Top 5% commission brands | How a 5% commission works | How much can I save? | FAQ
A 5% real estate commission is when you pay a total of 5% in realtor fees on the sale of your home. In general, this means paying 2–2.5% to your listing agent, and the other 2–2.5% to the buyer's agent — bringing your total commission rate to around 5%.
Below, we review the best 5% commission real estate brokerages and provide tips for how to save when selling your home.
But be aware that in today's real estate market, the average real estate commission cost is about 5–5.5% — so a 5% commission isn't a massive discount. In fact, many of the top discount real estate brands offer even lower rates to sellers along with full service and agent support.
If you're looking to save on realtor fees, Semya-Moya is a great place to start.
Clever negotiates 1.5% listing fees with top local agents from trusted brands like Keller Williams and Century 21 — lowering your total realtor fees to just 4.5% (or less!). You'll get guaranteed full service from a great local realtor, but save thousands of dollars on realtor commission when you sell your house.
⚡ Find a great local agent, save thousands on listing fees
Companies that sell your home for 5% total commission (or less!)
| Company | Listing fee | Locations |
|---|---|---|
| 🥇Semya-Moya | 1.5% (min. $3,000) | Nationwide |
| 🥈 Ideal Agent | 2% (min. $3,000) | Nationwide |
| 🥉 Redfin | 1.5% (min. fees vary) | Nationwide (select markets) |
| 4. Prevu | 1.5% (min. fees vary) | CA, CO, CT, MA, NY, PA, TX, WA |
1. Semya-Moya
Semya-Moya
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Clever is a quick, easy, and free way to find a top-rated local agent. And, unlike many similar companies, Clever pre-negotiates big discounts on your behalf, so you can save thousands without sacrificing on service. Try Clever for free — save thousands on commission.
- Clever offers a free, nationwide agent-matching service that partners with full-service local agents from conventional brokerages like Keller Williams, Century 21, and RE/MAX.
- You get multiple agent matches so you can interview, compare marketing plans, and choose the best fit.
- Clever pre-negotiates low rates on your behalf — you get full service for a low 1.5% listing fee.
- If you buy with Clever, you could get cash back after closing.
- You may not get matched with an agent from your preferred real estate brokerage.
- Agents may not provide premium services like drone photography and professional home staging.
Clever has a 5.0 out of 5 rating on Trustpilot, based on 2,589 reviews.
Clever has pre-negotiated low commission rates with top agents in all 50 states and Washington, DC.
Semya-Moya is the best option for most sellers nationwide because it offers the biggest savings of any discount brand — along with full service from top agents with well-known brokerages like Keller Williams and Coldwell Banker.
Clever's free service pre-negotiates 1.5% listing fees with top-rated local agents (about one-third of what realtors typically charge). Sellers will also pay a competitive buyer's agent commission, lowering your total commission to around 4–4.5%.
On a $400,000 home, listing with Clever would save you up to $4,000 more in realtor fees than if you had a 5% commission!
So why is Clever able to offer such low rates? Because they actually end up saving realtors a lot of time and money. Real estate agents typically spend a lot of their budgets on trying to find new clients, which is something that Clever does for them. Since Clever is helping realtors lower their expenses, those same realtors are able to pass the savings on to you.
You can try Clever for free with no obligation. Interview as many agents as you like until you find the best fit, or walk away anytime. Find a great local agent and get a 1.5% listing fee now!
Clever has helped thousands of customers save big on commission fees — we can help you keep more money in your pocket too!
With Clever:
✅ Sellers pay only 1.5% in listing fees
✅ Buyers earn cash back on eligible purchases
✅ You'll work with a local realtor from top brokers, like RE/MAX and Keller Williams
Clever's service is 100% free, with zero obligation. You can interview as many agents as you like, or you can walk away anytime. Enter your zip code to find a top local agent today!
2. Ideal Agent
Ideal Agent
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Ideal Agent can match with a great agent from a traditional brokerage. But its 2% listing fee makes Ideal Agent a lot more expensive than other full-service discount brands.
- You'll get a full-service agent from a traditional brokerage.
- It's free to request an agent match, and you can walk away at any time.
- Ideal Agent costs more than most other full-service, low commission companies.
- You'll get matched with only one realtor — most similar services recommend multiple agents so you can compare your options and pick the one you like best.
Ideal Agent has a 4.9 out of 5 rating (6,254 reviews) across popular review sites like Google and Trustpilot.
Ideal Agent is available to home sellers nationwide.
