AI Platform Challenges 6% Commission with 1.99% Home Selling Fee

BRONX, NY – April 09, 2026 – A new technology startup is taking direct aim at the long-standing 5-6% commission that has dominated residential real estate for decades. Bronx-based locqube launched its AI-powered home selling platform today in New York and Connecticut, offering homeowners a technology-driven experience with a significantly lower 1.99% listing fee.

The company's model is built to dismantle what it calls an "opaque, agent-controlled transaction" by placing homeowners in direct control of their sale. By consolidating every step—from valuation and listing to offer management and negotiations—into a single online dashboard, locqube aims to provide a level of transparency that has historically been elusive for sellers.

A New Dashboard for the Digital Seller

The traditional home selling process often leaves homeowners reliant on their agent for updates on buyer interest, tour feedback, and the status of offers. locqube's platform is designed to eliminate this information lag. Sellers gain real-time access to pricing logic, marketing performance, tour schedules, and incoming offers, empowering them to make data-driven decisions without waiting for a phone call.

"For decades, homeowners have been passengers in their own home sale," said Manny Pantiga, co-founder and CEO of locqube, in the company's launch announcement. "They don't see the data, they don't control the timeline, and they pay 5% or 6% for the privilege of being kept in the dark. We built locqube to change that."

The platform begins with a free, AI-powered home valuation to give potential sellers an immediate sense of their property's market value and their equity position. Once a seller decides to proceed, the company claims a home can be listed on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) within minutes after professional photos are taken. Sellers are offered two distinct paths: a hybrid self-service option for a flat fee of $899, where the homeowner manages most of the process with an AI assistant and a licensed agent steps in for negotiations and contracts, or a full-service representation model under the 1.99% fee structure.

Intensifying Competition in Proptech

locqube enters a dynamic but challenging proptech landscape where other companies have already sought to disrupt the legacy brokerage model. Discount brokerages like Redfin have gained market share by offering lower commission rates, typically around 1.5%, by employing salaried agents and leveraging technology to create efficiencies. On another front, iBuyers such as Opendoor and Offerpad offer sellers the convenience of a quick, all-cash sale, bypassing the open market entirely.

locqube's model appears to be a hybrid of these approaches, combining the significant cost savings of a discount model with a technology platform that gives sellers the control and transparency of a "for sale by owner" (FSBO) process, but with the critical backstop of licensed professional support. By operating as a fully licensed brokerage in New York and Connecticut, the company ensures it can legally handle all aspects of the transaction, from marketing to closing.

The potential savings are a core part of its value proposition. For a home selling for $1 million in the competitive New York market, the company estimates a seller could save between $30,000 and $41,000 compared to a traditional 5-6% commission structure. This direct financial appeal, especially in high-cost-of-living areas, is designed to attract sellers who are increasingly comfortable with digital platforms and question the value of high agent fees in an era of accessible information.

The Evolving Role of the Real Estate Agent

The rise of platforms like locqube inevitably raises questions about the future role of the traditional real estate agent. For years, agents have served as gatekeepers of information, controlling access to the MLS and managing the flow of communication between buyers and sellers. However, as technology makes market data more accessible, their value proposition is shifting from information control to expert advisory.

Industry analysts suggest that technology is not necessarily eliminating the agent but rather transforming the role. The most successful agents in this new era may be those who can demonstrate their value beyond simply listing a property. This includes providing nuanced local market insights, expert negotiation strategies for complex deals, and sophisticated problem-solving—skills that AI cannot easily replicate.

locqube’s model acknowledges this by keeping licensed agents in the loop. Rather than asking sellers to "go it alone," the platform provides expert backup for the most critical and legally sensitive parts of the transaction, such as contract negotiation and closing. This hybrid approach suggests a future where technology handles the routine, data-driven tasks, freeing up human agents to focus on high-value, relationship-based counsel. It forces a conversation within the industry: if technology can automate scheduling, marketing, and data aggregation, what part of the agent's service truly justifies a multi-thousand-dollar commission?

Putting Control and Savings in the Homeowner's Hands

Ultimately, the success of locqube will depend on its appeal to the end consumer: the homeowner. The platform is betting that a significant segment of sellers desires more control, transparency, and, most importantly, a way to retain more of their home equity. The promise of seeing every offer as it comes in, approving marketing materials with a click, and understanding the data behind a pricing strategy is a powerful draw for a generation accustomed to managing their finances and investments through digital dashboards.

"We're not asking sellers to go it alone — we're giving them the tools, the data and the expert backup to make smart decisions," Pantiga stated. "That's what it means to be a consumer-first platform."

As locqube begins accepting sellers in New York and Connecticut, its performance will be closely watched by consumers and industry veterans alike. If it can deliver on its promise of a seamless, transparent, and cost-effective selling experience, it could further accelerate the real estate industry's slow but steady shift away from the traditional commission model and toward a more consumer-driven future. The launch marks another significant step in the ongoing technological evolution of one of life's largest financial transactions.