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8 min read Apr 08, 2024

Top 5 Discount Real Estate Brokers in Massachusetts (2024)

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Edited By

Megha Mulchandani

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Editor
Edited By

Megha Mulchandani

Editor, Houzeo
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Megha M. is a content editor who loves to play with words. Apart from this, she is a theater artist and a public speaker who transforms into various personas on stage.

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From Lawrence to Boston, sellers across Massachusetts can save thousands on real estate agent commissions. With discount real estate brokers in Massachusetts, you can slash the traditional 6% rate down to just 2% to 3%.

The current median home price in Massachusetts is $576,900. The traditional 6% commission will cost you a whopping $34,614. A discount Realtor offers you similar services at just 1.5%. With a competitive buyer agent commission of 2.5%, you now have to pay only a 4% fee. That’s just around $23,076.

You can lower this amount to around $17,307 if you list on the MLS with Houzeo’s Gold plan. You also get the professional services and tools available to real estate agents at a fraction of the cost.

Rankings: Best Discount Real Estate Brokers and Companies in Massachusetts

We’ve researched and compiled a list of the best discount real estate brokers for you.

RankDiscount Real Estate Broker / CompanyListing FeeAdditional ChargesMax Savings100% OnlineMobile App
1.Houzeo.com$399
Flat Fee
2.Prevu1.5%
Commission
3.Redfin1%
Commission
4.Homelight2.5%
Commission
5. Redefy$3,500 Flat Fee

Reviews: 5 Best Discount Real Estate Brokers in Massachusetts

1. Houzeo.com

#1 Discount Real Estate Service

Houzeo.com

Houzeo Logo
  • Listing Fee: $399
  • Available nationwide
  • 5 Stars 4.9/5 (8,400+ Reviews)

Houzeo is a top technology-driven real estate platform. It offers 4 different packages:

  • Bronze Package ($399): List your house for 6 months. You can upload 24 house photos.
  • Silver Package ($399+0.5% at Close): List your home for six months and post maximum photos. Unlimited open houses and listing modifications are included in this package.
  • Gold Package ($429+0.5% at Close): This gives you all the benefits of the Silver package. It also provides licensed broker assistance, contract review, etc.
  • Platinum ($449+1% at Close): This package offers virtual full-service support with a licensed broker. You can list for 12-month. Brokers assist you in negotiations, disclosures, and closing.

👉 Our Take: We recommend Houzeo to all home sellers. The company has an excellent customer rating of 4.9 out of 5 stars. It has extensive coverage across 47 states + DC, a feat achieved by only a handful of other services.

» Houzeo Reviews: Houzeo is 100% online. You can finish listing formalities within 60 minutes.

These are the key features that make Houzeo one of the top discount real estate brokers:

  • Significant Commission Savings: You will pay just a small flat fee to list on MLS. On average, home sellers who used Houzeo saved $11,490.
  • No Hidden Fees: All costs are disclosed upfront so you don’t have to worry about hidden charges.
  • Near Nationwide Coverage: Houzeo operates in 47 states and DC, with ongoing plans for expansion.
  • Max Exposure: Houzeo packages give you access to renowned MLS companies.
  • Advanced Technology: Eliminate the hassle of extensive paperwork. E-signature and online forms make house listing quick and easy.
  • 5-star Customer Service: Dedicated customer support addresses your every concern easy.
  • Mobile App: Houzeo’s mobile app lets you manage showing requests from verified buyers and buyer agents. You can either accept, reject, or reschedule showings at your convenience.

There are no dealbreakers with Houzeo.

» Houzeo Reviews: Houzeo is rated “Excellent” by 8,400+ happy customers on Google Reviews and Trustpilot!

Houzeo Reviews: With over 8,400+ happy customers, Houzeo is the most trusted discount real estate broker.

Houzeo is America’s #1 ranked real estate brokerage company. It provides an unbeatable combination of maximum savings, 5-star customer support, and cutting-edge technology.

Houzeo’s flat fee feature helps you save thousands on agent commissions. You also get dedicated customer support that makes the home-selling process easier.

2. Prevu

RESTRICTED COVERAGE

Prevu

Prevu logo
  • Listing Fee: 1.5% of Sale Price
  • Restricted coverage
  • 5 Stars 5/5 (528+ Reviews)

Prevu is a reliable discount real estate broker. It offers full service to sellers similar to a traditional broker.

  • Full Service (1.5% Commission): Prevu charges a 1.5% commission on the total home sale value. It includes features like home valuation, professional photographs, closing assistance, etc.