Ideal Agent is another low commission brokerage that matches you with a local agent from a brokerage like RE/MAX or Century 21. The company is available nationwide and can be a great way to find a high quality agent.
Ideal Agent pre-negotiates a 2% listing commission with its partner agents. While this is less than the 2.5–3% that a traditional agent would charge, other discount brokerages, like Clever, offer similar services for a fraction of the price.
3. Redfin
Redfin
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Redfin offers real savings and is a proven brand. But sellers could compromise on service — especially agent experience and availability.
- If you buy and sell with Redfin, you'll get a 0.5% listing fee discount.
- Redfin gives its listings premium placement in its popular home search app.
- If finding the right agent is a top priority, you'll have limited options — Redfin only has a few agents in each of its markets.
- Redfin agents handle more customers at once than the average realtor, so they may not be able to provide as much personalized service.
Redfin has a 2.9 out of 5 rating (331 reviews) across popular review sites like Google and Yelp.
Redfin is available in 80+ U.S. markets (see all locations).
Redfin is a well-known brokerage that offers a discounted 1.5% listing fee to sellers in most major U.S. cities. Sellers who buy and sell with Redfin in the same year will pay a 1% listing fee.
Redfin agents are fully licensed and offer a similar range of services as traditional realtors. The brokerage uses an online platform and a team-based approach to manage much of the selling process, which may not be ideal for sellers who prefer one-on-one agent support.
4. Prevu
Prevu Real Estate
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Prevu offers solid commission savings for buyers and sellers. But at certain price points, other discount brands may offer better value.
- Prevu's 1.5% listing fee saves sellers an average of $2,450 compared to a standard 3% commission rate.
- Eligible buyers get a commission rebate worth up to 2% of the home price.
- High minimum fees may limit your savings if you're selling a lower-priced home.
- Prevu has a small team, which limits your options if you don't hit it off with the first agent it sends you.
Prevu has a 5.0 out of 5 rating (465 reviews) across popular review sites like Google and Yelp.
Prevu is available in the following areas: CA, CO, CT, MA, NY, PA, TX, WA.
Prevu is a full-service discount brokerage. It advertises up to a 2% commission rebate for buyers and a 1.5% listing fee for sellers.
Prevu’s model is best for buyers looking at higher-priced homes that qualify for a 2% commission rebate. To get the full rebate, you have to buy a residential property worth at least $750,000.
You'll work with a licensed, salaried agent, but your agent may require you to do some initial home searching. Before working with Prevu, ask about the agent's responsibilities and yours.
For sellers, the 1.5% listing commission is a solid rate, but Prevu's minimum fees vary by location and can sometimes negate savings. The company doesn't list the minimum fees on its website, so you'll need to contact the office for details.
How much can I save with a 5% real estate commission?
A 5% real estate commission isn't a massive discount, but it could slash your bill by hundreds or thousands of dollars — especially for more expensive properties. For example, on a $350,000 home, you could save $3,500 by going with a 5% commission realtor compared to the standard 6% fee.
Here's a breakdown of how much you could save based on your home price.
» MORE: Find the best low commission real estate companies
How does a 5% commission work?
When you sell for a 5% commission rate, the savings usually come by working with a listing agent who has reduced their fee.
Sellers who pay a 5% real estate commission usually work with an agent or brokerage that charges a 2–2.5% listing fee. The seller will also pay a 2.5–3% buyer's agent commission, bringing their total commission rate to 5%.
In most real estate sales, the total commission comes out of the seller's proceeds at closing. It's then split between the listing agent and the buyer's agent.
Traditionally, both agents would take home a 3% commission fee, bringing the total rate to 6%. However, in today's market, many real estate agents charge less than that.
Selling for 5% is good, but Clever has pre-negotiated even better rates with realtors from top brokerages like Berkshire Hathaway and Keller Williams.
- When you find your agent through Clever, you get the same full-service experience for just a 1.5% listing fee — half the 3% that realtors usually charge
- Clever sellers save an average of $7,000 and get offers 2.8x faster than the national average.
Try our free, no-obligation service to find top local agents — and never pay full commission again!
Why does the buyer's agent commission stay the same?
As a seller, it's important to offer a competitive buyer's agent commission. In theory, you could reduce your total commission to 5% by offering a lower buyer's agent fee — but it could make your home more difficult to sell.
The buyer's agent fee is an incentive for buyer's agents to show your home to their clients. If you don't offer a competitive rate, agents will likely steer their clients toward other sellers who do.
Note that competitive buyer's agent rates vary by area. If the market conditions are right, your listing agent may give you the green light to offer a slightly lower commission that's in line with what other sellers are offering.
