Flat Fee Realtor in Chicago: Full-Service Representation for $1,995

What Is a Flat Fee Realtor?

A flat fee realtor charges a fixed dollar amount to list and sell your home, regardless of the sale price. Traditionally, the listing fee has been a percentage, 2-3% of the sale price, so it scales with the home’s value.

Flat Fee vs Traditional Commission

Here’s the fundamental difference:

Under a percentage, the fee rises because the home is worth more, not because the job doubled. The work tracks the home (its condition, its buyers, its negotiation), not the price tag. An example 2.5% listing fee on an $800,000 condo is twice the fee on a $400,000 condo, but the listing work is not twice the work.

Flat Fee vs FSBO

A flat fee listing is not the same as For Sale By Owner (FSBO). FSBO means handling everything yourself: pricing, marketing, showings, negotiations, contracts, and closing.

With a flat fee realtor, you get full professional service, you’re just not paying a percentage for it.

Flat Fee vs Discount Brokers

Some “discount” brokers offer reduced percentages (for example, 1% or 1.5%, advertised rates as of July 2026) but still charge based on sale price. Others offer low flat fees but provide only MLS access, no marketing, no negotiation, no support.

Net Gain Realty is neither: the fee is a flat $1,995 at any price, and the listing is full service, from pricing through closing. For a broker-by-broker breakdown of who is full-service and who is MLS-only, see the best flat-fee brokers in Chicago comparison. Every risk commonly attached to flat fee, sorted by which tier it actually applies to, is at the risks of using a flat-fee broker.

How Much Can You Save With a Flat Fee Listing?

The difference between a flat fee and a percentage depends on the sale price: the higher the price, the larger the gap. The figures below are examples at a 2.5% listing fee, not a promise of what any seller keeps.

Savings by Price Point

Real Chicago Examples

Examples at neighborhood median sale prices from 90 days of MRED closed sales, as of January 2026:

Want to see your specific savings? Use the home sale calculator to estimate what you would net under a flat fee and under a percentage.

See What You Could Save

Enter your home’s estimated value in the calculator to estimate what you would keep at closing under each fee.

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What’s Included in Net Gain Realty’s $1,995 Flat Fee

Every listing with Net Gain Realty includes comprehensive full-service support from pricing through closing. Here’s exactly what you get:

MLS Listing & Syndication

Your home is listed on MRED (Midwest Real Estate Data), Chicago’s primary Multiple Listing Service, where buyers’ agents across the Chicago area search. MRED also shares listing data with consumer home search sites. Which sites display a listing, and how, is controlled by MRED and those sites, not by the listing broker.

Professional Photography

Professional real estate photography and a floor plan are included in the flat fee.

Pricing Strategy

Net Gain Realty prices every listing from recent closed sales before it goes live:

• Comparative market analysis using recent sales in your specific area
• Price positioning strategy based on current inventory and competition
• Guidance on strategic pricing to generate buyer interest
• Band-level demand analysis showing where buyers are competing right now

Every pricing recommendation is built from the last 90 days of MRED closed sales for the home’s area and price band.

Showing Coordination

Net Gain Realty handles all showing logistics:

• Showings by appointment through ShowingTime, scheduled around your availability
• Secure lockbox installation for buyer agent access
• Showing feedback collection and reporting
• Communication management with buyer agents

You’re not fielding calls and texts from agents all day. Net Gain Realty coordinates everything and keeps you informed with consolidated updates.

Offer Negotiation

When offers arrive, Net Gain Realty negotiates on your behalf for:

• Maximum price
• Favorable terms and contingencies
• Appropriate inspection resolution
• Optimal closing timeline

Negotiation is part of the flat fee, not an add-on. Matthew McMahon, Net Gain Realty’s designated managing broker, negotiates every offer personally.

Contract to Close Support

From accepted offer through closing, Net Gain Realty manages:

• Attorney review coordination
• Home inspection negotiations
• Appraisal communication
• Title and lender coordination
• Final walkthrough scheduling
• Closing day support

All of it is included in the flat fee.

Flat Fee vs Traditional Agent vs FSBO

How does flat fee compare to your alternatives? Here’s an honest assessment:

What Do You Give Up With a Flat Fee Realtor?

