If you are comparing Orchard with other ways to buy or sell a home in Texas, you are likely weighing convenience against cost. Orchard is best known for its "buy before you sell" program, which lets homeowners purchase their next home before listing their current one. KAT Realty takes a different approach: full-service buyer and seller representation for a flat fee — $4,999 for buyer representation and $5,999 for seller listings — anywhere in Texas, with no percentage commission and no program fees layered on top.

This page is an honest look at how Orchard works, where it genuinely helps, and how its costs compare with a flat fee real estate service. Both models are legitimate. The right choice depends on whether you value Orchard's equity-unlock and move-first convenience enough to pay percentage commissions plus program fees, or whether you would rather keep more of your equity with transparent flat fee pricing.

What Is Orchard and How Does It Work?

Orchard is a technology-enabled real estate company that operates in select metros, including Texas markets such as Austin, Dallas–Fort Worth, Houston, and San Antonio. Its flagship offering, "Move First," is designed to solve a common problem: needing to sell your current home to fund the purchase of your next one. Orchard estimates your home's value, advances or unlocks a portion of your equity, and approves you to make a non-contingent offer on a new home before your old one sells. You move into the new home first, then list and sell the old one on the open market.

Orchard also offers a more traditional "List with Orchard" option, as well as a cash-offer program. When you sell through Orchard, you work with one of its in-house agents — you generally cannot bring your own agent on the sell side. According to public reviews and Orchard's own materials, sellers typically pay a real estate commission in the range of about 6% (listing plus buyer-side), and the Move First convenience program adds a separate program fee commonly reported around 1.9%–2.4% of the sale price. Cash-offer style programs can run higher. Exact pricing varies by program, market, and home, so always confirm current terms directly with Orchard.

Orchard vs KAT Realty: Side-by-Side Comparison

The Savings Math: Flat Fee vs Percentage Plus Program Fees

The biggest difference between the two models is how cost scales. Orchard's commission and program fees grow with your home price; KAT Realty's flat fee does not. On the listing side, here is how a $5,999 flat fee compares with a traditional 3% listing commission across typical Texas price points.

For buyers, KAT Realty's $4,999 flat fee delivers full representation — tours, offer preparation and negotiation, inspection coordination, and closing support. In some transactions, if 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.

Who Orchard Is Best For

Orchard is a strong fit for homeowners whose primary obstacle is timing — people who have built equity, want to avoid living through showings, and need to buy their next home before selling the current one. If the convenience of a non-contingent offer and a guaranteed move-out timeline is worth paying percentage commissions plus a program fee, Orchard's model can remove real stress from a move-up purchase.

Who KAT Realty Is Best For

KAT Realty is the better fit for buyers and sellers who want the same full-service representation but would rather keep more of their equity. If you can coordinate financing for your purchase with your lender, do not need Orchard's equity advance, and want a predictable cost that does not balloon with your home price, a flat fee saves you thousands — especially in higher-priced Texas markets. You also keep the freedom to work directly with your own agent on both the buy and sell side.

Flat fee real estate is fully legal in Texas. KAT Realty agents operate under the same TREC licensing requirements as traditional agents.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Orchard available in Texas?

Yes. Orchard operates in several Texas metros, including Austin, Dallas–Fort Worth, Houston, and San Antonio. KAT Realty serves all of Texas, including smaller cities and rural areas outside those metros.

How much does Orchard cost compared with KAT Realty?

Orchard sellers typically pay a real estate commission around 6% plus a program fee (commonly reported in the 1.9%–2.4% range for Move First), so total cost scales with your sale price. KAT Realty charges a flat $5,999 to list and $4,999 for buyer representation, regardless of price. On a $600,000 home, that difference can be well over $12,000 on the listing side alone.

Can I use my own agent with Orchard?

When selling through Orchard you generally work with an Orchard in-house agent rather than bringing your own. With KAT Realty, you work directly with a licensed KAT Realty agent on both buying and selling.

Does KAT Realty offer a "buy before you sell" option?

KAT Realty does not advance your equity the way Orchard's Move First program does, but our agents regularly help clients coordinate move-up purchases using bridge financing, HELOCs, sale-contingency strategy, and lender programs — keeping your costs to the flat fee plus your normal financing.

Is a flat fee service really full service?

Yes. KAT Realty provides pricing strategy, MLS listing, professional marketing, negotiation, inspection and appraisal coordination, and closing support — the same scope as a traditional agent, just billed as a flat fee instead of a percentage commission.

Compare More Texas Options

Explore related KAT Realty pages: Opendoor alternative in Texas, low commission realtors in Texas, and our flat fee city pages for Austin, Dallas, and Houston.