Houzeo vs LOQOL, in one line: Houzeo is a flat-fee MLS / FSBO listing platform that charges $299–$399 up front plus 0.5%–1.25% of your sale price at closing (Houzeo pricing), and you act as your own agent. LOQOL is a full-service licensed California brokerage that lists your home for a flat $4,399 with Charlie AI and a licensed agent of record — no percentage at close (CA DRE #02261474). Both crush a traditional 6% commission; they are built for two different kinds of seller.
What Each One Actually Charges
Houzeo's current California packages add a closing percentage on top of the sticker fee, so the company is no longer purely flat (Houzeo pricing, Houzeo California flat-fee MLS):
- Silver — $299 + 0.5% at close (minimum $999 commission): 6-month MLS listing, 24 photos, you run showings and edits.
- Gold — $349 + 1% at close: everything in Silver, unlimited photos, California seller disclosures assigned for e-signature.
- Platinum — $399 + 1.25% at close: everything in Gold, a year-long listing, and concierge support.
LOQOL's Charlie AI fee is flat by price band and never a percentage of your sale: $4,399 up to $1M, $7,999 from $1M–$2M, $12,999 from $2M–$3M, $19,999 above $3M. White Glove is the higher-touch concierge tier. Photography is a separate add-on in both companies' models.
The Cost Math, Side by Side
Because Houzeo's fee includes a percentage at closing, its cost climbs with your sale price while LOQOL's flat fee does not. Here is the total listing-side cost across California price bands:
| Sale Price | Traditional 6% | Houzeo Silver ($299 + 0.5%) | Houzeo Gold ($349 + 1%) | Houzeo Platinum ($399 + 1.25%) | LOQOL Charlie AI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $500,000 | $30,000 | $2,799 | $5,349 | $6,649 | $4,399 |
| $750,000 | $45,000 | $4,049 | $7,849 | $9,774 | $4,399 |
| $1,000,000 | $60,000 | $5,299 | $10,349 | $12,899 | $4,399 |
| $1,300,000 | $78,000 | $6,799 | $13,349 | $16,649 | $7,999 |
| $2,000,000 | $120,000 | $10,299 | $20,349 | $25,399 | $7,999 |
Reading the table honestly: Houzeo's bare-bones Silver tier is the cheapest sticker price at the lower bands — because it is a true FSBO listing where you do the showings, the negotiation, and the paperwork yourself, with a $999 minimum commission. But Silver's 0.5%-at-close still grows with price, and LOQOL's flat fee beats Houzeo's Gold and Platinum tiers at every band, and beats Silver from $1,000,000 up. Above roughly $760,000, LOQOL also undercuts Houzeo Gold. And every column here still saves tens of thousands versus a traditional 6% commission.
Feature Comparison: Houzeo vs LOQOL
| What You Get | Houzeo | LOQOL |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | $299–$399 up front + 0.5%–1.25% at close (min $999) | Flat $4,399–$19,999 by band, no % at close |
| Cost rises with sale price? | Yes — percentage at closing | No — flat by price band |
| Service type | Flat-fee MLS / FSBO listing platform (self-service) | Full-service brokerage with a licensed CA agent of record |
| Who runs your listing | You — showings, negotiation, paperwork | Charlie AI + a licensed agent of record |
| Pricing / comps | You set your own price | Charlie AI pricing model on local comps |
| MLS + syndication | Yes | Yes |
| Photography | Add-on / your own | Add-on (not bundled) |
| Best for | Hands-on FSBO sellers who want MLS access and will do the work | Sellers who want full service and a licensed agent at a flat fee |
Where Houzeo Genuinely Wins
To be fair to Houzeo: if you are a confident FSBO seller on a lower-priced home, Houzeo's Silver tier can come in under LOQOL's $4,399 on raw fee — $2,799 on a $500,000 home, for example. If you genuinely want to handle your own showings, fielding, and negotiation and only need MLS exposure plus the paperwork rails, that is a real, legitimate way to save. Houzeo's mobile app and offer-management tools are well reviewed for self-directed sellers (listwithclever Houzeo review).
Where LOQOL Wins
LOQOL is for the seller who wants a licensed California agent of record on the documents and the listing actually run for them — not a do-it-yourself MLS form. Three structural advantages:
- Your fee never grows with your sale price. Houzeo's 0.5%–1.25% at close means a higher sale costs you more in fee; LOQOL's flat band does not. On a $1.3M home, LOQOL is $7,999 versus Houzeo Gold's $13,349.
- It is full service, not FSBO. Charlie AI runs pricing, MLS entry, showing coordination, and offer comparison; a licensed agent of record (DRE #02261474) signs and represents you.
- No surprise minimums or closing math. One predictable number by price band.
Houzeo vs LOQOL Sources
- Houzeo Pricing — Silver / Gold / Platinum packages and closing percentages
- Houzeo California Flat-Fee MLS — California listing packages
- listwithclever — Houzeo Review 2026 — third-party review of Houzeo's plans and service model
- California DRE License Lookup — LOQOL #02261474
Houzeo vs LOQOL FAQ — 2026
Is Houzeo a flat fee or a percentage?
Both now. Houzeo's California packages charge $299–$399 up front plus 0.5%–1.25% of the sale price at closing, with a $999 minimum commission, so the total is no longer purely flat (Houzeo pricing). LOQOL's Charlie AI fee is a true flat amount by price band with no percentage at close.
Is Houzeo full service like a traditional agent?
No. Houzeo is a flat-fee MLS / FSBO listing platform — you handle showings, negotiation, and paperwork yourself. LOQOL is a full-service licensed California brokerage with an agent of record.
Which is cheaper, Houzeo or LOQOL?
It depends on price and how much you want to do yourself. Houzeo's bare-bones Silver tier is cheapest on lower-priced homes if you go full FSBO; LOQOL's flat $4,399 beats Houzeo's Gold and Platinum tiers at every band and beats Silver from $1,000,000 up — while including a licensed agent of record.
Does either fee include photography?
No — photography is a separate add-on in both models.
Do I still owe a buyer's agent commission?
After the August 2024 NAR settlement, buyer-agent compensation is negotiated in the buyer's offer, not pre-set by the seller. That is true whichever listing route you choose.
Comparing Your California Selling Options? Start Here
- Houzeo vs Homecoin vs LOQOL: California Flat-Fee MLS Comparison 2026 — the three-way breakdown
- Flat Fee vs 6% Commission in California 2026 — the statewide playbook
- Cheapest Way to Sell a House in California 2026 — six selling options ranked
- Is LOQOL a Real Brokerage? — how the licensed agent of record works