» MORE: Do sellers pay buyer's agent commission?
Other ways to get a 5% commission
In addition to selling with a discount real estate agent, there are a few paths you can take to lower your total agent commission to 5%. You can try to negotiate a lower fee with your agent, or you can hire a limited-service real estate agent.
Negotiate a lower commission with your listing agent
It's possible to negotiate a lower listing fee, but most agents will be hesitant to lower their rate. Still, your chances of negotiating a discount go up when you check at least one of these boxes:
- There's a lot of buyer demand in your area
- A lot of local agents are competing for new business
- You're selling a high-value property
- You agree to both buy and sell with the same agent or brokerage
Hire a limited-service real estate agent
Limited-service real estate agents provide less support and fewer services to sellers for a low fee. These companies often offer a la carte pricing, allowing you to only pay for the services you need an agent to handle for you while you manage the rest of the sale.
With a limited-service agent, you could pay much less than 5% total commission — but you'll need to be comfortable investing the time and energy into handling a bulk of the sale on your own.
Alternatives to paying a 5% real estate commission
Aside from working with a real estate agent, there are a few non-traditional ways to get a reduced commission rate on the sale of your house. These options may provide cheaper rates or more flexibility compared to a traditional realtor — but each comes with its own drawbacks.
For sale by owner | Flat fee MLS | iBuyers | "We buy houses" companies
For sale by owner (FSBO)
You can avoid realtor fees completely by selling FSBO. This is a great option if you're comfortable handling the entire sale yourself. But you'll have to decide if the savings are worth the extra responsibilities and risks that come with a DIY sale.
» MORE: How to sell your house for sale by owner
Flat fee MLS companies
Flat fee MLS companies list your home on the multiple listing service — an agent-only database of properties for sale in your area. You can pay a low, flat fee to get your home in front of buyer's agents (and on popular listing sites like Zillow and Realtor.com), but you'll have to manage the rest of the sale on your own.
» MORE: What you need to know about flat fee MLS listings
iBuyers
iBuyers, like Opendoor and Zillow Offers, use advanced technology to make all-cash offers on properties. These companies let you sell your home for a competitive price without listing on the open market. However, they're only available in a few cities and come with strict guidelines for the properties they'll buy, so very few sellers will actually qualify.
» MORE: What is an iBuyer?
'We buy houses' companies
If you need to sell your property quickly, a "we buy houses for cash" company can make you an all-cash offer, no matter the property's condition. However, this offer will be well below market value since these companies plan to fix up and resell the property for a profit.
» MORE: Should you sell to a "we buy houses for cash" company?
FAQ about 5% real estate commission
What exactly is a 5% real estate commission?
A 5% real estate commission typically occurs when the listing agent charges a slightly reduced commission, around 2–2.5%. Sellers are still responsible for paying the buyer's agent commission (2.5–3%), bringing their total commission to around 5%.
In today's real estate market, most sellers pay around 5.37% in total commission fees. Selling with a 5% commission realtor may save you a few thousand dollars on your sale, but other discount brokerages, such as Clever or Redfin, offer even bigger savings.
How is a 5 percent commission for a realtor split?
A 5% commission will generally be split between the listing agent and buyer's agent. The listing agent may receive slightly less (around 2%) depending on the average buyer's agent commission rates in your area. Each agent may also split their commission with their respective brokerage. Learn more about realtor commissions.
Can I negotiate a 5% commission with a realtor?
You may be able to negotiate a 5% commission with your realtor, but it depends on the price of your home, where you live, and average commission rates in your area. To pay a 5% total commission rate, you'll likely need to pay your listing agent a 2–2.5% commission — instead of the traditional 2.5–3% — and offer a competitive buyer's agent commission (2.5–3%).
Real estate commissions are always negotiable, but it can be difficult to negotiate a lower rate with a traditional agent. The best way to save on listing fees is by going with a low commission real estate agent. Learn more about the best low commission companies in your area!
How do you find a 5% commission realtor?
You can find a 5% commission realtor near you by looking for low commission brokerages in your area. To pay a 5% total commission rate, you'll need to find a realtor who offers 2–2.5% listing fees. Here are the best 5% commission realtors available on the market today!
What are the best 5% commission real estate brokers?
Our top picks among 5% commission real estate brokers are Semya-Moya and Ideal Agent. These nationwide companies offer the best combination of low rates, high-quality agents, personalized service, and overall value for sellers. Depending on where you're located, Redfin may also be a good choice for you, although their agents may not offer as much one-on-one support.
