Homecoin advertises a $149 flat fee. Houzeo's entry plan starts at $399. On a $400,000 home, the real gap between them only shows up once Houzeo's closing fee on higher tiers enters the math: 0.5% to 1.25% of the sale price, or $2,000 to $5,000. Most Homecoin vs Houzeo Tennessee comparisons stop at the sticker price. That's where the real cost of selling begins.
ResultsMLS publishes this page, and we're the local option in the third column. So we built it the way we'd want a competitor to build one about us. Every figure comes from each company's published pricing pages, terms and listing agreements, plus Tennessee MLS rules and state code, all checked in 2026. This is document review, not a mystery shop. Where Homecoin or Houzeo is the better fit, we say so.
Homecoin vs Houzeo in Tennessee: The Short Answer
The short answer: As of July 2026, Homecoin fits experienced DIY sellers who want a minimal MLS listing for about $149 and no closing fee. Houzeo fits sellers who want app-based offer tracking and will accept a percentage fee at closing on higher tiers. A local Tennessee flat fee broker fits sellers who want direct RealTracs or regional MLS entry and local contract help.
The decision comes down to three things: what you pay upfront, what you pay at the closing table, and which MLS your listing actually reaches. National comparison pages usually cover only the first.
The 2026 Flat Fee MLS Comparison Table for Tennessee
As of July 2026, the largest gap between these three options is the back-end fee. Homecoin advertises no closing fee. Houzeo's upper tiers add roughly 0.5%–1.25% at closing, or $2,000–$5,000 on a $400,000 home. A local flat fee broker typically charges one upfront fee with nothing taken at closing.
| Feature | Homecoin | Houzeo | Local TN Flat Fee (ResultsMLS) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upfront listing fee | $149 | From $399 (Bronze) | One flat fee, published on our pricing page |
| Plan tiers | Single base plan plus add-ons | Bronze / Silver / Gold / Platinum | Varies by plan |
| Fee at closing (back end) | None advertised | 0.5%–1.25% on upper tiers | None |
| Minimum commission | Not published | $999 on tiers with a closing fee | None |
| Listing term | Not published; ask before signing | Varies by plan | Varies by plan |
| Which TN MLS / entry method | Not disclosed on public state page | Not disclosed on public state page | Direct entry on RealTracs and regional boards served |
| TN broker of record | Not published; check TREC lookup | Not published; check TREC lookup | ResultsMLS, TREC-licensed |
| Photo limit | Varies by MLS rules | Varies by plan and MLS | Up to the MLS maximum (RealTracs: 100) |
| Zillow / Realtor.com syndication | ✓ via MLS feed | ✓ via MLS feed | ✓ via MLS feed |
| Listing edits / changes | ✓ (self-service portal) | ✓ (app) | ✓ |
| Yard sign / lockbox | Add-on | Varies by plan | Varies by plan |
| Showing scheduling | Not published | Varies by plan | ShowingTime or R-Showings set up on RealTracs listings |
| Offer / counter offer help | Add-on | Houzeo Offers dashboard on upper tiers | ✓ |
| Contract review | Add-on | Varies by plan | ✓ |
| TN disclosure form help | Not published | Not published | ✓ Tennessee Residential Property Condition Disclosure |
| Local human contact | Email / online support | Phone and in-app support | Tennessee-based broker |
| Cancellation / refund | Not published; ask before signing | Cancellation liability may apply; read the listing agreement | Varies by plan |
Sources: each provider's pricing page, state page and listing agreement; RealTracs MLS rules; TREC license lookup. As of July 2026. Verify on each vendor's site before you sign.
All three put you on an MLS, and the MLS feeds Zillow and Realtor.com. The differences live in the closing-fee fine print, in who you can call when a counter offer arrives, and in whether your listing sits on the board local agents actually search.
What It Really Costs to Sell a $400,000 Middle Tennessee Home
As of July 2026, on an illustrative $400,000 Middle Tennessee home, listing-service costs run from $149 plus add-ons with Homecoin to roughly $2,400–$5,400 on Houzeo's upper tiers once the 0.5%–1.25% closing fee applies. A local flat fee broker stays at its single published fee.
