has some major drawbacks that a user should be aware of.

• Poor Customer Reviews: Poor customer reviews and record-breaking debacles, as seen on Trustpilot.
• Your Listing Will be Hidden: Zillow hides FSBO listings under the “Other Listings” section, which most home buyers aren’t aware of.
• Buyer Leads go to Local Agents: Zillow does not prominently display owner information. Any buyer who tries to contact you will be matched with a Zillow agent instead.
• Your Info Will Become an FSBO Lead for Listing Agents: Agents target Zillow FSBO listings to extract owner info. You will get numerous unsolicited calls from these agents asking you to list with them.

Zillow has a poor rating of 1.7 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot.

Trulia is one of the biggest American online real estate marketplaces for home buyers and renters. It is owned by Zillow, and it aims to be a one-stop shop for home buyers.

Listing on Trulia via Zillow is free. However, these free listings are sold as potential leads for agents who may incessantly reach out to you even if you aren’t ready to sell.

👉 Our Take: We recommend Trulia’s app as it is powerful and that is easy to use

» Trulia Reviews: Is It Truly a Smart Choice to Sell or Rent? Read the comprehensive review to know more!

Trulia has an easy-to-use app that is preferred by a lot of customers. It has other following features:

• MLS Syndicated Listings: Trulia offers over 1 million listings directly sourced from the MLS. It has incredible home-buying features, like a comprehensive map, narrowing down your search based on price range, home style, number of bedrooms, and many more.
• Easy Home Search: You can easily find homes for sale or rent on Trulia. You can also check the price trend of a listed property.
• Local Coverage: It offers a comprehensive map and filters, which make it easier to look for local information about the property.
• Best Calculators: Trulia has a mortgage, affordability, and refinancing calculator to serve you better.
• Tutorial Guide: Tutorial guides teach you how to maximize your app experience.
• Neighborhood Information: It provides extensive information about the neighborhood like schools, cafes, pet-safe properties, community events, etc.
• Mobile App: Trulia has the best mobile app for buyers with a comprehensive search feature.

» What is Trulia? Check this out to know more about Trulia and its working.

Here are some red flags you need to consider before choosing Trulia:

• Inconsistent Estimates: The algorithm Trulia uses to estimate home prices may not always be accurate.
• Listings Can be Outdated: Sometimes even if the house is sold, the listing is not updated. This can mislead the buyers.

Trulia has a rating of 3.7 out of 5 stars on Consumer Affairs.

» Trulia pros and cons: Let’s find out all the merits and demerits about them.

Homes.com contains millions of listings and attracts a huge number of home buyers. That’s why it is featured among our list of top real estate search sites.

Pricing is not disclosed on the website. Although you will have to pay the common closing costs, home inspection, appraisal, etc.

👉 Our Take: We recommend them for their Snap and Search Feature. Customers who want to gauge property value variations and understand if the neighborhood is gaining value, stagnant, or declining, will find this website helpful.

Here are some advantages of choosing Homes.com:

• Snap and Search Feature: The flagship Snap and Search feature allows users to take snapshots of the home they like, and the app will match this snapshot with similar homes in the area to increase their options.
• Property Value History: This feature allows users to examine a property’s value history and compare it to the history of other properties in the neighborhood.
• How-To-Hub: Homes.com has a great “How-To-Hub” repository for in-depth knowledge of real estate terms.
• Property Assessment: Homes.com provides a great feature for property assessment and interactive features for home searching.
• Mobile App: Yes

In our research, we found some red flags of Homes.com, that could make your experience less satisfactory.

• Sells Leads: Homes.com sells home buyer and seller contact info to real estate agents, mortgage brokers, and lenders.
• Complaints From Agents: Thousands of agents are available at Homes.com but they have a lot of complaints about their customer support team.

Homes.com has a rating of 3.5 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot.

RealtyTrac has the largest collection of foreclosed and distressed properties. It provides access to listings and the ability to participate in auctions.

• Paid Premium Plan: RealtyTrac provides detailed information of a property available only with a paid premium plan.

👉 Our Take: We recommend them for investors and homebuyers who are looking for a great deal and affordable properties.

» Buying Houses for Cash: See why cash is king when purchasing a property!

