{"id":2581,"date":"2026-03-20T04:19:48","date_gmt":"2026-03-20T11:19:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/?p=2581"},"modified":"2026-03-22T15:38:24","modified_gmt":"2026-03-22T22:38:24","slug":"pros-and-cons-of-for-sale-by-owner-weigh-your-options","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/pros-and-cons-of-for-sale-by-owner-weigh-your-options\/","title":{"rendered":"Pros and Cons of \u201cFor Sale By Owner\u201d (FSBO) Home Sales"},"content":{"rendered":"

When selling your house, you have two options: working with a real estate agent or selling it yourself<\/a>.<\/p>\n

This second option, called <\/span>for sale by owner<\/span><\/a> or FSBO for short, is much less common, constituting <\/span>only 5% of sales in 2025<\/span><\/a>, according to the National Association of Realtors\u00ae (NAR). But why go FSBO to begin with?<\/span><\/p>\n

Many sellers who decide to handle their home sale do so to avoid paying a commission<\/a> to a seller\u2019s agent (also called a listing agent). The total commission for a home sale typically falls between 3%\u20136% of the sales price.<\/p>\n

Before the implementation of the NAR lawsuit settlement terms in <\/span>August 2024<\/span><\/a>, it was typical for the listing agent and the buyer\u2019s agent to split (usually 50\u201350) a 6% commission on the home sale. The <\/span>new commission rules and regulations<\/span><\/a> decoupled the agents\u2019 commissions, leaving the buyer to pay the buyer\u2019s agent fee while the seller pays the listing agent\u2019s fee. However, it is <\/span>still common for sellers to offer to pay<\/span><\/a> the buyer\u2019s fee in the current market.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For a seller choosing to go FSBO, this means you might still be on the hook for a 3% commission on the transaction \u2014 if you choose to cover the buyer\u2019s agent fee as an additional marketing tool for your home.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s lots to consider before deciding to list FSBO. All the work will fall on your shoulders without the help of an agent<\/a>, and you\u2019ll be responsible for talking and negotiating with buyers and their agents. Plus, you\u2019ll handle all the closing paperwork<\/a>, which might feel overwhelming for homeowners lacking professional real estate experience.<\/p>\n

So, is saving that money worth it? Let\u2019s look at the pros and cons of for sale by owner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\n \"homelight\n <\/div>\n \n

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Avoid agent commissions by selling through HomeLight\u2019s Simple Sale platform. Skip repairs and showings and receive an all-cash offer in 24 hours (close in as little as 10 days). You can also see an estimate of how much you might get selling with a top-rated agent. It might surprise you.<\/p>\n \n

\n Request Offer<\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Don\u2019t jump into selling your home without the help of an agent before understanding the pros and cons of for sale by owner (FSBO) home sales.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":262,"featured_media":42382,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"cybocfi_hide_featured_image":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[323,319],"tags":[491,248,759],"class_list":["post-2581","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-quick-tips","category-selling-advice","tag-basics","tag-for-sale-by-owner","tag-how-to-sell-a-house-by-owner"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nPros and Cons of \u201cFor Sale By Owner\u201d (FSBO) Home Sales<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Don\u2019t jump into selling your home without the help of an agent before understanding the pros and cons of for sale by owner (FSBO) home sales.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, 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