Say you're selling a $400,000 brick ranch in Murfreesboro. A traditional listing agent at 2.5%–3% on the listing side would cost $10,000–$12,000. Any of these three options beats that. The useful question is by how much.
Every flat fee price has three layers: the upfront fee in the ad; the add-ons that turn an MLS entry into a working listing (sign, lockbox, extra photos, offer review, contract help); and anything owed at the closing table, including percentage fees, minimum commissions and cancellation charges. Compare all three.
| Line item | Homecoin | Houzeo (upper tier) | Local TN Flat Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upfront listing fee (sourced) | $149 | $399 and up, by tier | Published flat fee |
| Add-ons: sign, lockbox, contract help (sourced where published) | Sold a la carte | Often bundled in higher tiers | Included in most plans |
| Closing fee: % × $400,000 (sourced) | $0 | $2,000–$5,000 (0.5%–1.25%) | $0 |
| Buyer-agent concession (assumption: 2.5%, same for all) | $10,000 | $10,000 | $10,000 |
| Title, transfer tax, prorations (assumption) | Same | Same | Same |
The $400,000 figure is illustrative, not a market median. Italic rows are scenario assumptions applied identically to every column. Replace them with your own numbers.
The add-on layer is where it gets fuzzy. Homecoin's unbundled pricing keeps the entry fee low, but a lockbox, sign and contract review stack up. Houzeo bundles more, and the cost moves to your ALTA settlement statement at closing, not at signup. That's why sellers miss it.
On a pricier Franklin or Brentwood home, a percentage closing fee grows with the price. A flat fee doesn't. If you're hunting for the cheapest flat fee MLS in Middle Tennessee, compare the bottom line after closing, not the homepage price.
Which MLS Does Your Listing Actually Land On in Tennessee?
As of July 2026, Tennessee has at least four major regional MLS systems: RealTracs in Middle Tennessee, the East Tennessee Realtors MLS around Knoxville, Greater Chattanooga Realtors MLS, and the Memphis Area Association of Realtors MLS. A flat fee listing helps most when it lands on the board your local buyer agents search daily.
In Middle Tennessee, that means RealTracs, the system Nashville, Franklin, Brentwood, Murfreesboro and Clarksville agents work out of. Knoxville listings belong on the East Tennessee board. Memphis and Chattanooga each have their own system, with their own photo limits, showing tools and rules.
National flat fee companies place listings through a Tennessee-licensed broker of record, sometimes a referral partner. That's legal and common, but it can add a layer between you and whoever enters or edits your listing. Some providers mention portals like My State MLS, which by its own description is a national listing site. It doesn't substitute for a regional board.
Before you pay anyone, get written answers to three questions:
- Which MLS, by name, will my listing appear on? "The MLS" isn't an answer. You want "RealTracs" or the specific regional board.
- Who is the Tennessee broker of record, and what's the license number? Check it in the TREC license lookup on the Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance site.
- Is that broker a direct member of my local board, and who makes edits? Referral layers slow price changes and status updates.
If a provider can't answer question one by name, treat that as your answer.
Homecoin Review for Tennessee Sellers
As of July 2026, Homecoin offers one of the lowest entry prices for a Tennessee MLS listing at about $149, with no advertised closing fee. Signs, lockboxes and contract help are sold separately. It suits sellers who have sold before and want MLS exposure with little else attached.
Pros
- Very low upfront listing fee
- No percentage taken at closing, per its published pricing
- A la carte add-ons, so you pay only for what you use
- Self-service portal for listing edits
Cons
- Broker of record and MLS entry method aren't spelled out on its public state page
- Offer and contract help costs extra
- Support is mainly online, with no local Tennessee contact listed
Best for: sellers who already know the Tennessee Residential Property Condition Disclosure, can handle counter offers, and mainly want syndication to Zillow and Realtor.com. If that's you, Homecoin may honestly be the better fit. Read the fine print on listing duration and cancellation, which weren't published when we reviewed its terms.
Houzeo vs a Local Flat Fee Broker: The Closing-Fee Fine Print
As of July 2026, Houzeo's plans start at about $399. Its upper tiers add a closing fee of roughly 0.5%–1.25% of the sale price with a $999 minimum. On a $400,000 Tennessee home, that's $2,000–$5,000 owed at closing, on top of the upfront plan price.
