» Jump To: Rankings | Reviews | Discount Brokers to Avoid | Everything to Know about Discount Real Estate Brokers in Ventura, CA | Ways to get Discounted Realtor Fees | Alternatives | Why Discount Brokers? | How Houzeo Works | Final Word | FAQs
Compared to last year, the number of houses sold in Ventura, CA dropped by 17.9% in June 2022. In this somewhat competitive market, finding the right discount real estate broker in Ventura, CA who can help you save thousands of dollars in commissions and help you with a hassle-free sale.
Rankings: Top Discount Real Estate Companies & Brokers in Ventura, CA
| Rank | Discount Real Estate Broker / Company | Listing Fee | Additional Charges | Max Savings | 100% Online | Mobile App |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Houzeo.com | $349 Flat Fee | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| 2. | CA Flat Fee | $5000 commissions | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| 3. | New Hope Realty | 1% commissions | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| 4. | Prevu | 1.5% commissions | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
| 5. | Homelight | 2.5% commissions | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
Reviews: Best Discount Real Estate Companies & Brokers in Ventura, CA
1. Houzeo.com
🔥 BEST OVERALL
Houzeo.com
- Listing Fee: $349 Flat Fee
4.9/5
(4001 reviews)
4.9/5
(4001 reviews)Why Houzeo is #1: Houzeo is an online tech company that offers real estate solutions. It provides an unbeatable combination of maximum savings, cutting-edge technology, and 5-star customer support.
Houzeo for Homesellers
- Affordable Flat Fee: Houzeo’s plans are typically a small flat fee. This will save you thousands. If your buyer is unrepresented, you also save the buyer agent commission.
- Listings on MLS: Listings get syndicated to the MLS, Zillow, Realtor.com, Redfin, Trulia, and hundreds of other websites. Houzeo also has nifty social media sharing tools. No other platform gives you this much exposure.
- Fully Virtual Service: Houzeo is 100% online. Listing is easy and changes are fast. So you can focus on what is most important – your sale.
Houzeo for Homebuyers
- Access to Listings without Agents: Houzeo lets buyers get access to all the nearby listings on MLS without working with an agent.
- Closing Costs Calculator: Houzeo’s unique Closing Costs Calculator lets buyers get an accurate final cost at the end of the buying process.
👉 Our Take: Houzeo.com is our top pick because it delivers an unbeatable combination of savings, tech features, and service of any flat fee MLS listing service website we’ve reviewed.
» Houzeo Reviews: Houzeo is 100% online. You can finish the listing formalities in less than 60 mins.
- Near Nationwide Coverage: Houzeo covers 47 states + DC.
- No Listing Agent Commission: With Houzeo, you only pay a small flat fee to get access to the MLS and all the Houzeo tech
- 100% online: Easy listing, fast changes, online showings, and online offers
- Max Exposure: Listings get syndicated to Zillow, Realtor.com, Trulia, Redfin, and 100s of other real estate sites
- Fast Listing: Rush listing option gets you listed within a business day with Houzeo Concierge. This is best to sell your house fast.
- Real Estate On the Go: Houzeo Mobile App mimics most functionality of the Houzeo web platform, including Offers and Showings
- 5-Star Customer Service: Superb support that minimizes Houzeo complaints
- No Hidden Fees: There are no Houzeo hidden fees
» Is Houzeo Legit: Learn more about Houzeo.com’s locations and services
Houzeo has a rating of 4.9 out of 5 on Google & Trustpilot.
Houzeo is available nationwide.
2. CA Flat Fee
🏆 GREAT LOCAL EXPOSURE
CA Flat Fee
- Listing Fee: $5000 Flat Fee
- 5/5
(65 reviews)
5/5
(65 reviews)Why CA Flat Fee is #2?
CA Flat Fee is a full-service flat fee real estate broker that operates in select counties in California. The low-cost real estate brokerage provides everything from listing on MLS to coordination with Title and Escrow professionals.
CA Flat Fee for Homesellers
- Flat Fee: Homesellers with CA Flat Fee only have to pay $5000 as commissions. This is in stark contrast to the standard 6% commission CA Flat Fee’s pricing therefore is especially favorable if you are looking to sell a property with a high valuation.
- Full-Time Agent Representation: With CA Flat Fee an agent will be present with you throughout your home selling experience, as opposed to a team of professionals who only work with you when required in the process. The former makes the experience for sellers much more personalized.
- Full-Service: Full Service with CA Flat Fee means that you will be provided not only the listing of your house on MLS, but also professional photography services, home staging services, the opportunity for negotiation with buyers, and more.
