If you are selling or buying a home in Texas and comparing Houwzer to a flat fee option, this page lays out an honest, side-by-side look. KAT Realty is a Texas flat fee real estate service that charges a flat $4,999 for full-service buyer representation and a flat $5,999 to list and sell your home — no percentage commissions on either side. Houwzer, by contrast, is a low-commission company built around a 1% listing fee.
Both models can save Texas homeowners real money versus a traditional 5–6% commission. The difference is in how the fee is calculated, how much service is included, where each company operates, and at what price point a flat fee starts to beat a percentage. Below is the short answer first, then the math and the details so you can decide which fits your sale or purchase.
Houwzer vs KAT Realty in Texas: The Short Answer
Houwzer charges a 1% listing fee with a roughly $2,500–$3,000 minimum and a $10,000 cap, and it operates in only parts of Texas. KAT Realty charges a flat $5,999 to sell and a flat $4,999 to buy, anywhere in Texas. Because Houwzer's fee is a percentage, it is often lower on modestly priced homes and higher on more expensive ones. The practical crossover is around $600,000: below that, Houwzer's 1% usually costs less; above it, KAT Realty's flat $5,999 usually costs less — and the gap widens as the price climbs, since 1% keeps rising while the flat fee does not.
So the real question is not "which is cheaper" in the abstract — it is your home's price, how much hands-on service you want, and whether the company covers your part of Texas. KAT Realty is a full-service, statewide flat fee service with a dedicated licensed agent on every transaction; Houwzer is a 1% low-commission company available in limited Texas markets.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Houwzer | KAT Realty |
|---|---|---|
| Listing (seller) fee | 1% of sale price ($2,500–$3,000 min, $10,000 cap) | Flat $5,999 |
| Buyer representation fee | Rebate if seller pays commission; otherwise ~1% | Flat $4,999 |
| Fee structure | Percentage-based | Flat, predictable |
| Texas coverage | Parts of Texas only | All of Texas |
| Dedicated licensed agent | Yes | Yes |
| Professional photography & MLS listing | Included | Included |
| Pricing & negotiation strategy | Yes | Yes |
| Best value on higher-priced homes | No (1% keeps rising to the cap) | Yes (fee stays flat) |
Houwzer fee structure per its published low-commission listing terms. Comparison is illustrative; confirm current terms and Texas availability directly with each company.
The Listing-Fee Math: Where a Flat Fee Beats 1%
A percentage fee and a flat fee cross over at a specific price. Because Houwzer charges 1% (with a minimum and a $10,000 cap) and KAT Realty charges a flat $5,999 to sell, the flat fee pulls ahead once your home is worth more than about $600,000. Here is how the seller-side listing fee compares at several Texas price points.
| Home Price | Houwzer 1% Listing Fee | KAT Realty Flat Fee | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| $350,000 | ~$3,500 | $5,999 | Houwzer lower by ~$2,499 |
| $600,000 | ~$6,000 | $5,999 | About even |
| $850,000 | ~$8,500 | $5,999 | KAT lower by ~$2,501 |
| $1,200,000 | ~$10,000 (at cap) | $5,999 | KAT lower by ~$4,001 |
Illustrative listing-side fee only. Actual costs vary with sale price, any buyer-agent compensation offered, seller concessions, and lender guidelines. Both figures exclude any commission a seller chooses to offer a buyer's agent.
This is the honest bottom line on price: if your Texas home is under roughly $600,000, Houwzer's 1% listing fee is often a few thousand dollars less than KAT Realty's flat $5,999. If your home is above that — common in Austin, West Lake Hills, Frisco, Southlake, The Woodlands, and much of the greater metros — the flat fee wins, and it wins by more the higher you go, because 1% keeps climbing toward the $10,000 cap while $5,999 never moves.
