About your listing broker

THE COLUMBIA MLS IS AN INDEPENDENT BOARD AND NOT AFFILIATED WITH EITHER THE SOUTH CAROLINA BOARD OF REALTORS OR THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS. MANY OF THE COMPANIES IN THE CMLS ARE MEMBERS OF THE ASSOCIATION, BUT IT IS NOT MANDATED. WE COOPERATE WITH ALL INDEPENDENT AND BOARD OF REALTORS MEMBERS BUT CHOOSE NOT BE REALTORS AS WE FEEL THAT SOME OF ITS LANGUAGE PUTS RESTRAINTS ON SOME OF OUR PROGRAMS. WE SUPPORT ITS ETHICS PLATFORM AND ARE GOVERNED BY OUR INDEPENDENT BOARD OF DIRECTORS. WE HAVE NOT HAD ANY ETHICS VIOLATIONS IN 32 YEARS AND HAVE BEEN EXPERT WITNESSES TWICE FOR THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT AGAINST SEVERAL MLS'S IN S.C.FOR THEIR RESTRAINT OF TRADE PRACTICES.  COMPETITION IS THE AMERICAN WAY AND BEST SERVES THE PUBLIC ,

Real Estate Advocates is your listing Company  in South Carolina and was founded in 1991 by Bob Mandel with the notion that Sellers in the Columbia, S.C. real estate market needed alternatives that they were not being offered . At that time, almost all companies were offering a full service 7% commission model. We felt that Sellers deserved to have choices with varying levels of service and began offering pricing accordingly. Initially, we started out offering our listing services at a reduced commission rate. Sellers paid a lower commission percentage at closing. Over the years we have adapted our services based on the ever changing real estate market place. We speak differently because we think differently.  At Real Estate Advocates, we understand it’s your home and you should have a choice as to how you can buy or sell.
WE DO NOT CHARGE FEES IF YOU WISH TO WITHDRAW YOUR LISTING. WE WILL REFUND YOUR FLAT FEE IF WE REFER YOU TO A FULL SERVICE COMPANY WHEN YOU WITHDRAW IF OUR REFERRAL FEE IS EQUAL TO OR EXCEEDS YOUR UP FRONT FLAT FEE PAID AT TIME OF LISTING. SOME OF OUR FORMER BROKERS HAVE GONE OUT ON THEIR OWN AND WE REFER TO THEM OR OTHER BROKERS WE PARTNER WITH. WE HAVE GONE FROM 9 MLS WITH OUR OWN AGENTS TO ONLY  CHARLESTON AND COLUMBIA WITH OUR OWN REAL ESTATE ADVOCATES BROKER S AND AGENTS. OTHERS WHO MARKET USING OUR NAME ARE DOING SO WITHOUT OUR PERMISSION AND ARE NOT PART OF OUR COMPANY.
WE DO NOT CHARGE HIDDEN FEES LIKE SOME OF OUR COMPETITORS WHO CHARGE PART OF THE COMMISSION TO BE PAID AT CLOSING. THIS CAN BE A THOUSAND OR MORE DOLLARS THEY CHARGE AS A COMPLIANCE FEE FOR HANDLING PAPERWORK . BUYER BEWARE THAT ALL FEES OR COMMISSIONS ARE DISCLOSED. 
2023 has brought about some changes in our focus. We have shifted our attention to circle the wagons and focus the main compamy to deal with our original market which is Columbia, We have 4 other markets where some of our former Brokers are now heading their own companies as well as servicing our referrals throughout the state .  As a result,  we have fewer Agents , and taking on a smaller amount of listings which gives us more tim to take care of our clients. Quality work is more important than quantity. to us.  Unlike some Agents, we pride in getting back to our clients 7 days a week and respond if requested from 6.a.m. until 9 p.m in most instances.

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FREE For Sale By Owner website

For Sale By Owner

Flat Fee MLS selling as a for sale by owner (FSBO) in without listing on the MLS can be very difficult. Most by owner's end up listing with a real estate agent. Without the MLS, it's difficult to market your property. We feel listing on the MLS for a flat fee is the best way to sell a property. Flat Fee Group offers the best flat fee brokers in the nation. The key to selling your property and getting top dollar is listing on the MLS and pricing your home correctly.

Flat Fee Group offers a free sale by owner website when you list. You can post your listing to Facebook. This is not the key to selling but it does not hurt. Getting on the MLS with the right broker is the key to selling. Call and interview your flat fee broker today and let them guide you the sometimes very complicated process.


 

Nationwide Flat Fee MLS

Flat Fee Group®


Flat Fee Group, LLC is national group of independent real estate brokers. We list your property on the multiple listing service called the MLS and other national and local real estate websites such as Realtor.com, Zillow.com, Trulia.com, Homes.com and many more for a low flat fee. You can sell your home as a for sale by owner (FSBO) and pay no buyer agent commission and be listed with an agent at the same time, it's the best of both ways.

All brokers and agents with Flat Fee Group are independent and not a 3rd party referral site. You can call and interview your broker before you list. Many flat fee companies you find on the internet are 3rd party referral sites, meaning they take your listing and refer out to a broker in your state. The problem with 3rd party referral sites, you cannot interview your broker before listing and most of the time, they pick the broker willing to work for the least amount of money. You want a good flat fee broker, so choose Flat Fee Group and feel confident you are getting the right listing broker. Flat Fee Group was voted best national FLAT FEE MLS site.

List your property where buyers are looking!