CA Flat Fee for Homebuyers
- Local Expertise: CA Flat Fee prides itself on having realtors who are based in California, and who therefore are in a position of providing local expertise. Homebuyers can therefore avail crucial insights into a property that they may otherwise not get.
- Full Service: CA Flat Fee guarantees homebuyers that they will be provided with guidance right from the stage of first viewing a property to the final stage of closing the deal.
👉 Our Take: CA Flat Fee is one of the best options you have when looking for a discount real estate brokerage in California. The flat fee model along with full-service assistance and local expertise is what makes them stand out.
» How to Sell a House in California: Click here to find all you need to know about selling a house in California.
- Full service at a fixed rate.
- Great local exposure for sellers in California.
- Well-Informed & Qualified Agents.
- The fixed rate may be costly for inexpensive properties.
- More profitable for expensive properties.
CA Flat Fee has a rating of 5 out of 5 on Google.
CA Flat Fee provides service in select regions in California.
3. New Hope Realty
🌐 GREAT LOCAL EXPOSURE
New Hope Realty Inc.
- Listing Fee:1% commission
- No credible reviews were found.
Why New Hope Realty Inc. is #3: New Hope Realty Inc is a full-service discount real estate broker based in California. The company was started by Tom Hallen, a licensed broker, who offers his services at a low commission to his clients. They also offer services to sellers looking for Flat Fee MLS listings and sale by owner FSBO assistance.
New Hope Realty Inc. for Home Sellers
- Low Commission: New Hope Realty allows sellers to list and sell their property for 1% and lower for the whole process. They offer everything from listing to selling a property in this service.
- Agent Support: Sellers get to work directly with Tom Hallen directly at every step of their process. With his 10 years of experience, he has helped many clients sell their houses and save substantial money during each transaction.
- Features: Chance to list on the MLS, exposure on websites in Southern California. All the documents, disclosures, negotiations, information, and assistance required at the escrow are included in the package too.
New Hope Realty Inc. for Home Buyers
- Buyer Rebate: New Hope Realty Inc. offers a buyer rebate of 1-1.5% based on the amount of assistance required by the buyer. The rebate is provided through the escrow company and can be used towards the closing costs.
👉 Our Take: By basing the amount of buyer rebate on the assistance required, New Hope Realty Inc. is indirectly charging buyers a commission for their buyer agent services, which are usually free. The buyer agent’s commission is usually paid by the seller.
» Selling A House In California: A detailed guide sellers should read.
- Experienced Local Broker
- Matterport 3D Virtual Tours
- Professional photography
- Open Houses
- Sale signs & Supra lockbox
No credible reviews were found.
New Hope Realty covers places in Southern California, including Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange County, and Ventura.
4. Prevu
RESTRICTED COVERAGE
Prevu
- Listing Fee: 1.5% of sale price
- Restricted coverage
- 5/5
(456 reviews
)
Prevu offers a single package with all the start to end services you require during your sale.
- Full Service – 1.5% Commission: Prevu charges a lower commission of 1.5% of the sale price for selling a house. It includes various features like home valuation, 3D virtual tours, open houses, professional photographs, listing on MLS, and social ad campaigns.
Coverage: Prevu is available in New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, California, Pennsylvania, and Washington.
👉 Our Take: Though Prevu’s listing price is lesser than traditional realtor commission, it is still higher than other low commission real estate companies.
Prevu is a full-service low commission brokerage based in New York that aims to change the old-school ways of the real estate market.
- Mortgage & Closing Costs Calculator: You can get an estimate of your mortgage and closing costs by using Prevu’s Calculator. The closing cost feature is only for NYC sellers.
- Buyer Rebate: Buyers who purchase a house with Prevu get two-thirds of the commission that Prevu receives from the seller.
- Smart Buyer Platform: Prevu’s technology allows buyers to search for homes, communicate with their agents online, schedule showings, and make an offer.
Here are some negatives of Prevu you should know about.
- Inconsistent Agent Quality: Prevu has limited and inconsistent agent matching, which compromises the quality.
- Variable Listing Fee: The listing fee varies as per your location, which could burn a hole in your pocket.
Prevu has a stellar rating of 5 out of 5 from 456 reviews on Google.
» Prevu Reviews: Check out Prevu’s customer reviews.
5. Homelight
GOOD AGENT COVERAGE
HomeLight
- Listing fee: 2.5% of sale price
- Good agent coverage
- 4.5/5
(225 Reviews)
4.5/5
(225 Reviews)HomeLight is an agent matching service, free for home sellers. They furnish details of the best real estate agents in your selected neighborhood for both full and limited service plans.
