Two Spokane real estate agents have started a business called Choice Realty LLC, a full-service real estate brokerage that has developed alternative payment structures for marketing and selling real estate.

Melissa Murphy, a Realtor formerly with Windermere Manito LLC, and Ron McIntire, who co-founded Owner Assist Realty Inc., started Choice Realty as equal partners in early August. They are operating the business in about 500 square feet of office space at 608 W. Second, inside the Spokane Entrepreneurial Center.

McIntire says Choice Realty offers real estate services to property owners on a fee-for-service basis, at an hourly rate, and under a conventional commission model. It also plans to represent buyers under a similar model that allows paying back a certain amount to the buyer at a property purchase closing, or under a conventional fee structure.

"We have consulting options, which is what's unique," McIntire says, adding, "If you look at the legal industry, they do this as well. They work on a contingency-commission basis and have a fee-for-service, or hourly-fee basis. We're really taking it to that model."

Murphy adds, "They can hire us on a consultation basis versus just a commission basis. We're taking the traditional toolbox and expanding it for our clients."

McIntire, who is the designated broker for Choice Realty, says he also will continue to be the designated broker of record for Owner Assist Realty, located in downtown Spokane. However, he says all of the properties he markets personally will be listed through Choice Realty.

He and Murphy say Choice Realty offers different choices for clients who need to sell a home, but need options other than a traditional real estate arrangement with a broker. McIntire says he's seen this model that allows fee-based options in real estate offices on the East Coast.

Because of the economy, McIntire says, some people have little to no equity in their properties, so there isn't excess money from a sale to pay a commission. In that situation, most brokers can't provide service to that homeowner as a client.

"We're not a discount broker; what we do is we allow some clients to remove some services that maybe (they) don't need," McIntire says. "It's company policy never to lower the commission for the buyer's agent on any of our programs."

In addition to Murphy and McIntire, the other Choice Realty agents are Jake Senescall and Jolene Barrington.

McIntire says all of the agents working at Choice Realty will be accredited real estate consultants.