Every home seller wants to know the same thing: who charges the lowest real estate commission? After 19 years as a managing broker and over 315 closed transactions, I can tell you the answer is not as simple as picking the cheapest percentage — because the cheapest option and the lowest cost option are often different things.
The Commission Landscape Right Now
Traditional real estate commissions in the United States run between 5% and 6% of the sale price, split between the listing agent and buyer agent. On a $500,000 home, that is $25,000 to $30,000. The NAR settlement in 2024 changed how buyer agent commissions are disclosed and negotiated, but it did not eliminate them. Sellers still pay, and the percentages have barely budged at most brokerages.
Flat Fee vs Percentage: The Real Cost Comparison
Here is what the major models actually charge:
Traditional Brokerages (Keller Williams, Coldwell Banker, RE/MAX): 2.5%–3% listing side. On a $600,000 home: $15,000–$18,000.
Discount Percentage Brokerages (Redfin, Clever): 1%–1.5% listing side. On a $600,000 home: $6,000–$9,000. But Redfin recently acquired Rocket Close and is bundling mortgage services — read the fine print.
MLS-Only Services (Houzeo, Homecoin): $199–$499 flat fee for MLS access only. No agent representation, no negotiations, no support at closing. You are on your own.
Flat Fee Full Service (ShopProp): $4,995 flat fee for homes under $1M, including full agent representation, negotiations, and closing coordination. On a $600,000 home, that is $4,995 — less than half of what a discount percentage brokerage charges, with full managing broker service included.
What $356,000 in Savings Looks Like
Our largest single-transaction savings was on a Newport Beach property that sold for $14.5 million. The seller paid a $7,995 flat fee instead of a traditional percentage commission. The savings: $356,171. That is not a typo — over a third of a million dollars kept by the seller because they chose a flat fee model.
At the other end: a buyer in Houston purchased a $335,000 home, paid a $1,995 flat buyer fee, and received $8,010 back at closing. A family in Leander, Texas bought a $750,000 home and saved $15,205. A buyer in Austin saved $15,000 on a $566,500 condo.
These are documented closings — every one is verifiable on ShopProp's results page.
The Buyer Side: Commission Rebates
Most people searching for the lowest commission focus on selling. But buyers overpay too. Traditional buyer agents charge 2.5%–3% of the purchase price, paid through the transaction. A flat fee buyer agent charges a fixed amount — ShopProp starts at $1,995 — and returns the rest as a cash rebate at closing.
On a $700,000 home with a 2.5% buyer agent commission ($17,500), a ShopProp buyer pays $3,995 and receives $13,505 back. Most buyers do not know this option exists because traditional agents have no incentive to mention it.
What to Watch Out For
Not every low-commission option delivers what it promises:
- MLS-only traps: Listing your home for $299 sounds great until you need to negotiate a $20,000 repair request and have no agent in your corner.
- Percentage minimums: Some discount brokerages advertise 1% but have minimum fees of $3,000–$5,000 — which on lower-priced homes means you are paying the same or more than a flat fee.
- Service reductions: Redfin and similar discount brokerages achieve lower rates by routing you through teams and call centers. You may never speak to the same person twice.
- Bundled products: Some brokerages are now requiring or incentivizing you to use their mortgage, title, or insurance products. The commission discount gets clawed back through higher rates elsewhere.
How to Actually Get the Lowest Commission
The lowest real estate commission in America today is a flat fee that does not scale with your home price. Whether your home is worth $300,000 or $3,000,000, the work your agent does is fundamentally the same. The flat fee model reflects that reality.
ShopProp's seller fees: Full Service from $4,995 (under $1M), $6,995 ($1M–$2M), $7,995 ($2M+). Essentials from $1,995. Buyer fees starting at $1,995.