👉 Our Take: Prevu offers services from listing your home to its closing. It charges you a non-negotiated commission of 1.5% of the home sale value. However, for a high-value residence, it could cost you more commission.

» Prevu Reviews: Is it a good idea to choose them? To learn more, read the entire review!

Prevu offers the following advantages:

  • Package Features: It includes various features like home valuation, 3D virtual tours, open houses, professional photographs, listing on MLS, and social ad campaigns.
  • Market Exposure: Prevu syndicates your listings to StreetEasy, Zillow, and more.
  • Closing Costs Calculator: Sellers in NYC can get an estimate of their closing costs by using its closing costs calculator.
  • CoveragePrevu services are available in New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, California, Pennsylvania, and Washington.

» How Does Prevu WorkLearn about how Prevu functions in your home sale.

Prevu offers the following disadvantages:

  • Inconsistent Agent Quality: Prevu has a limited network of agents. Hence, it lacks personal assistance and service quality.
  • Variable Listing Fee: The listing fee varies as per your location, which could burn a hole in your pocket.
  • Mobile App: It does not provide any mobile application service to its users.

Prevu has a stellar rating of 5 out of 5 on Google.

» Prevu Real Estate Reviews: View their comprehensive evaluation.

Prevu is a licensed full-service discount real estate brokerage based in New York. It serves in 12 states across the US.

Prevu has over 400 positive reviews on Google. However, Prevu has a small team of agents who deal with multiple clients. This may limit your ability to select an agent of your choice.

3. Redfin

BEST TECH-ENABLED BROKERAGE

Redfin.com

redfin-logo-DRB
  • Listing Fee: 1% of Sale Price
  • Available in 80+ U.S. Markets
  • 4.25 stars 4.3/5 (66+ reviews)

Redfin does not disclose its pricing on its website. Sellers will have to pay common closing costs.

  • It offers 0.5% buyer’s rebate. To avail this, you’ll have to buy and sell with them.

👉 Our Take: Redfin offers 1 rebate option but with a strict clause. While, other real estate companies are willing to offer a higher rebate.

» Redfin Reviews: The reality of the buyer’s rebate.

Here are some advantages of choosing Redfin:

  • Advanced Technology: With 3D walkthroughs and 40+ filters to narrow down your search, the Redfin app makes it easy to find the right home from anywhere.
  • Paired With Local Agents: Local agents know their market better. This can help you secure a good deal.
  • Home Tour: You can see updated listings every 5 minutes on their website. You can also schedule a home tour for the same day.
  • Nationwide Coverage: Redfin covers 80+ markets in the US.

Here are some limitations we found with Redfin.

  • Strict Rebate Criteria: Clients who sell and buy with Redfin within one year get a rebate of 0.5%.
  • No Freedom in Agent Selection: You get an agent assigned automatically without having a 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 additional services.
  • Poor Customer Reviews: Customers have complained that agents are often unreachable and unprofessional.

Redfin has an average rating of  4.3 out of 5 stars from 66+ reviews on Google.

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

Redfin was headquartered in Seattle in 2002 by Mr. David Eraker. It covers 80+ markets in the US. They have an operating business license in New York as Redfin Real Estate.

It provides an elaborate listing agreement with a marketing plan for your home. However, this agreement specifies an 18-day timeframe for listing your property. Additionally, some customers have expressed concerns about their agents’ professionalism.

4. HomeLight

GOOD AGENT COVERAGE

HomeLight

Homelight Logo
  • Listing Fee: 2.5% of sale price
  • Good agent coverage
  • 4.75 Stars  4.6/5 (237 reviews)

HomeLight has a network of thousands of successful real estate agents and brokers. It is an agent-matching tech-platform. 

  • Standard Commission: HomeLight is a free agent-matching platform. The agent you get through this platform will charge the standard commission of 2% to 3% for listing.

👉 Our Take: HomeLight provides decent agent-matching services. However, the standard listing commission means zero savings for you.

» HomeLight Reviews: The Truth You Need To Know

HomeLight offers a number of advantages to both sellers and buyers:

For Home Sellers:

  • Free Agent Matching: The agent matching service from HomeLight is free for home sellers. HomeLight furnishes details of the best real estate agents in your neighborhood. Depending on the agent, the traditional 5% to 6% commission is charged.
  • Estimators and Calculators: HomeLight offers Home Value Estimator, Best Time To Sell Calculator, Agent Commissions Calculator, and Net Proceeds Calculator to home sellers.
  • HomeLight Simple Sale: HomeLight has  a network of pre-approved buyers. If you want to sell your house fast, this option allows you to sell it to a cash buyer within 7 days.

