Compare Redfin and Jovio

For Sellers

Listing Rate
1%
Commission
Minimum commissions and other terms may apply. Buyer's Agent Commission (2.5%-3%) is not included, but you may be able to negotiate this as well. Redfin charges 1% Listing Commission only when working with a Redfin Agent in approximately 60% of all transactions originated.

For Sellers

Partner Agents
25%-30%
Referral Fee
Redfin Partner Agents do not work for Redfin. Instead, Redfin matches consumers with various real estate agents in exchange for 25%-30% referral fees. Such results suffer from pay-to-play bias because the network does not match consumers with agents unwilling to pay cut of their commission. Redfin Partner Agent is used by the company in approximately 40% of all transactions originated. Redfin cannot offer listing savings for Partner Agents, because such action constitutes an illegal price fixing. By using Partner Agents consumers only subject themselves to added fees, not savings!

For Sellers

Concierge Listing
2%
Commission
Minimum commissions and other terms may apply. Buyer's Agent Commission (2.5%-3%) is not included, but you may be able to negotiate this as well. Concierge Listing program is highly limited in availability.

For Sellers

Listing Rate
1%
Commission
A minimum listing fee of $3,995 and other terms may apply. Buyer's Agent Commission (2.5%-3%) is not included, but sellers may be able to negotiate this as well.

For Buyers

Buyer's Savings
+/- 21%
Commission Rebate
When you work with Redfin to represent you, it contributes +/-21% of its total commission to you and your closing costs as a way to financially compete for your business. Rebates are only available where allowed by local State law. Home Buyers do not pay any taxes on the amount, the refund amount is always tax-free.

For Buyers

Partner Agents
25%-30%
Referral Fee
Redfin Partner Agents do not work for Redfin. Instead, Redfin matches consumers with various real estate agents in exchange for 25%-30% referral fees. Such results suffer from pay-to-play bias because the network does not match consumers with agents unwilling to pay cut of their commission. Redfin Partner Agent is used by the company in approximately 40% of all transactions originated. Redfin cannot offer rebates for using Partner Agents, because such action constitutes an illegal price fixing. By using Partner Agents consumers only subject themselves to added fees, not savings!

For Buyers

Buyer’s Savings
33%
Commission Rebate
When Jovio Real Estate represents home buyers, it contributes 33% of its Buyer's Agent Commission (2.5%-3%) to the buyer as a way to financially compete for buyer’s business. Home buyers do not pay any taxes on the amount, the refund amount is always tax-free. A minimum commission and other terms may apply.
Question: What is the difference between Redfin and Jovio?
Answer: Redfin is a full-service real estate agent and a referral fee network while Jovio is a full-service real estate agent that offers savings to homebuyers and home sellers
Compare Redfin and Jovio for home buying and selling. HomeOpenly is an impartial and an open resource focused on trending real estate services, portals and start-ups.

First published: 31 August 2019
Last updated: 25 April 2021

Buying and Selling with Redfin

WARNING: Unlawful Kickbacks, Broker-to-Broker Collusion, False Marketing, Wire Fraud, Price Fixing.

Redfin is a broker-to-broker collusion scheme, where "partner agents" unlawfully agree to pay massive kickbacks to receive your information and engage in market allocation, consumer allocation, false advertising, unlawful kickbacks, wire fraud, and price-fixing practices in violation of, inter alia, 18 U.S.C. § 1346, 18 U.S.C. § 1343, 15 U.S.C. § 1, 15 U.S.C. § 45, 12 U.S.C. § 2607, 12 C.F.R. § 1024.14. As a consumer, you will always significantly overpay for Realtor commissions subject to hidden kickbacks and pay-to-play steering promoted in this scheme.

United States federal antitrust laws prohibit consumer allocation and blanket referral agreements between real estate companies.

Be smart; do not allow your information to be "sold as a lead" to a double-dealing Realtor in exchange for massive commission kickbacks paid from your future home sale, or your future home purchase.


A multi-state broker, a full-service company rebates buyer's part of the commission it receives, where allowed, and provides listing savings to sellers. In some cases, this company acts as an Internet referral fee network where it is unable to provide real estate services.

Redfin Pricing

Redfin offers listing savings to sellers (1% to 1.5% listing fee) and commission refunds to buyers where allowed by State law (21% rebate approximate.). Redfin works with about 3,100 Partner Agents in regions where it has no direct representation in exchange for a 30% referral fees.