With a full-service flat fee brokerage, you replace the percentage pricing model with a fixed fee. The listing includes the MLS listing, professional photography, a pricing analysis built from local comparable sales, offer negotiation, and contract-to-close support, and that scope is stated in writing in the listing agreement. Net Gain Realty lists Chicago homes on those terms for a flat $1,995 instead of the traditional 2-3% listing fee. Service level does vary in the flat fee world, but the variance lives in entry-only MLS packages, which run $99 to $399 (each company's lowest published Illinois package, as of October 2026) and leave pricing, showings, negotiation, and paperwork to the seller. It is not a property of full-service flat fee. When the scope of work is written into the agreement, you can read exactly what the fee buys.

When Traditional Makes Sense

Traditional percentage-based agents may be worth considering if:

• You have an unusually complicated property that requires extensive marketing
• You value a long-term relationship with a specific agent
• You’re not price-sensitive and prioritize familiarity over savings

When Flat Fee Makes Sense

Flat fee listings make the most sense when:

• You’re selling in a fast-moving market (most Chicago neighborhoods)
• Your home is in good, marketable condition
• You want professional service without percentage-based fees
• You’d rather keep your equity than pay a fee that scales with the price

When FSBO Makes Sense

FSBO might work if:

• You have significant real estate experience
• You’re selling to a known buyer (family, neighbor)
• You have time to manage every aspect yourself
• You’re comfortable negotiating directly with the buyer’s agent

Net Gain Realty is built for the seller in between: a home in marketable condition, a seller who wants professional representation, and a listing fee that does not scale with the price.

Where Net Gain Realty Works

Net Gain Realty lists homes in Chicago and the surrounding suburbs through MRED, the MLS that covers the Chicago area.

How Net Gain Realty’s Flat Fee Process Works

Working with Net Gain Realty follows a straightforward process from initial consultation through closing.

1. Free Consultation

Net Gain Realty starts with a conversation about your property, timeline, and goals. This initial consultation is free and comes with no obligation. Net Gain Realty will discuss:

• Your home’s current condition and likely price range
• Timeline and any constraints
• What to expect from the selling process
• How flat fee compares to your alternatives

2. Listing Agreement

If you decide to proceed, you sign a listing agreement with Net Gain Realty specifying the flat $1,995 fee, $595 at signing and $1,400 at closing. The agreement covers:

• Listing term (90 days, extended if the home is under contract)
• Services included
• Your responsibilities
• Cancellation at any time, with no cancellation fee

3. Photography & Preparation

Net Gain Realty schedules professional photography and prepares your listing materials:

• Photo session
• Listing description highlighting key features
• Pricing strategy finalization
• MLS input preparation

4. Go Live on MLS

Once photography is done, your listing goes live on MRED. Net Gain Realty coordinates:

• Showing scheduling
• Lockbox installation
• Buyer agent inquiries
• Market feedback

5. Showings & Offers

As showings generate interest, Net Gain Realty:

• Collects and relays feedback
• Presents all offers with analysis
• Negotiates terms on your behalf
• Guides you through decision-making

6. Under Contract to Closing

Once you accept an offer, Net Gain Realty manages the transaction through closing:

• Attorney review facilitation
• Inspection negotiation
• Appraisal coordination
• Closing preparation
• Final walkthrough

Time to contract depends on price, condition, and the market. The time from contract to closing is set mostly by the buyer’s lender, the inspection and the attorney review, which no brokerage controls.

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FAQs About Flat Fee Realtors

What’s the catch with flat fee realtors?

The catch with a flat fee realtor depends on what the fee buys: an entry-only flat fee MLS package leaves pricing, showings, negotiation and closing to the seller, while a full-service flat fee brokerage like Net Gain Realty does that work for one fixed price. Net Gain Realty points to its closed sales. As of September 2026, those homes listed from $194,900 (an Oak Lawn condo) to $1,475,000 (a Chicago single-family home), and each of those sellers paid the same flat $1,995. Past results are not a promise. Net Gain Realty states its tradeoffs up front: $595 of the fee is due at signing and is not refunded, Net Gain Realty does not hold open houses (showings are by appointment through ShowingTime), and designated managing broker Matthew McMahon is the single point of contact from listing to closing.