These are just a few ... you will be on many more sites


South Carolina REALTOR®

Flat Fee MLS Listing

 



Does flat fee listing really work?

Flat Fee Listing is the best way to sell.  Listing for a flat fee is where a seller enters into a listing agreement with a real estate broker who accepts a flat fee rather than a percentage of the sale price for the listing side of the transaction. You can offer a buyer agent commission as low as 1%. Most sellers offer 2-3%. The buyer's broker company is still typically offered a percentage though that could be a flat fee as well. A discount South Carolina REALTOR® flat fee MLS brokerage typically unbundles the services a traditional real estate brokerage offers and list the property for sale in the local multiple listing service (MLS) a la carte without requiring the seller to use its services for valuation assistance, negotiating, transaction management and showing accompaniment. See our state and city local Flat Fee MLS brokers. Most flat fee brokers do offer full service brokerage services. Many flat fee brokers are limited service brokers but we offer full service brokerage as well. 
 

 

What is flat fee MLS Listing?

Flat fee MLS (Multiple Listing Service) real estate in  South Carolina is a type of real estate listing service that allows property owners to list their properties for sale on the MLS for a flat fee, rather than paying a traditional real estate agent a percentage of the sale price as commission.

In this model, the property owner takes on many of the responsibilities that a traditional agent would handle, such as handling showings, negotiations, and preparing and executing the sales contract. However, by paying a flat fee to list on the MLS, the property owner has access to the same pool of potential buyers as if they had hired a full-service agent.

The cost of a discount flat fee MLS listing can vary depending on the company and the services offered, but it is typically much lower than the traditional commission-based model.

If you're considering a South Carolina flat fee MLS listing, it's important to understand the responsibilities involved and to weigh the potential savings against the time and effort required to handle the sale process on your own. Additionally, it's a good idea to research different companies to compare their services, fees, and reputation before making a decision.


 

South Carolina For Sale By Owner - FSBO

In the for sale by owner MLS ®, the listing agreement between the real estate broker's company and the property owner typically requires the broker to enter the property into the South Carolina MLS and provide other contracted services, with the broker acting as what the traditional industry has coined a "limited service broker". However, the flat fee industry prefers the term a la carte broker because the services are not limited. Instead freedom of choice is expanded to allow sellers to pick from a menu of services.

Within the nontraditional real estate services market, there are multiple programs offered to sellers that share the common objective of saving the consumer money by reducing the overall expense of selling real estate. A "nontraditional service" does not automatically entail "limited service" or entry only MLS listing. For instance, some full-service brokers list properties under a full-service agreement but charge a "flat rate" that is not a percentage of the sales price.



 

South Carolina Discount Real Estate Agents


Flat Fee MLS REALTOR®
 

For Sale By Owner MLS  South Carolina ( Multiple Listing Service in) is not  different from traditional real estate brokerage services. Because the  South Carolina MLS requires a listing agreement between a real estate broker and property owner, the rapid explosion of discount flat fee service providers has created a gap in the States developing laws governing flat fee services provided by real estate broker.

 

Flat Fee MLS REALTORS® vs. Traditional Agents

The main differences flat fee South Carolina Multiple Listing Service and traditional services, flat fee allows the seller to sell as a for sale by owner in and not pay a commission. With traditional commissioned real estate agents, if you sell your own property, you will own the agent a high commission. Flat fee listing allows the customer to sell as a for sale by owner and with an agent, having the best of both worlds.

 

Flat Fee Listing & For Sale By Owner

You are not a for sale by owner FSBO on the MLS, you are listed with an agent but still have the option to sell your own property without paying a buyer agent commission. We are a discount real estate broker from the normal 6% commission. Flat Rate or South Carolina Flat Fee MLS listing services have been around for years but is fast becoming more popular when selling your property.

 

A flat fee MLS listing (Multiple Listing Service) REALTOR ® is a real estate agent who charges a fixed fee company for listing a property on the MLS, which is a database of properties available for sale or rent. The MLS is a powerful tool used by real estate agents to help sell homes by giving them exposure to a wider audience.

In traditional real estate transactions, the seller typically pays a commission to the listing agent and the buyer's agent. However, with a flat fee MLS realtor, the seller pays a predetermined fee to the listing agent for listing the property on the MLS and providing some additional services, but the seller is responsible for handling most other aspects of the sale, such as showing the property, negotiating with buyers, and managing the closing process.

Flat Rate REALTORS® can be a good option for sellers who want to save money on selling home but still want the benefits of listing their property on the MLS. However, it's important to choose a reputable flat fee MLS realtor who provides the necessary services and support to help you sell your home effectively. The brokers in Flat Fee Group are some of the best discount real estate agents in the country.

 

How to sell your home?

Price and getting your home on the MLS are the only 2 keys to selling. A good full service flat fee broker, is without a doubt the best way to sell. You need a good broker to work the process with you.

 


 

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Frequently Asked Questions

In the state of South Carolina, Flat Fee Group has been regarded as one of the leading flat fee companies. They are a national group of REALTORS® that are flat fee brokers. The Flat Fee Group broker has been licensed by the state and you will deal directly with them.
The Flat Fee Listing method is probably the best method to sell real estate. You should receive the level of service from a full service flat fee broker that is the same as you would with conventional six percent brokers.
This may be for a couple of reasons that most people shouldn't use a flat fee listing. For starters, most sellers have not ever heard of flat fee listing, and those who have heard think it is something different than classic listings. Actually, using a Flat Fee MLS listing service there's nothing different with the exception of spending a lot less for essentially the same exact service.