Here’s why you can consider listing with RealtyTrac:

• Affordable Properties: RealtyTrac provides access to foreclosed or auctioned properties. Usually, these properties are sold for way lower than other neighborhood properties.
• Off-Market Properties: You can also discover off-market deals on bank-owned homes and pre-foreclosure properties.
• Background Check: All homes listed on RealtyTrac have been through a background check. This reduces the possibility of existing liens or unpaid taxes.
• Accurate Information: RealtyTrac provides accurate and detailed information about foreclosed properties, upcoming auctions, loan information, property details, and more.
• Subscription-Based Model: With a subscription-based model, RealtyTrac provides access to listings and the ability to participate in auctions. It also includes unlimited access to property addresses, auction dates, locations, and loan history.

In our research, we found some major deal breakers with RealtyTrac:

• Not For Other Properties: RealtyTrac works only for foreclosure and distressed properties.
• Fewer Features in the Free Plan: Unpaid subscriptions do not give access to the property information.
• No Mobile App: RealtyTrac does not provide any mobile application for users.
• Limited Options: RealtyTrac sells only foreclosed and distressed homes.

RealtyTrac has a rating of 3.5 out of 5 stars on Consumer Affairs.

Realtor.com is America’s most comprehensive source of property listings. It is regarded as the best house-searching website and is the official listing website of the National Association of Realtors (NAR).

Pricing is not disclosed on the website. Although you will have to pay the common closing costs, home inspection, appraisal, etc.

👉 Our Take: We recommend Realtor.com if you are house-hunting. Accurate listing information and a substantial property database make it stand out from other real estate sites.

» Best FSBO Websites: High-tech FSBO sites are helping home sellers save $$$.

Here are some advantages of choosing Realtor.com:

• REALTOR Support: It is the official listing website of the National Association of Realtors (NAR). So, buyers can buy or rent a property through a Realtor.
• Neighborhood Information: Realtor.com is available nationwide and provides information about the property as well as neighborhood details.
• Accurate Data: It has accurate local information from 800 regional MLS, local broker associations, non-profit organizations, etc.
• Agent Support: Realtor.com provides a variety of options for selling through an agent.
• Home Value: Realtor.com offers accurate home value estimation.
• REALTORs Database: It has the biggest database of trust-worthy realtor communities.
• Best Calculators: Realtor.com provides mortgage and refinance calculators.
• Mobile App: Yes!

Realtor.com has some major drawbacks that a user should be aware of.

• Offline Process: Realtor.com has manual and offline procedures which can be very complex and time-taking.
• Poor Reviews: Realtor.com has very poor reviews on Trustpilot. Many of their users complain about their customer support and realtor’s services.
• Unwanted Calls: If you have ever inquired about a property on Realtor.com, you should expect unsolicited calls from their agents. As mentioned in some of their reviews.

Realtor.com has a poor rating of 2.2 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot.

Apartments.com is the best option for eager renters with more than 81 Million visitors per month. It is one of the top rent-a-home websites.

• Application Fee: Apartments.com charges a $24.99 application fee from renters which allows them to apply for 10 apartments in a 30-day period.

👉 Our Take: We recommend Apartments.com as they offer a Pay-To-Apply feature.

• Pay-To-Apply: Features a pay-to-apply system that improves the potential of genuine candidates.
• Free to Search Properties: Renters can research properties for free in both the app and on the website.
• Comprehensive Searching Criteria: You can search by more than just geography, for example, search “Pet-Friendly Apartments”
• Walk-through Video: Apartments.com provides walk-through video demonstrations for renters. It also has a mobile app with search and contact features.
• Travel Time Feature: The travel time feature lets users search for rentals in proximity to a specific address.
• Unique Features: The website has a ‘Polygon’ tool feature that helps users mark a specific area on the map and search properties in that area. The commute planner helps users to find a home close to their workplace.

• Complaints From Customers: Some customers complained about their navigational features.
• Application Fee: Apartments.com charges the application fee of $24.99 plus tax to apply in the mobile app for up to 10 applications in a 30-day period.
• Only Rental Properties: Apartments.com works only for rental properties.
• Less User-Friendly: The mobile application is less user-friendly than the website.

Apartments.com has 2.1 out of 5 stars on Sitejabber.

Auction.com provides buyers with the option to bid on foreclosed and bank-owned properties.

