The short answer: Prevu charges California sellers a 2% listing fee (plus a $99/month subscription that can apply after a trial period) and offers buyers a rebate of up to 1% (Clever's Prevu review). LOQOL charges a flat $4,399 for homes up to $1M, tiered above that. The two are equal at a sale price of roughly $220,000 — above that, the flat fee is cheaper, and the gap widens with every dollar of home value. At California's $887,400 median, Prevu's 2% is about $17,748 versus LOQOL's $4,399.
Both companies are real, licensed, full-service alternatives to a 6% listing, and both beat the traditional model. The question is which structure fits your price point.
What Each One Actually Is
Prevu is a discount real estate brokerage founded in New York City in 2017, now operating in California, Colorado, Connecticut, DC, Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, and Washington. Sellers get a dedicated agent at a 2% listing fee; buyers may qualify for the "Smart Buyer Rebate" of up to 1% of the purchase price, subject to lender approval, minimum commissions, and property eligibility rules. Customer reviews are strong — 5.0/5 across 646 reviews — with the most common critique being that agents can feel more hands-off than a traditional listing agent, particularly early in the process. In late 2025, Prevu was acquired by reAlpha Tech Corp. and became a wholly owned subsidiary (reAlpha investor relations).
LOQOL is a licensed California real estate brokerage (CA DRE #02261474) built around a flat fee rather than a percentage. Charlie, LOQOL's AI agent, handles pricing off local comp data, MLS listing and syndication, inquiry and offer management, and negotiation support around the clock; a licensed California agent of record oversees every transaction. Charlie AI is $4,399 up to $1M, $7,999 ($1M–$2M), $12,999 ($2M–$3M), and $19,999 above $3M. White Glove adds a dedicated human agent for staging coordination and managed showings, from $7,000 at a $500K sale up to $55,000 at $4M. There is no monthly subscription. Professional photography is not included in either tier and is added at cost.
The Money, Side by Side
| Sale Price | Traditional 6% | Prevu (2% listing side) | LOQOL Charlie AI | LOQOL White Glove | Charlie AI vs Prevu |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $220,000 (the crossover point) | $13,200 | $4,400 | $4,399 | ~$3,500 | Effectively a tie |
| $500,000 | $30,000 | $10,000 | $4,399 | $7,000 | $5,601 cheaper |
| $887,400 (California median) | $53,244 | $17,748 | $4,399 | ~$13,200 | $13,349 cheaper |
| $1,500,000 | $90,000 | $30,000 | $7,999 | $22,000 | $22,001 cheaper |
| $2,500,000 | $150,000 | $50,000 | $12,999 | $35,000 | $37,001 cheaper |
Two notes on reading this honestly. First, Prevu's 2% and LOQOL's flat fee are both listing-side figures; under both, the buyer's agent fee is a separate negotiation in the buyer's written offer since the 2024 NAR settlement (NAR settlement facts). Second, Prevu's published pricing carries minimum fees that vary by market plus the $99/month subscription, so at the low end a seller may pay more than a straight 2% calculation implies — which pushes the practical crossover point below $220,000, not above it.
Feature by Feature
| Feature | Prevu | LOQOL |
|---|---|---|
| Seller pricing model | 2% of sale price, scales with home value | Flat fee by tier — $4,399 up to $1M |
| Subscription / recurring cost | $99/month may apply after a trial period | None |
| Minimum fees | Yes — vary by market | No — the tier price is the price |
| Buyer rebate | Yes — up to 1%, with eligibility conditions | No buyer rebate program |
| Who runs the listing | Assigned human agent | Charlie AI + licensed CA agent of record (human agent added on White Glove) |
| Availability | 13 states including California | California |
| Customer ratings | 5.0/5 across 646 reviews | Early-stage brokerage — smaller review base |
| Cost at the CA median ($887,400) | $17,748 | $4,399 |
Where Prevu Genuinely Wins
If you're buying, not selling. LOQOL has no buyer rebate program. Prevu's Smart Buyer Rebate returns up to 1% of the purchase price to eligible buyers — real money on a California purchase, subject to lender approval and property eligibility. If you're on the buy side, that's a Prevu advantage LOQOL doesn't answer.