The Buyer Side
Houwzer and KAT Realty both help buyers, and both pass value back to the buyer when the seller is offering compensation. With KAT Realty, buyer representation is a flat $4,999. In many Texas transactions, if the seller-paid buyer-agent compensation exceeds KAT Realty's flat fee, eligible buyers may potentially apply the difference toward allowable closing costs and prepaids, subject to lender approval and Texas regulations. Houwzer's buyer model similarly can result in little or no cost to the buyer when the seller offers a commission, and a fee of around 1% when the seller does not. The practical takeaway: on the buyer side, compare the flat $4,999 against roughly 1% of your purchase price, and factor in each company's rebate handling and whether it serves your market.
Who Each Is Best For
Houwzer may fit a seller with a lower- to mid-priced home in one of the specific Texas markets Houwzer covers, who is comfortable with a percentage fee and wants the 1% brand.
KAT Realty may fit a seller with a home above roughly $600,000 who wants the predictability of a flat fee, a buyer anywhere in Texas who wants flat $4,999 representation, or anyone whose city Houwzer does not serve. Because KAT Realty covers all of Texas with full-service representation — MLS listing, professional photography, pricing strategy, marketing, negotiation, inspection and appraisal coordination, and closing support — it is a full-service alternative rather than a limited-service or MLS-only option.
A Note on Houwzer, Trelora, and HomeLister
Houwzer has expanded through acquisitions, including Trelora and, more recently, HomeLister, under its Newfound parent company. If you have been comparing any of these names, they share overlapping ownership and low-commission positioning. KAT Realty remains an independent Texas flat fee service focused solely on the Texas market. You can also read our Trelora alternative in Texas comparison for the Houwzer-owned brand, and our broader flat fee vs Redfin vs 1% vs iBuyers in Texas breakdown.
Is a Flat Fee Real Estate Service Legal in Texas?
Yes. Flat fee real estate is fully legal in Texas. KAT Realty agents operate under the same TREC licensing requirements as traditional agents. A flat fee simply changes how the agent is paid — a fixed amount instead of a percentage — not the level of licensing, fiduciary duty, or service. For more on how fees work in Texas, see our guides on 2% commission realtors in Texas and the best flat fee real estate companies in Texas.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is KAT Realty cheaper than Houwzer?
It depends on your home's price. For the seller-side listing fee, Houwzer's 1% is often lower on homes under about $600,000, while KAT Realty's flat $5,999 is usually lower above that — and the flat fee's advantage grows on higher-priced homes because 1% keeps rising toward Houwzer's $10,000 cap.
Does Houwzer operate everywhere in Texas?
No. Houwzer serves only parts of Texas. KAT Realty serves the entire state, so if Houwzer does not cover your city, KAT Realty is a statewide flat fee alternative.
What does KAT Realty charge?
A flat $4,999 for full-service buyer representation and a flat $5,999 to list and sell your home — no percentage commissions on either side.
Do I still pay a buyer's agent commission if I list with a flat fee service?
As a seller you can choose whether, and how much, to offer a buyer's agent. That amount is separate from KAT Realty's $5,999 listing fee and from Houwzer's 1% listing fee. Your agent will help you decide on a competitive strategy for your market.
Can Texas buyers receive a rebate?
In many transactions, if seller-paid buyer-agent compensation exceeds KAT Realty's $4,999 flat fee, eligible buyers may potentially apply the difference toward allowable closing costs and prepaids, subject to lender approval and Texas regulations.
Is a flat fee real estate service full-service?
KAT Realty is full-service: MLS listing, professional photography, pricing strategy, marketing, negotiation, inspection and appraisal coordination, and closing support — not limited MLS-only access or referral matching.
Are Houwzer, Trelora, and HomeLister the same company?
They are separate brands under common ownership; Houwzer's parent company, Newfound, has acquired Trelora and HomeLister. KAT Realty is an independent Texas-only flat fee service.
Compare a True Texas Flat Fee Alternative
Whether you are selling a higher-priced Texas home where a flat fee beats 1%, buying anywhere in the state for a flat $4,999, or you are simply outside Houwzer's Texas coverage, KAT Realty offers full-service representation with transparent, flat pricing statewide — KAT Realty can help guide you through the process.