Listing Services

  • MLS Listing
  • Zillow, Trulia, etc. Listing
  • Accept and Deliver All Offers and Counteroffers
  • Hold Open Houses
  • Professional Photography
  • Professional Floor Plans
  • Yard Signage Installation
  • Spare Key Lock-box Installation
  • Schedule Inspection Services
  • Schedule Private Showings
  • Closing Duties
  • Home Cleaning (Optional)
  • Home Painting (Optional)
  • Home Staging (Optional)
  • Landscaping (Optional)

Buyer's Agent Services

  • Find the Property
  • Accept and Deliver All Offers and Counteroffers
  • Recommend Other Professionals
  • Attend Inspection Services
  • Schedule Private Showings
  • Negotiate Needed Repairs
  • Closing Duties

Redfin Editor's Review:

Redfin is one of the largest real estate agents in the United States that offers service of a traditional agent with a competitive commission. It is important to separate Redfin services into three distinct categories: a real estate agent, a referral network and a direct cash buyer.

This review is focused on its operations as a real estate agent and a referral network. RedfinNow is further segregated into its own category because it operates as an investor and not a professional agent service model built to represent consumers.

Redfin went public in 2017 with an IPO that has raised $138 million and have thus saved consumers millions in commissions over typical rates offered by traditional real estate brokers. However, Redfin’s operations as a referral network result in an inefficiency known as reverse competition and possible price fixing. Such practice may result in lower quality of service and higher commissions due to added fees.

Agent Listings
Redfin Agents are salaried employees who are also paid bonuses based on client feedback and are not motivated by commissions. Redfin Agent Listing includes posting home on the MLS and MLS Aggregator services, professional photos, 3D tour and all typical services offered by a traditional real estate agent. Redfin gives sellers access to a well-designed dashboard to track buyers viewing your home and other communication features.

Redfin Partner Program
Redfin partner agents
Credit: Redfin Partner Referral Program via Redfin Partner Agents

Where Redfin cannot directly serve consumers, the company relies on a referral network of approximately 3,100 independent agents at other brokerages. Approximately 40% of all real estate transactions originated by Redfin are executed by this referral network.

Referral agents pay 30% of their commission back to Redfin when they close a transaction. Once Redfin refers a customer to a Partner Agent, that agent, not Redfin, represents the customer from the initial meeting through closing. In the past, Redfin had actively dictated that Partner Agent commission listing rates are set at 1.5%, or that Partner Agents issue rebates set at 15% to buyers (15% went to Redfin as a kickback.) Redfin has since revised this policy because it violates antitrust law.

In the United States, all independent brokerage fees are always negotiable and each real estate agent establishes its own policy for a fee structure, amount of commissions, and the sharing of any listing commissions.

Price fixing is prohibited by antitrust legislation. To fix, control, recommend, suggest or maintain commission rates or fees for other agents' services is an improper practice. Redfin Corporation has recently stopped such blatant price fixing strategy, where a statement on the company’s website now reads: "Since Partner Agents aren't employed by Redfin, we can't guarantee our 1%–1.5% listing fee or offer a Redfin Refund for customers who work with a Partner Agent." This statement means not only that Redfin "can't guarantee" these savings, but also that consumers shouldn't expect to receive savings from a Partner Agent.

Redfin still heavily engages in market-allocation and consumer brokering practices in their efforts to earn referral fees, instead of actually providing representation services. In 2019 Redfin has made a massive move by allowing with RE/MAX brokerage to participate as Partner Agents, where consumers are "sold as leads" to RE/MAX brokers for 25% cut of their commission.

Consumers a highly likely to overpay for listing commissions and receive little or no refund using Redfin Partner Program, when buying or selling a home, because the added 30% referral fee makes it impossible for Partner Agents to negotiate a fair market rate.

By utilizing Partner Agents, consumers are not just getting nothing, but are being subjected to thousands and sometimes tens of thousands in useless fees paid for the privilege of getting connected to a random agent.

Redfin Partner Program is one of the worst consumer brokering programs in the market because it implies that consumers will get a lower listing rate, or a refund from the Partner Agent shown on the Redfin website, but due to price fixing antitrust law this is not true.

By negotiating with an agent directly, or using HomeOpenly Open Marketplace, consumers are able to receive such savings, because HomeOpenly has a 0% referral fees structure and we are legally able to advertise rates for thousands of independent agents who offer all sorts of independently set savings – refunds, listing rates, or flat fees.

