From California to New York, home sellers saved up to $12,822 on an average $427,388 home with Flat Fee MLS services. Instead of a 3% agent commission, you list your house on the local MLS for a flat fee, typically under $300.
But beware! Several Flat Fee MLS services come with hidden charges. This can add to your expenses. That’s why you must choose a flat fee service that discloses all the pricing details upfront.
What Is Flat Fee MLS?
A Flat Fee MLS is a service that lists your home on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) for a fixed fee. The MLS is a regional online database of homes for sale. Once listed, your home is visible on major real estate websites like Zillow, Realtor.com, etc., maximizing its visibility.
However, you cannot list your home on the MLS directly. Only licensed agents can do it for you for a 3% commission. Nonetheless, you can save on this commission by listing your home with flat rate MLS services.
How Do Flat Fee MLS Listing Services Work?
Flat fee services charge a one-time fee instead of the typical 3% Realtor commission to list your home on the MLS. By partnering with real estate agents, these services handle the listing and marketing of your property.
Simply select a plan that fits your needs, and voilà – you’ve saved thousands. Once your home is live on the MLS, buyer agents can view it and recommend it to prospective buyers.
Why Should You Work With Flat Fee Multiple Listing Services?
You’ll get full control of your home sale at your fingertips! With the best flat fee listing service, you can manage showings, compare offers for maximum profit, and close deals faster. Additionally, you can seek professional assistance for negotiations and paperwork.
Flat Fee real estate MLS listing companies usually offer different packages for services such as listing, seller disclosures, and house showings. Choose the package that aligns with your budget or need and pay only for the services you use.
Flat Fee Multiple Listing vs. Traditional Agent Listing
| # | Criteria | Flat Fee Listing | Traditional Listing |
| 1 | Listing Cost | $300 – $1,000 (one-time fee) | 2.5% – 3% of the sale price |
| 2 | Control Over Listing | Full control | Agent supervised |
| 3 | Listing on MLS | Yes | Yes |
| 4 | Listing Delays | 24 – 48 hours (varies by provider) | 2 – 7 days (depends on agent availability) |
| 5 | Flexibility in Pricing | Complete flexibility | Controlled by agent |
| 6 | Transparency | High (fixed upfront fee) | Varies (from agent to agent) |
Pros and Cons of Listing With Flat Fee MLS Services
Here are some pros and cons of listing your home with Flat Fee MLS services:
✅ Pros
- Great Savings: For a Flat Fee MLS Listing, you typically pay a fixed fee, up to $300. With a Flat Rate MLS service like Houzeo, you can save up to $12,573 on an average $427,388 home.
- Max Exposure: Your home listing is shared with major real estate websites in America 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 America, you can set your price, negotiate directly with buyers, and control the showing schedule with a Flat Fee 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 Flat Fee MLS listing services do not offer critical marketing tools like FSBO 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 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 offer virtual broker assistance mostly. You will have to dedicate significant time to market, list, and eventually sell your U.S. home.
How Much Will You Save With Flat Rate Listing Services?
Selling your home through a traditional agent could cost you thousands of dollars in commission fees. Listing a $427,388 home in the U.S. through a 3% listing agent would cost you $12,822.
However, with Flat Fee MLS listing services such as Houzeo, you can save up to $12,573 for selling a $427,388 home in the United States. You can use these savings to upgrade your property, invest in your dream home, or enjoy America’s luxurious lifestyle.
| Service Provider | Total Cost | Savings |
| Traditional Agent | 3% Commission- $12,822 | $0 |
| Houzeo | Fixed Fee- $249* | $12,573 |
Which Are the Best Flat Fee MLS Services in America?
1. Houzeo
100% ONLINE
Listing Fee: $199Houzeo is a high-tech platform that streamlines listings, updates, and online showings/offers. Choose from 3 Flat Fee MLS packages to simplify your home sale.
- Silver Package – $199: You can upload 24 photos, and your listing term will be 6 months. You can also make unlimited changes to your listing.
- Gold Package – $249: You can post the maximum number of photos, avail licensed broker assistance, get access to seller disclosures, and a premium yard sign.
- Platinum Package – $299: You get virtual full assistance from a licensed broker and a 12-month listing term.
Houzeo is America’s #1 Flat Fee MLS service because of these reasons:
- Max Exposure: Your home listing is syndicated to popular real estate websites like Zillow, Trulia, Realtor.com, etc., increasing its visibility.
- Quicker Sale: Houzeo’s Homes For Sale page showcases your home to thousands of buyers, which may result in a faster sale.