For Home Buyers:

  • Home Search Feature: Buyers can search for homes by city, zip code, or address.
  • Estimators: HomeLight offers estimators like Home Affordability Calculator, Down Payment Calculator, and Closing Costs Calculator for home buyers.

In our research, we have found some red flags associated with HomeLight. 

  • Inconsistent Agent Quality: The agents they assign may not work at your convenience. Even the listing speed will be based on the agent selected.
  • Off-market Restriction: Registering on HomeLight will get you offers from agents instantly. Although the process is fast, only homes that are off-market are allowed.

HomeLight has an average rating of 4.6 out of 5 from 237 reviews on Sitejabber.

HomeLight is an agent-matching company established by Drew Uher in 2012. It is a single platform where home sellers meet their prospective home buyers.

The company has a huge broker database. However, every agent handles multiple clients at a time. This leads to miscommunication and a lack of personalized support.

5. Redefy

IN-HOUSE SUPPORT

Redefy

Redefy logo
  • Listing Fee: $3,500 Flat Fee
  • In-person support
  • 4.25 stars  4.1/5 (40+ Reviews)

Redefy is one of the renowned discount real estate companies in the US. It offers 3 packages at a flat fee:

  • Self-Service ($379): You get a 6-month listing period. This includes local listing, yard sign, 10 photos on the listing, etc.
  • Limited Service ($499): Here, you get a 1-year listing period. This package includes a local listing, door key lock box, 25 photos on the listing, etc.
  • Virtual Full Service ($2,995): This premium package offers personal consultation, full customer support, extensive marketing, etc.

👉 Our Take: Redefy offers different pricing models that suit your needs. It offers all the necessary services you need to close the sale. Along with a low flat fee, it charges you a non-refundable fee of $500. This increases the value of the package.

Redefy offers:

  • Affordable Pricing: You need to pick the package that suits your requirements. Although features like local listing, email, text & live chat support, yard signs, and door lock keys remain constant throughout.
  • In-House Support: You are provided with professional in-house support like home staging with accurate pricing.
  • Mortgage Calculator: Redefy’s Mortgage Calculator allows you to estimate your overall mortgage, insurance, and taxes.

The disadvantages with Redefy are:

  • No Refund Deposit: You have to pay a non-refundable deposit of $500.
  • Inconsistent Agent Quality: Redefy has limited agents attending to a large volume of customers. This can hamper the service quality.
  • Service Coverage: They serve only 9 states in the US (Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia)

Redefy has a rating of 4.1 out of 5 stars on Yelp.

Redefy, headquartered in Aurora, Colorado, is a licensed discount real estate brokerage firm started in 2011. They operate in very few states of the US.

Redefy works on the principle of a flat fee brokerage. This means that for your million-dollar house, you just pay a flat rate.

Top Discount Real Estate Brokers Near Me

Find discount Realtors in your neighborhood:

Lawrence, MADiscount Real Estate Brokers in Lawrence, MA

What Are Discount Real Estate Brokers and Companies?

Discount real estate brokers are companies or agents who sell your home for less than the standard 2.5% to 3% commission. Such low-cost real estate agents typically offer the same services for reduced fees of 0.5% to 2% or a flat fee.

How Much Can I Save With a Discount Realtor in Massachusetts?

As a seller, you can save anywhere between $10,000 and $20,000.

Typically, home sellers pay a total of 6% as Realtor commissions to both the listing agent and the buyer’s agent. Whereas, with discount real estate brokers you can pre-negotiate this at 1% to 2%.

As a home buyer, you get a buyer’s rebate – a type of cashback received after the sale. A typical buyer rebate is 1% to 2% of the home’s purchase price. For example, Redfin offers a buyer rebate of 0.5% to clients who sell and buy with Redfin within 1 year.

Types of Discount Brokers in Massachusetts

The four major types of real estate discount brokerages and companies in The Bay State are as follows:

1. Flat Fee MLS Companies: Flat Fee MLS companies get you on the MLS for a small flat fee saving you thousands in commissions. The Best Flat Fee MLS listing companies like Houzeo can get you on the MLS within 24 hours, or even faster!

2. Flat Rate Full-Service Companies: These companies charge a fixed fee instead of the regular 3% commission. This amount can be anywhere between $3,000 and $5,000. A flat-rate Realtor is perfect for homes priced on the higher end.