In fact, any real estate agent who uses Redfin Partner Program is able to freely advertise their services, refunds and/or listing rates on HomeOpenly and bypass excessive referral fees set by Redfin, saving consumers 30% in referral fees. Consumers should absolutely avoid using Redfin Partner Program agents.

Concierge Service
In November 2017 Redfin has launched a program called Concierge Service in select areas that offer home sellers added benefits of coordinating, supervising and paying for services such as deep cleaning, painting, staging, and landscaping in exchange for a 2% listing fee.

Where does Redfin operate?

Redfin currently operates in select areas across Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Indianapolis, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Orange County, Phoenix, Portland, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, St. Louis, Richmond, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, and New Jersey..

Buying and Selling with Jovio Real Estate

Jovio is a full service real estate agent based in Austin, TX. Jovio offers consumers listing savings and buyer's refunds in select service areas across Texas.

Jovio Real Estate Pricing

Offers consumers listing savings to sellers (1% listing fee) and buyer’s savings (33% buyer’s commission rebate)

Listing Services

  • MLS Listing
  • Zillow, Trulia, etc. Listing
  • Accept and Deliver All Offers and Counteroffers
  • Hold Open Houses
  • Professional Photography
  • Professional Floor Plans
  • Yard Signage Installation
  • Spare Key Lock-box Installation
  • Schedule Inspection Services
  • Schedule Private Showings
  • Closing Duties

Buyer's Agent Services

  • Find the Property
  • Accept and Deliver All Offers and Counteroffers
  • Recommend Other Professionals
  • Attend Inspection Services
  • Schedule Private Showings
  • Negotiate Needed Repairs
  • Closing Duties

Jovio Editor's Review:

Jovio offers excellent representation services for buying and selling a home. Jovio is a tech-enabled brokerage with the knowledge and tools built to help consumers archive an excellent real estate transaction experience.

Jovio listing service includes posting home on the MLS and MLS Aggregator services, professional photos, and all typical services offered by a traditional real estate agent. Jovio charges a listing fee of 1% of the final sales price of your property. A minimum listing fee of $3,995 applies. If at any point during the term of the listing agreement the seller decides to terminate the said agreement, she is only responsible for paying $495 setup fee.

Jovio recommends offering a cooperating buyer agent commission that helps to attract buyers who are already working with an agent. Sellers are free to offer any amount they like to buyer’s agents, but 2.5% - 3% Buyer’s Agent Commission is recommended. Buyers can easily negotiate a rebate with their agent to reduce the costs of the Buyer’s Agent Commission amount. Eventually, all closing costs are paid by the buyer.

Jovio claims to list a home in as little as 24 hours. The majority of Jovio sellers get their home listed within several days of meeting with Jovio. To determine your home’s listing price, Jovio first gathers local information about comparable properties in your neighborhood. Jovio furthers helps to evaluate your home’s condition and any recent upgrades or improvements to come up with the best listing price for the home.

When self-represented buyers approach Jovio about the seller’s listing, Jovio reduces the 3% Buyer’s Agent Commission to 2% in favor of the seller and then splits its commission with the buyer, meaning buyers receive 1% (33% buyer’s commission rebate) back on their new home. This allows all parties to save a significant amount in buy-side commissions, but it also requires the buyer to accept the potential downside of dual representation.

For buyers, Jovio Real Estate offers on-demand home tours and an excellent client web portal for monitoring the purchase process. Jovio offers overall great value to consumers looking to buy or sell a home.

Where does Jovio operate?

Jovio currently operates in select areas across Austin, TX; Houston, TX; San Antonio, TX; Dallas, TX; Barton Creek, TX; Bee Cave, TX; Del Valle, TX; Garfield, TX; Hays, TX; Hornsby Bend, TX; Lost Creek, TX; Manchaca, TX; Mc Neil, TX; Onion Creek, TX; Pflugerville, TX; Rollingwood, TX; San Leanna, TX; Shady Hollow, TX; Sunset Valley, TX; West Lake Hills, TX; Cedar Park, TX; Round Rock, TX; Lakeway, TX; Westlake, TX; Elgin, TX; Leander, TX; Georgetown, TX; Hutto, TX; Taylor, TX; San Marcos, TX, and Kyle, TX..