- Free Agent Matching: Depending on the agent, the traditional 5%-6% commission still applies. But they offer all the services you will require during your sale.
Coverage: HomeLight has coverage in Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Fort Lauderdale, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Portland, San Diego, San Francisco, Sarasota, and Seattle, among other major U.S. cities.
👉 Our Take: HomeLight offers decent agent-matching services. However, you may be matched with a listing agent who charges 3% commission, meaning zero savings for you.
HomeLight has a network of thousands of successful sellers, best real estate agents, and brokers. They help to create tailored guides and resources in the process of selling a house.
- Good Agent Coverage: They have a good number of agents as per their coverage area.
- Estimators and Calculators: HomeLight offers home value estimator, best time to sell calculator, agent commissions calculator, and net proceeds calculator.
In our research, we came across some major drawbacks of HomeLight.
- Inconsistent Agent Quality: The agents we are matched with may not work at our 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 a rating of 4.45 out of 5 from 226 reviews on Sitejabber.
» HomeLight Reviews: Check out the customer reviews for HomeLight on Sitejabber.
Here’s a quick recap of the best discount real estate brokers in America:
America’s Best Discount Real Estate Brokers (2023)
We’ve reviewed the best discount real estate brokers in 2023
Discount Real Estate Brokers to Avoid
Some agent-matching websites advertise themselves as “free”, but in reality, they keep a portion of the commission received by the discount real estate brokers. Since you pay the commission, this amount technically goes from your pocket.
For example, List With Clever promotes itself as a real estate educational website that matches sellers with discount realtors. Even though Clever claims to be “free”, 25% to 40% of the commission you pay will be directed to Clever as a “Referral Fee”.
» Clever Real Estate: Read our full review of Clever Real Estate
Everything You Should Know About Selling with Discount Real Estate Brokers in Ventura, CA
What are Discount/ Low Commission Real Estate Brokers & Companies?
Discount real estate brokers provide specific services for a discounted fee. Instead of charging the seller standard agent commission of 3% (listing agent commission), low-cost Ventura realtors will work for less (such as a 1%-2% commission or a pre-defined flat fee) and provide restricted services. The reduced fee can easily save sellers a good amount of money.
Discount real estate realtors in Ventura, CA typically offer the same services as full-service brokers. The key difference is in pricing.
Types of Discount Real Estate Brokers in Ventura, CA
There are four types of low-commission real estate agents:
1. Flat Fee MLS Brokers
A flat fee MLS listing company or service is nothing but a registered real estate agent with a low commission or discounted broker/that lists your home on the MLS for an upfront flat fee.
The seller and the broker agree on a la carte services, and the broker takes a flat fee instead of a percentage of the home’s sale price. Say you want to sell a $500,000 home. A traditional real estate agent in California will charge you between 2% and 3% of the sale price. That’s 15 grand!
With a flat-fee MLS Listing in Ventura, CA pay an average of $300, which includes listing and marketing. Even if you choose to add services like pricing and buyer negotiations, you will still save money.
Want Traditional Realtor’s Service With Minimal Interaction?
👉 Houzeo makes it possible!
Houzeo makes deals with top-rated, local agents across the country to get them to give you lower prices on Houzeo’s cutting-edge technology and 100% online platform. Houzeo’s tech-centric broker partners charge just the upfront flat-fee, and no commission for all DIY plans.
» Best Flat Fee MLS Companies In California: Top 7!
2. Virtual Full-Service Agents
Think of everything a traditional agent does, from listing your property, marketing it, pricing it, negotiating with buyers, and closing it.
An online discount broker- full service does all that – online. Because of their cloud-based presence, they have many advantages such as lesser fees, discounted commissions, and much better management and marketing support. Many MLS listing companies like Houzeo, also provide full-service options that are 100% online.
- ✍️ SAVE: A virtual full service company will not provide any in-person agent support, meaning, you will have to take over most of the groundwork. It may not be the best option for a first time seller. .
3. Flat Rate Low Commission
You can choose a low commission (flat-rate) agent in some markets. For a flat fee of $3,000 to $6,000, the agent will sell your home. The flat rate is usually based on how much the house is worth and how well the agent does their job. In this case, there is no percentage listing fee. Everything has a fixed price. Homie is one of the best examples of a real estate broker with a flat rate listing of $3500 and a low commission rate. Since Homie doesn’t offer as many services as a full-service real estate agent, it can easily make up for the lower prices it charges.
