Properkey vs
UpNest
UpNest, owned by Realtor.com, runs an auction for your listing: several traditional agents pitch you, and you pick one — savings not guaranteed. Here's how it stacks up against Properkey's $0 listing fee, full MLS exposure and dedicated agent.
$0 listing fee and no listing commission. Properkey listings close through Properkey Escrow, a non-independent broker escrow operated under Properkey's DRE license; escrow fees are standard closing costs on any home sale. Properkey may also receive compensation from other parties to the transaction.
What would you keep?
Drag the slider to your home's value and compare the listing-side cost of selling with UpNest versus Properkey, or read the table below.
Assumes UpNest average listing side: ≈2.5%. Buyer-agent compensation (negotiable and optional) and standard closing costs are separate and apply to every sale. Figures are illustrative; verify current pricing with each provider.
| Home price | UpNest listing cost | Properkey listing fee | You keep |
|---|---|---|---|
| $500,000 | $12,500 | $0 | $12,500 |
| $750,000 | $18,750 | $0 | $18,750 |
| $1,000,000 | $25,000 | $0 | $25,000 |
| $1,500,000 | $37,500 | $0 | $37,500 |
| $4,000,000 | $100,000 | $0 | $100,000 |
Properkey vs UpNest, feature by feature
The side-by-side that matters: what you pay, what you get, and who does the work.
| Feature | Properkey | UpNest |
|---|---|---|
| What you pay to list | $0 listing fee, no listing commission | Agent bidding — avg ≈2.5% |
| Service model | Yes: Full-service brokerage with a dedicated agent | Yes: Full service from whichever agent you pick |
| MLS & portal exposure | Yes: Full MLS + syndication to Zillow, Realtor.com, Redfin and hundreds more | Yes: Full MLS via chosen agent |
| Pricing strategy & negotiation | Yes: Handled by your agent | Yes: Included |
| Contracts & disclosures | Yes: Contracts and disclosures prepared and managed for you | Yes: Included |
| Fees at closing (listing side) | Yes: No listing-side fees at closing | No: Whatever your winning agent bids — avg ≈2.5% |
| Cancel anytime | Yes: Cancel anytime — no lock-in contracts | Yes: No obligation before signing |
| Financing, escrow, insurance & management | Yes: Financing, escrow, insurance & property management in one platform | No: None |
| Where they operate | California and Idaho (real estate) | Nationwide |
| Who you deal with | Yes: One point of contact from listing to close | Partly: Marketplace concierge until you sign |
Why sellers choose Properkey over UpNest
-
$0 beats any percentage
A discounted commission is still thousands of dollars of your equity. Properkey's listing side is $0 — not 1%, not 1.5%, zero.
-
One agent who owns your sale
Discount brokers often run team models — a different person at every step. Properkey gives you a single dedicated agent.
-
No minimum fees
Low advertised rates usually hide dollar minimums. Properkey has no listing fee to put a minimum on.
-
More than a brokerage
Search, financing, escrow, insurance and property management in one platform — most discounters stop at the sale.
Where UpNest stands out: a fair look
- Comparing several real proposals is genuinely useful.
- Backed by the Realtor.com brand.
We'd rather you compare with clear eyes. When you do, $0 with a dedicated agent is hard to argue with.
The bottom line
UpNest makes agents compete, but its own numbers say the winner still charges about 2.5%. An auction that ends near the traditional price isn't a discount — Properkey's $0 is.
Frequently asked questions
No — agents bid what they choose, and UpNest's own disclosures put average listing-side rates around 2.5%, near the traditional norm. Properkey doesn't run an auction: the listing fee is $0 for everyone.
Realtor.com's parent — UpNest is a lead marketplace for traditional agents, monetized through referral fees those agents recover in their commissions.
Because Properkey isn't built on listing commissions. The platform spans the whole transaction — search, financing, escrow, insurance and property management — so we don't need to take 2.5–3% (or even a flat fee) from your sale to run a great listing. You get full MLS exposure and a dedicated agent; the listing side costs you $0.
There's no listing fee and no listing-side commission — ever. Like every home sale (including FSBO), standard transaction costs still exist: escrow, title and recording fees apply no matter who you sell with. Properkey listings close through Properkey Escrow, a non-independent broker escrow operated under Properkey's DRE license, at its published escrow rates — the same category of fee you'd pay any escrow company on any sale. Properkey may also receive compensation from other parties to the transaction. Buyer-agent compensation remains optional and negotiable.
Yes. Properkey listings go on the local MLS and syndicate to Zillow, Realtor.com, Redfin and hundreds of other sites — the same exposure a traditional 3% listing gets.
Buyer-agent compensation is negotiable and entirely your call — with Properkey and with everyone else, under the rules in place since 2024. The difference is the listing side: $0 with Properkey.
Cancel anytime. There's no lock-in contract and no cancellation fee — if Properkey isn't earning your business, you can walk away.
Compare more alternatives
The Proper Way to Sell Your Home.
Full MLS exposure. A dedicated agent. A $0 listing fee. See exactly what you'd keep.
Properkey is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by UpNest. All trademarks, brand names and logos are the property of their respective owners and are used for identification and comparison purposes only. Competitor pricing, features and availability are based on publicly available information as of September 2026 and may have changed; please verify details directly with each provider. Savings examples are illustrative, assume the fee structures shown, and exclude buyer-agent compensation (negotiable and optional in all cases), taxes and standard closing costs, which apply to every sale regardless of brokerage. $0 listing fee and no listing commission. Properkey listings close through Properkey Escrow, a non-independent broker escrow operated under Properkey's DRE license; escrow fees are standard closing costs on any home sale. Properkey may also receive compensation from other parties to the transaction. Photography and the 3D tour are free when your home sells with Properkey. If it doesn't sell with us, you repay the media cost. See your listing agreement for the full terms. This page is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Properkey's real estate brokerage is licensed in California and Idaho. Equal Housing Opportunity — Properkey is committed to the Fair Housing Act.