3. Low-Commission Estate Agents: Low-commission discount brokers offer full-service packages at only 1% or 2%. They cover everything from listing, negotiations, and pricing. They are also called 1% commission Realtors, or 2% commission brokers, etc.

4. Virtual Full Service: A virtual full-service discount broker handles everything online. All services including negotiation and marketing support are at no additional cost.

Pros and Cons of a Discount Realtor

Here are the pros and cons of discount Realtors:

Pros ✅

  • Reduced Fees: You’ll pay less for listing agent fees. While standard brokers typically charge at least 3%, discount brokers may charge as little as 0.5% to 1%.
  • Full Access to Basic Services: You receive the same services as you would with a traditional agent. They assist with home pricing, marketing, and negotiations.
  • Streamlined Process: A low-cost Realtor provides similar services as traditional agents. They streamline the process of listing your property on the MLS, marketing the property, negotiating offers, and assisting with paperwork.

Cons ❌

  • Not Enough Savings: Some discount brokerages may charge hidden fees or sell their services a la carte. This might add to your expenses.
  • Not for First-Time Sellers: Most discount real estate brokerages are digital, so you rarely talk to anyone in person. A first-time seller or buyer who needs some hand-holding may not be able to get benefits.
  • Lack of Personal Attention: Discount Realtors handle multiple clients at once to make up for the reduced commission rate. They may not be able to provide personalized services.
  • High Cancellation Fee: A discount realty company can charge a minimum withdrawal fee within a specified period. Remember to carefully review the terms and conditions of the contract before signing.

Who Should Use a Discount Broker?

Discount brokers are ideal for:

  • Sellers on a Tight Budget: Homeowners who wish to save money should list with a low-fee Realtor. This can help them save big. 
  • Real Estate Investors: Real estate investors who frequently trade homes can benefit from low-commission discount brokers.
  • House Flippers: Home flipping is a strategy where an investor purchases a property to renovate it and sell it for a profit. Home flippers can save thousands on agent commissions by selling via discount brokers.

Alternatives to Discount Real Estate Agents in Massachusetts

Here are some options if you do not want to opt for a discount Realtor in Massachusetts.

  • List With a Full-Service Realtor: If you need hand-holding, we recommend you hire a full-service in-person Realtor. You’ll get all the professional help you need, but you will end up paying a full 5% to 6% commission.
  • Sell to an iBuyer: Many iBuyers, like Opendoor and Offerpad, purchase hundreds of homes in Massachusetts markets. iBuyers can be a great option if you want to sell your house fast in Massachusetts.
  • Sell to Cash Home Buyers: Individual cash home buyers and companies make all-cash offers, usually within 24 to 48 hours. Cash buyers let you skip the hassle of listing on the MLS, inspection, appraisal, etc.
  • Sell For Sale By Owner: For Sale By Owner websites in Massachusetts will help you list and sell a house by owner and save thousands in listing agent commission.

Are Discount Brokerages Worth It?

YES! There are various advantages to using a low-cost real estate agent. Using an affordable brokerage can save you at least $8,000 to $10,000.

There are several discounted real estate brokers on the market today, each with its own set of advantages. Examine factors such as listing fees, listing time, services provided, customer service, and coverage before you choose one.

With Houzeo, you can get your home on the MLS in 24 hours, for a small flat fee. You get extra savings and services like, access to offers dashboard, showings management, and many more.

Eager to Know How Houzeo Works?

Houzeo is the #1 For Sale By Owner website in the U.S. Check out the following video to understand how Houzeo would help you crack the deal faster in 5 steps.

How to List on MLS With Houzeo?

5 Easy Steps to List on MLS with Houzeo as FSBO

Start Your MLS Listing NOW!

» Need More Clarity? Read these exclusive Houzeo reviews and learn why the platform is the best in America’s competitive housing market.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who are the best discount real estate brokers in Massachusetts?

Houzeo.com, and Redfin are the top discount real estate brokers in Massachusetts.

How much is the real estate agent fees in Massachusetts?

On average, traditional agents in Massachusetts, charge 5% to 6% of the sale price as commission. On the other hand, discount real estate brokers charge 1% to 3% commission.

How do I find low cost discount Realtors near me to sell my home?

You could do a Google search, go with an agent from one of the national discount brokers like Redfin, or list your home using Houzeo. With Houzeo, your home will be listed on the MLS without the added expense of a listing agent.

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