Think about the following situation: The price on the list is $450,000. With a flat-rate model, the agent’s commission fee stays the same no matter what happens, even if you agree to sell your home for less money. This is because it is a flat rate that doesn’t depend on how much the house is sold.
Before You Hire A Discount Real Estate Agent in Ventura, CA
Before you hire a real estate agent in Ventura, CA you should find out what kind of service you can expect from the company. Make sure you’ve read the contract all the way through before you sign it. Some services, like consultation, professional photography, yard signs, and other marketing materials might be included in the flat fee, but this is not guaranteed.
So, if you don’t include them in your budget, you may have to pay a lot of money out of your own pocket. Any contract with a flat-fee agent needs to be read carefully, especially the small print. Also, keep in mind that even if you use a flat-rate agent, you will still have to pay the buyer’s agent fees, which will be between 2.5 and 3 percent.
4. Discounted Commission Full-Service Real Estate Agents
Full-service discount brokers offer many of the same services as traditional realtors for a low listing fee or flat rate, but they don’t charge as much. When a house is sold, they give the seller money back in the form of a discount on their commissions.
For example, if a full-service discount broker charges 1.5 percent of the sale price instead of the standard 2.5 percent of the sale price on a $450,000 house, you will save $4,500 in commissions. There are many discount real estate brokers, but they are not all the same.
Some have a lot more value and a lot less risk than others. But in most businesses, you have to take what you can get. All of these things could happen if there aren’t many services, if there’s less support, if agents don’t have much experience, and if there’s not much to choose from.
👍 BETTER IN ALL – AGENTS, SERVICES & SAVINGS!
Why pay a higher commission for a lower service? With Houzeo you can get better services at an affordable price!!
With HOUZEO
- 👩💼Qualified and Reputed Agents
- 💰You list your home at a very reasonable price within 24 hours
- 📣 Listings get syndicated to Zillow, Realtor.com, Trulia, Redfin, and 100s of other sites
- ⭐ 5-Star Customer Support
- ❌ You can cancel anytime with no obligation
4 More Ways To Get Discounted Realtor Fees
Are you a good negotiator? In fact, commissions in the Ventura, California real estate industry can be negotiated. Even if the company is a flat-rate discounter, you can always ask for a few minor tweaks. You can lower the amount you pay by a wide range of factors, including the location of your property, its condition, and the brokerage.
Houzeo, a low-cost real estate company, can save you tens of thousands of dollars in commissions while still providing excellent service. If you want to lower your commission, keep reading to learn how:
Average Area Commission
Know your leverage before negotiating. For example, the real estate commission for selling a house in California is 4.91%, which is slightly lower than the national average. Lowering your overall commission might not be possible. Once you know your reference point, negotiations can get a lot more reasonable.
Buying and Selling With the same Discount Brokerage
Using the same discount brokerage or company to buy and sell has its own set of advantages. It makes you more likely to be repeat customers, giving you more chances to get refunds and cheaper commissions. For example, Landfall Properties, an MLS listing company, offers a rebate that can only be applied to your next purchase with the same company.
Pick the right type of Discount Broker
For example, picking a flat rate discount broker may not be the best option if your house is priced on the lower end. You will wind up losing more, instead, for maximum savings, you can pick a flat fee MLS company.
Buyer Agent Fees
Almost all buyers work with an agent. For maximum savings, offer a competitive buyer agent commission. Once you cut out the risk factor of selling the house, your listing agent will be more comfortable with lowering their fee. This will further help lower seller closing costs in California.
» Seller Closing Costs In California: Use this free tool by Houzeo to get an estimate on your closing costs!
How to choose a Low commission/ Discount Real Estate Broker, Brokerage, or Company?
To find discount real estate brokers in Ventura, CA, look for a low-commission brand. Check for services and top companies. You will be assigned a low-commission real estate agent based on brokerage policies. As a seller, you can choose the right broker. Then you can use the chosen broker.
Alternatives to Discount/Low commission Real Estate Agents
Traditional Agent
Traditional realtors in California assists you in buying, selling, renting, and all other aspects of real estate. A listing agent and a buyer agent are two types of traditional agents. Agents operate for brokerages and companies or under the supervision of a qualified broker.
Let’s get down to business with their commissions. The average overall commission fee for selling a home is 5%. This is deducted from the seller’s proceeds and shared between the listing and buyer agents. The commission rate changes on a regular basis and is determined by the location of your property.