Pros
- A well-built mobile app for managing your listing
- The Houzeo Offers dashboard for tracking and comparing offers
- Four plan tiers, so you can choose your service level
- Phone and in-app support
Cons
- Upper tiers carry a percentage fee at closing
- Its listing agreement describes cancellation liability, which may include commission owed if you cancel and later sell
- Broker of record and MLS routing aren't stated on the public state page
The houzeo vs local flat fee broker decision usually turns on one question: is the app and offer dashboard worth a percentage at closing? For some sellers it is, especially in a multiple-offer situation. For a straightforward sale, a single flat fee usually costs less.
How Back-End Fees Get Triggered
The short answer: as of 2026, a percentage closing fee isn't always tied only to a closed MLS sale. Listing agreements define their own triggers, and the agreement controls, not the pricing page. On an illustrative $400,000 sale, a 0.5% trigger costs $2,000.
Read the fine print on these four clauses in any Tennessee flat fee agreement, ours included:
- Sale definition. Some count only a buyer who came through the MLS listing. Others count any sale during the term, including a buyer you found yourself.
- Protection (tail) period. A window after the listing ends when a fee may still apply if you sell to someone who saw the home during the term. These commonly run 30 to 180 days.
- Cancellation or withdrawal liability. Some agreements charge for early cancellation, or treat a withdrawal followed by a sale as a completed sale.
- Minimum fee floor. With a minimum, lower-priced homes pay the floor, not the percentage.
If a clause isn't published, ask for it in writing.
Break-even math
A better comparison than upfront price is the sale price where a closing percentage cancels out a cheaper entry fee.
Break-even sale price = upfront fee difference ÷ closing fee percentage
Illustrative numbers, not quotes: Plan A costs $500 more upfront with no closing fee. Plan B charges 0.5% at closing. $500 ÷ 0.005 = $100,000. Above that price, Plan A costs less overall.
Most Middle Tennessee homes sell well above $100,000, so a percentage plan rarely wins on cost alone. It can still win on features. Price it as of the month you list.
The Local Option: ResultsMLS
As of July 2026, ResultsMLS is a TREC-licensed Tennessee flat fee firm that enters listings directly on RealTracs and the regional boards it serves. It charges one published upfront fee with no percentage at closing. It's limited service: you handle showings and negotiation.
We publish this article, so weigh this section accordingly.
Your listing goes straight into the MLS local agents search, with no referral layer. You get contract review, help with Tennessee's disclosure forms, and a Tennessee broker to call when a buyer's agent sends paperwork you don't recognize.
What you don't get: open houses, attended showings, or someone negotiating price for you. If you want a person to manage the whole sale, a limited-service flat fee broker isn't the right fit, whether that's us or anyone else.
Compare our Tennessee plans to see what each tier includes. For local details, see our pages on flat fee MLS in Nashville, Franklin, Murfreesboro, Brentwood and Clarksville.
Do Flat Fee Sellers Pay the Buyer's Agent After the NAR Settlement?
As of July 2026, Tennessee sellers aren't required to pay a buyer's agent. Since the NAR settlement took effect on August 17, 2024, compensation offers can't appear in MLS listing fields. Buyers sign written representation agreements, and any seller contribution gets negotiated in the purchase contract.
This applies equally to Homecoin, Houzeo and ResultsMLS listings. None can post a buyer-agent commission for you, because the MLS no longer allows it.
In practice, a buyer's agent submits an offer that may ask you to cover some or all of their fee as a concession. You can accept, counter or decline. Many buyers still ask, which is why the net sheet includes it. For anything unusual in an offer, consult a licensed Tennessee real estate professional or attorney.
Syndication Isn't What You're Paying For
Zillow, Realtor.com and Redfin pull listings largely from regional MLS feeds. So "syndication to 100+ sites" is mostly a byproduct of landing on the right MLS. Get onto RealTracs and the major portals generally follow. Land on a board Middle Tennessee buyer agents don't use, and a long syndication list won't fix it.