If you want a named human agent from day one at a below-market rate. Prevu assigns a dedicated agent at 2%, and its review base is deep and strongly positive on communication and guidance. LOQOL's equivalent hands-on experience is the White Glove tier, which at some price points costs more than Prevu's 2% — at a $2.5M sale, White Glove is $35,000 versus Prevu's $50,000, but at $500,000 White Glove is $7,000 versus Prevu's $10,000, so run your own number.
If you're selling outside California. Prevu operates in 13 states. LOQOL is a California brokerage.
If your home is under about $220,000. Below the crossover, 2% of a small sale price is less than a $4,399 flat fee — though Prevu's market minimums narrow that window in practice.
Where LOQOL Wins
Above the crossover, and by more the higher you go. The entire argument for a flat fee is that the work of listing a $900,000 home is not twice the work of listing a $450,000 home, so the bill shouldn't double. At the California median the difference is about $13,349; at $2.5M it's $37,001.
No subscription, no minimums, no surprises. The tier price is the price.
Predictable cost before you list. With a percentage model, your fee isn't final until your sale price is — a bidding war that pushes a Roseville or Elk Grove home $30,000 over asking also adds $600 to a 2% bill. Under a flat fee, upside is entirely yours.
Which One Fits You
You're selling a $400K–$900K California home — the Sacramento Valley, Inland Empire, or Central Valley tract markets where most of the state's transaction volume sits. LOQOL's flat $4,399 is the lower number by five figures, and these are exactly the homogeneous, comp-dense markets where AI pricing performs best.
You're selling a $2M+ Bay Area or coastal home and want hands-on service. Compare LOQOL White Glove against Prevu's 2% at your specific number — at $2.5M that's $35,000 versus $50,000.
You're buying in California and want cash back at closing. Prevu's rebate is the relevant product; LOQOL doesn't compete there.
You're selling a sub-$220K property. Run both quotes, and ask Prevu to confirm its market minimum in writing for your ZIP code before you assume 2% is the number.
Compare the Rest of the Field
See how the other California options stack up: Houzeo vs Homecoin vs LOQOL, Beycome vs LOQOL, Clever vs LOQOL, and the iBuyers — Opendoor vs LOQOL and Offerpad vs LOQOL. For the full field, see the best flat-fee real estate brokerages in California.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Prevu cost in California?
A 2% listing fee for sellers, plus a $99/month subscription that may apply after a trial period, with minimum fees that vary by market (Clever's Prevu review). Buyers may qualify for a rebate of up to 1% of the purchase price, subject to lender approval and eligibility rules.
At what price does LOQOL become cheaper than Prevu?
At about $220,000 in sale price, where Prevu's 2% ($4,400) equals LOQOL's $4,399 flat fee. Above that, the flat fee is cheaper — by $13,349 at California's $887,400 median and by $37,001 at $2.5M. Prevu's market minimums push the practical crossover lower still.
Is Prevu a legitimate brokerage?
Yes. Prevu is a licensed discount brokerage founded in 2017, operating in 13 states including California, with a 5.0/5 rating across 646 reviews. It was acquired by reAlpha Tech Corp. in late 2025 (reAlpha investor relations).
Does LOQOL offer a buyer rebate like Prevu's?
No. LOQOL's model is a flat listing fee for sellers. If a buyer rebate is your priority, Prevu's Smart Buyer Rebate is the better fit — just confirm the amount and eligibility in writing for your price range and lender.
Do I still pay the buyer's agent with either company?
That's a separate negotiation with both. Since the 2024 NAR settlement, buyer-agent compensation is negotiated in the buyer's written offer rather than pre-set by the seller or advertised on the MLS (NAR settlement facts).
How does either compare to a traditional 6% listing?
Both are dramatically cheaper. California's average total commission is about 5.5% — roughly $48,800 at the $887,400 median (Clever CA survey). At that price, Prevu's listing side is $17,748 and LOQOL's is $4,399. See our flat fee vs commission guide for California sellers.
Is Charlie a real estate agent?
No. Charlie is LOQOL's AI agent working inside a licensed brokerage — it prices, lists, markets, and manages offers. A licensed California agent of record (CA DRE #02261474) is the licensee on every transaction.
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