- 100% Online: You can list your home, manage offers, and close deals, all at your fingertips with a powerful mobile app.
- 5-star Customer Service: You have access to listing support and chat services 6 days a week.
- No Hidden Fees: What you see is what you pay. Houzeo mentions all of its fees upfront on its website.
There are no dealbreakers with Houzeo.
» Is Houzeo Legit? Discover why so many homeowners are choosing Houzeo to list their properties.
Houzeo is rated an impressive 4.9 out of 5 stars by thousands of home sellers on Google and Trustpilot. Homeowners also praise the Houzeo Mobile App, which helps them list, manage, and close their home sales seamlessly—right from their phones.
» Houzeo Reviews: Rated “Excellent” by 11,000+ happy home sellers.
👉 Our Take: We recommend Houzeo’s Gold Plan for most home sellers. It gives you maximum exposure, highest savings, and access to Houzeo technology features. A licensed broker will also assist you with pricing your home, offer negotiations, inspection, and closing.
2. List With Freedom
COMPREHENSIVE PACKAGES
Listing Fee: $89List With Freedom is a popular Multiple Listing Service that offers 3 packages:
- Gold Package – $89: You can list your home for 6 months with 25 photos and unlimited changes. Online showing service, open house, a professional yard sign, and other services are available at additional charges.
- Platinum Package – $195: You get everything in the Gold plan, plus you can list your property for 6 months with the maximum number of photos.
- Platinum Plus Package – $395: 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: List With Freedom offers affordable listing packages starting at just $89.
- Unlimited Listing Changes: Irrespective of the plan you choose, List With Freedom lets you make unlimited listing changes.
- Nationwide Coverage: Their service is available in 45+ states 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.
- Expensive Add-Ons: Add-ons 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.
List With Freedom has a 4.7 out of 5-star rating from 790+ 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.
3. ISoldMyHouse.com
NO HIDDEN FEES
Listing Fee: $299ISoldMyHouse.com offers 2 Flat Fee MLS packages to suit your needs:
- Get LISTED – $299: This package includes a listing term of 6 months and allows you to upload 6 to 10 photos of your home.
- Get SOLD – $399: With this package, you get a listing term of 12 months. You can upload the maximum photos allowed by the MLS.
Here are the benefits of choosing ISoldMyHouse.com:
- Maximum Exposure: ISoldMyHouse.com gets your home listing syndicated to major real estate websites like Zillow, Trulia, Redfin, etc., giving it nationwide exposure.
- Local MLS Listing: They help provide a flat fee listing on the local MLS, ensuring your property is seen by local real estate agents and potential buyers.
- FSBO Listing: ISoldMyHouse.com gets your home listed as ‘For Sale By Owner’ on their website. This makes your property accessible to buyers looking for such properties.
- Buyer Leads Forwarded: The buyer leads are forwarded to you, so you can negotiate directly without involving any agent.
- Free Cancellation: ISoldMyHouse.com allows you to cancel your listing any time before signing the listing agreement.
Here are some red flags to consider before choosing ISoldMyHouse.com:
- Poor Customer Reviews: Some customers have reported poor customer service with ISoldMyHouse.com. This includes confusing instructions and being redirected to a different service after already making a payment.
- Limited Marketing Support: ISoldMyHouse.com does not offer services such as professional real estate photography and FSBO yard signs, limiting your marketing options.
- Lack of Agent Support: ISoldMyHouse.com does not provide you with agent assistance for selling your home. You need to handle everything from pricing and negotiations to paperwork and closing.
ISoldMyHouse.com has a 4.6 out of 5 rating based on 60+ reviews on Google.
» ISoldMyHouse.com Reviews: Read our in-depth analysis before making your choice.
👉 Our Take: ISoldMyHouse.com is a solid option for sellers who prefer to manage their sales independently. However, we don’t recommend them for those who need agent support, marketing assistance, or reliable customer service.
🚩Beware: Various Flat Fee MLS Companies Have High Hidden Fees
The biggest issue with 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!
Flat Fee Multiple Listing Services Near Me
How to List My Home on MLS via Houzeo?
Here’s how to sell a house by owner with Houzeo in 48 hours:
- 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 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.
Mistakes to Avoid With a Flat Fee MLS Service 🚫
To sell a home successfully, 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. Keep track of changes in the house prices in America 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 the current competitive market of the U.S. Use traditional marketing tactics like yard signs to attract drive-by traffic. Learning how to sell your 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, such as the seller’s 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 the U.S. 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 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 $249?
