Houzeo launches $399 Bronze MLS plan for sellers

Houzeo has introduced a $399 Bronze flat-fee MLS plan aimed at sellers trying to avoid surprise costs at closing. The plan gives homeowners upfront pricing and MLS listing access as high mortgage rates and transaction expenses keep pressure on the market.

Why it matters: - Houzeo’s new Bronze plan is aimed at sellers trying to lower listing costs and avoid closing-table surprises. - The flat-fee model gives homeowners a way to pay upfront and owe $0 to the listing agent at closing on the Bronze tier. - The launch comes as sellers face high mortgage rates, affordability pressure and rising transaction costs.

What happened: - Houzeo launched a $399 Bronze flat-fee MLS plan for home sellers. - The plan is available on Houzeo’s website and mobile app on iOS and Android. - Houzeo also offers Silver, Gold and Platinum plans.

The details: - The Bronze plan includes a six-month MLS listing. - Sellers get 24 photos, syndication to Zillow, Trulia, Realtor.com, Redfin and hundreds of other real estate websites, seller disclosures, showings management and access to Houzeo’s IntelliList Listing Studio. - Sellers can cancel anytime as long as they do not have an active, accepted or pending offer. - Basic yard signs cost $49 and are refunded with a selfie, making the sign free. - Higher-tier plans include more services such as maximum photos, licensed broker assistance, contract review, offer comparison tools and virtual full-service support. - Advanced plans also include a high-definition yard sign with a property photo for $49, with the same selfie refund offer. - Houzeo says every fee from the listing agent is disclosed upfront. - On the Bronze plan, the seller pays $399 and owes nothing to the listing agent at closing. - On higher tiers, the closing percentage covers added broker services and is shown before the seller selects a plan and signs the listing agreement. - The listing agreement overrides plan offerings. - The Bronze plan may not be available in all states, including minimum service states. - Plan offerings change by state and by broker, and some services are provided by the broker only upon request.

Between the lines: - Houzeo is leaning on transparency as its main selling point against competitors that advertise low entry prices but add charges later. - The company points to publicly available review-site data showing some flat-fee MLS firms charge extra to edit listings, swap photos or update prices after a listing goes live. - Houzeo says some competitors also add hidden closing fees ranging from 0.5% to 1%. - Houzeo.com displays all costs upfront on its pricing page.

What's next: - Sellers can now use the Bronze plan directly through Houzeo’s website or app. - Plan availability will continue to vary by state, broker and listing agreement. - Higher tiers remain available for sellers who want more broker support and added services.