The listing agent assists the seller in the sale and marketing of their home. The buyer’s agent, on the other hand, brings in clients who buy the house. They each get 2.5 percent after closing for a total of 5%.
» Real Estate Websites in California: Top 5!
iBuyers
An instant buyer, often known as an iBuyer, is a corporation that buys houses for sale for a cash offer. Unlike the usual way, the major goal is to sell it swiftly and efficiently. They employ cutting-edge technology and provide you with complete closing flexibility.
They make reasonable offers, although with a large service cost. Most iBuyers charge additional closing fees, which can easily push your commissions up to 12%! For example, Redfin Now charges up to 13% in service fees, 3% in maintenance fees, and 1% closing costs in Ventura, CA which can potentially total up to a staggering 17%!
iBuyers have their own set of rules, with costs that aren’t necessarily in line with market norms. It is always better to pick a discount real estate broker instead and save thousands of dollars!
» iBuyer Reviews: Selling your home for cash in 2022!
For Sale By Owner
As the term indicates, a for sale by owner property is one that is sold by the owner without the assistance of a listing agent or real estate broker. It’s the most cost-effective approach to avoid commissions and selling your house quickly. FSBO is ideal for sellers with some experience with the selling process and marketing. The best way to FSBO is to list on the Multiple Listing Service. Their large database allows them to market your home to agents all throughout the country, allowing it to sell faster and with the most exposure possible.
» How To Sell A House By Owner In California: 2022 Updates!
Why Choose a Discount Real Estate Broker Over a Traditional Agent?
The simple answer is that whether you are buying or selling, working with a discount or low commission realtor will help you lower the closing cost. Let’s look at an example.
Say, a property costs $500,000. Through traditional real estate commissions in the US, the seller is required to pay 5% – 6% in commissions. This means that as a seller, you can incur closing costs anywhere between $25,000 – $30,000, which is a considerable sum. To minimize this expense, you can try selling a house as is through discount realtors in Ventura, CA.
| Traditional Agent (2.5% commission) | Discount (1% commission) | Discount (1.5% commission) | Discount (2% commission) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seller's Agent | $12,500 | $5,000 | $7,500 | $10,000 |
| Buyer's Agent | $12,500 | $12,500 | $12,500 | $12,500 |
| Total | $25,000 | $17,500 | 20,000 | $22,500 |
| Savings | ❌ | $7,500 | $5,000 | $2,500 |
Similarly, if you are a buyer, approaching a discount realty in Ventura, CA, that offers a higher buyer rebate can help reduce the buyer closing cost. In addition to that, if the seller has to pay a lower sum in commission, they may reduce the overall price of the house, making the property that much inexpensive to buy for you.
» Buyer Closing Cost In California: Use this free tool by Houzeo to get an estimate on your closing costs!
Houzeo Helps You Save Thousands
| Package | Price | What You Get |
|---|---|---|
| SILVER | $349 | Plus $395 at closing. 6-month listing, 24 photographs, syndication to popular real estate websites, and a few more additional services. |
| GOLD | $549 | Plus $395 at closing. 6-month listing, Maximum number of photos, syndication to popular real estate websites, and a few more additional services. |
| PLATINUM | $599 | Plus $395 at closing. Virtual Full-Service that includes everything you require to sell the property with unlimited term and changes! |
Savings Calculator
Here’s how much you can save with Houzeo.com!
Let’s Find Out How Houzeo Works
Real estate bargain brokers fall midway between a for-sale-by-owner and a full-service agency. With MLS listing packages starting at $349 and cutting-edge technology that allows you to manage your property, review offers, counter, and manage showings online and via their mobile app, Houzeo delivers the best of both worlds.
Check out the following video to understand: What is Houzeo? How does it work? And, why it is the best FSBO & Flat Fee MLS platform out there?
Final Word
There are a number of low-cost discount real estate brokers in Ventura, CA today that provide unique features at great value. For a seller, it is recommended to check on pointers like listing fees, listing time, services offered, customer service, coverage, and technology to select a Ventura, CA discount realtor.
» California Seller Disclosures: A Comprehensive Guide!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the lowest a realtor will charge as commissions?
Discount Real Estate Brokers in Ventura can charge as low as 1%. With a flat fee service you can save even more if the valuation of your home is high.
Who pays escrow fees in Ventura County?
In most of Southern California, including Ventura, both buyers and sellers are responsible for splitting the escrow fees.
Can you negotiate prices with real estate brokers?
There are no laws in the U.S. that set the real estate broker commissions in stone. So, you can of course try negotiating with them!
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