What's harder to buy cheaply is help the week an offer arrives. With buyer-agent pay now worked out in the contract, offer review, counter offers and the state disclosure carry more weight. Check whether that help is included, sold as an add-on, or not offered at all.
After You Go Live: Contact Fields, Status Changes and Price Drops
As of 2026, Tennessee MLS boards require status updates shortly after a contract is signed, often within one to two business days. On a flat fee listing you don't have MLS access, so every status change, price drop and photo swap runs through your provider. Their speed is your exposure.
Ask each provider:
- Whose name and phone number fill the listing-agent fields? Buyer agents call whoever's listed. A sub-broker contact adds a handoff before the inquiry reaches you.
- How are offers delivered? Straight to you, or forwarded by the sub-broker?
- What's the turnaround on edits, and are they unlimited?
Timing matters in two places. Once you accept an offer, a late under-contract update means agents keep booking showings, and the listing broker can face an MLS fine. Ask whether the agreement passes fines to you. Price drops are the other. Portals usually reflect MLS updates within hours to a day, so a reduction that waits three days for an edit loses most of its "new price" pull.
Weekends are where handoffs hurt. A four-hour delay on a Tuesday can swallow a Saturday showing rush in Franklin or Brentwood.
Tennessee Edge Cases National Comparison Pages Skip
As of 2026, four kinds of Tennessee listings regularly break the standard flat fee setup: homes near MLS board boundaries, estate sales, tenant-occupied homes and pre-1978 houses. Each changes which MLS, forms or showing rules apply.
Board boundaries. Homes between regions, such as the corridor between Middle Tennessee and Chattanooga, may draw buyers searching a different MLS. Some boards share data and some don't. Ask whether a second-board listing is available and what it costs.
Estate and probate sales. Whoever signs the listing agreement needs legal authority to sell, usually the court-named personal representative. Some fiduciary transfers may be exempt from the Tennessee Residential Property Condition Disclosure under T.C.A. § 66-5-209. The exemptions are narrow, so have an attorney confirm before skipping the form.
Tenant-occupied homes. Tennessee landlord-tenant law requires notice before entry, and many leases add their own terms. Your MLS showing instructions must match the lease.
Pre-1978 homes. Federal law requires a lead-based paint disclosure and pamphlet, separate from the state form. A provider's "disclosure help" may cover only the state form.
Marketing before the MLS goes live. A yard sign or social post can count as public marketing. Under NAR's Clear Cooperation Policy, a publicly marketed listing must hit the MLS within one business day, though NAR's 2025 update added delayed and office-exclusive options with seller sign-off. Ask which applies before the sign goes up.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Houzeo charge a closing fee in Tennessee?
On upper-tier plans, yes. Houzeo's published pricing lists roughly 0.5%–1.25% of the sale price due at closing, with a minimum around $999, on top of the upfront plan price. Confirm your tier's exact rate before signing.
Does Homecoin list directly on RealTracs?
Homecoin's documentation indicates listings in some states and regional boards may be handled through licensed affiliate or partner brokers. Ask which Tennessee broker of record will enter your listing and whether it goes on RealTracs or another board.
What is the cheapest flat fee MLS in Middle Tennessee?
By upfront price, Homecoin's $149 base listing is usually the lowest entry point. Your real cost depends on add-ons and any closing fee, so compare full net sheets, not sticker prices.
Can I cancel a Homecoin or Houzeo listing, and what does it cost?
Terms vary by plan. Houzeo's agreement can leave you owing a fee or commission in some cases after cancelling. If a cancellation clause isn't published, ask for it in writing.
Do I still have to pay a buyer's agent with a flat fee MLS in Tennessee?
No law requires it. Since August 17, 2024, compensation offers can't appear in MLS fields, so any buyer-agent pay is negotiated in the contract, often as a seller concession.
Is flat fee MLS worth it in Tennessee?
On a $400,000 home, a 2.5%–3% listing-side commission runs $10,000–$12,000, while flat fee plans start in the low hundreds. It's worth it if you're comfortable handling showings and negotiation yourself.
If you want app-based offer tracking or the lowest entry price, Houzeo or Homecoin may suit you better. If you want direct RealTracs entry with nothing taken at closing, compare our Tennessee plans.