The four closings, with addresses and list and sale prices, are on the Net Gain Realty homepage.

Will my home sell for less with a flat fee listing?

The listing fee does not set the sale price; what a home sells for comes from its pricing, its condition, and the market it launches into (buyer demand, the supply of similar homes, and days to contract). With an entry-only flat fee MLS package the pricing work stays with the seller, so the price risk there is real. Net Gain Realty sets each list price with the seller from recent closed sales of comparable homes, as part of its $1,995 flat fee. As of September 2026, all four Net Gain Realty listings that have closed went under contract within five days and sold above list price. Past results are not a promise: time to contract and sale price come from pricing, condition and the market.

Do buyer agents avoid flat fee listings?

Net Gain Realty’s listing fee has no effect on how a buyer’s agent is paid. Since the 2024 NAR settlement, buyer-agent compensation cannot be offered through the MLS; a buyer’s agent is paid under the buyer’s own agreement, and any seller contribution is negotiated offer by offer in the purchase contract.

How does flat fee compare to discount brokers?

“Discount brokers” typically means reduced percentage commissions (for example, 1% to 1.5%, advertised rates as of July 2026, instead of the traditional 2-3%). That still means higher fees for higher-priced homes. Some flat fee services offer MLS-only listings with no support. Net Gain Realty is different: true flat fee ($1,995) with full service. You get complete representation, not just MLS access.

Is this just a flat fee MLS listing?

A flat fee MLS listing and a full-service flat fee listing are different products. An entry-only flat fee MLS listing in Chicago runs about $99 to $399 (each company's lowest published Illinois package, as of October 2026) and puts your home on the MLS while you handle pricing, showings, negotiation, and closing yourself. Net Gain Realty’s $1,995 is a full-service listing: the broker prices from recent sold comps, orders professional photography, coordinates showings, negotiates offers, and manages contract-to-close. The MLS entry is the same; the difference is who does the work.

When is the $1,995 due?

Net Gain Realty collects $595 at signing to cover the cost of launching the listing, including professional photography and preparation of the listing documents. The $595 is non-refundable, and Net Gain Realty applies it toward its $1,995 flat listing fee, so it is not an additional charge; the remaining $1,400 is due at closing. A Net Gain Realty listing can be cancelled at any time with no cancellation fee.

What’s the $1,995 fee cover specifically?

The full listing job: pricing from recent closed sales, professional photography and a floor plan, the MRED listing, showing coordination, offer negotiation, and contract-to-close support. Buyer-agent compensation is separate from Net Gain Realty’s fee and is negotiated offer by offer in the purchase contract.

Can I cancel if I change my mind?

Yes. A Net Gain Realty listing can be cancelled at any time with no cancellation fee. The $595 upfront fee is nonrefundable.

How do you make money at $1,995?

Net Gain Realty runs with zero salaries: designated managing broker Matthew McMahon handles every listing himself, using systems he built. The flat fee is priced to cover the listing work, not to rise with the sale price.

The Chicago Market Supports Flat Fee

The economic argument for flat fee listings is strongest in fast-moving markets. Examples from 90 days of MRED closed sales, as of January 2026:

• North Center: 5 days to contract, 100.6% of asking
• Wicker Park: 6 days to contract, 0% price reductions
• Lincoln Park: 7 days to contract, 100.3% of asking
• Lake View: 7 days to contract, 277 homes sold

When homes go under contract in about a week, the listing work is pricing, presentation, and negotiation. I believe that work should be priced in dollars, not as a share of the sale price.

Get Started With Chicago’s Flat Fee Realtor

Net Gain Realty lists Chicago-area homes for a flat fee: pricing from recent closed sales, professional presentation, the MLS listing, negotiation, and contract-to-close support.

Net Gain Realty provides all of that for $1,995.

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Or get your free Chicago seller report to see current market data for your specific neighborhood.

For more information on what traditional agents charge, see the guide to real estate commission rates in Chicago.

Commission rates are not set by law, vary by brokerage, and are fully negotiable. Buyer’s agent compensation is separate and negotiated offer by offer. Net Gain Realty charges a flat fee of $1,995 for listing services.