• Service Charge – 5%: You may have to pay a premium of $2500 or a minimum service charge of 5% when you are interested in buying a home.

👉 Our Take: We recommend Aution.com for investors looking to purchase foreclosures and REOs.

» Closing Cost Calculator: Click here and check your closing cost.

• Properties On Auction: It offers the option to bid on residential bank-owned, foreclosures, short sale, and rental properties.
• Tech-Friendly: Auction.com provides accessibility to cutting-edge software with its mobile application for better transactional processes and user interaction.
• Nationwide Coverage: Auction.com has national coverage.
• Transparent Information: It provides complete transparency about property details with buying and selling options.

• Hefty Earnest Money Deposits: A deposit of 10% has to be made if a particular bidder wins the bid.
• Hidden Costs: It has tons of hidden legalities which are not mentioned on the website.
• Poor and Substandard Communication: Many customers have complained about its irresponsible customer care service. Even the customer support team does not make any effort to communicate with a user.
• Complicated Process: It is an auction.com is a very tedious process. You need to pay huge amounts of deposits for bidding with the risk of losing everything if the reserve is not met.

Auction.com has 2.4 out of 5 stars on Sitejabber.

» Auction.com Reviews: Find out whether Auction.com is an ideal place to buy or not.

Avail is the best rental management platform with nationwide coverage.

Unlimited Plus Plan: Avail offers one free plan and one unlimited plus plan which will cost $5.00 per unit per month.

👉 Our Take: We recommend Avail.com for landlords as it offers the best features to manage their properties effectively.

• No Hidden Fees: The application fee covers the cost of the screening tools, so you won’t have to pay anything additional.
• Screening Report: Avail provides the best screening reports to help you choose the ideal tenant.
• Free Syndication: Avail offers free syndicated listings on ten additional websites for maximum exposure.
• Avail Landlord Software: This software helps landlords to find tenants, view credit history, sign leases, and collect rent from any device.
• Screening Reports: It provides eviction checks, worldwide criminal background checks, credit histories, and best screening reports.
• Transparent System: Avail offers a transparent system for you to track property repairs and rent credits.
• Social Media Sharing: It offers social media listings that are easy to share.

• Additional Charges: Avail provides a credit history, nationwide criminal background, and eviction checks for $30 each, or you can buy them as a bundle for $55.
• Short Listing Inventory: Avail has fewer features for the landlord to highlight their property. It has a minimum list of search filters that applicants may use to search for a property.
• No Mobile App: Avail does not provide any mobile application to users.
• Tenants Pay a High Fee: Renters have to pay $2.50 for every bank transfer if the landlord utilizes the free plan. Also, renters are responsible for the screening report fees.

Avail has a rating of 2.7 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot.

Sundae.com is a good website for selling your house as-is. It is a real estate marketplace that acts as an intermediary between home sellers and investors.

Free For Sellers: Sundae does not charge any service fee to sellers.

Subscription Charges: Sundae offers a subscription-based model for investors ($0/month, $159/month, and $399/month).

👉 Our Take: We recommend Sundae as they provide As-Is-Option and a marketplace with pre-vetted investors.

» How to Sell My House Fast: Find out how to sell your home fast in 2023’s slowing housing market.

Sundae.com has the following key features:

• As-Is Option: The platform helps home sellers list properties and find a buyer to buy their property as is. There’s no service fee for sellers.
• Network of Investors: Unique marketplace with pre-vetted real estate investors.
• Quick Offers: Receive multiple cash offers based on bids solicited by the platform.
• Skip Repairs: Skip house repairs or home staging and list the property to sell as is.
• Average Closing Time: You can close on your home in 10 to 60 days by selling on Sundae.com.

Sundae.com has the following drawbacks:

• Lowball Offer: Cash offers will be lower than the offers received on the open market.
• Spam Emails: Several customers have complained about their frequent emails on sign-up.
• Coverage: Locations are very limited.

Sundae has an average rating of 3.9 out of 5 stars on the Better Business Bureau.

👉 If Sundae Real Estate doesn’t cover your zip code, you can consider local companies that buy houses for cash:

• We Buy Houses for Cash in California
• We Buy Houses for Cash in Florida
• We Buy Houses for Cash in Georgia