{"id":34141,"date":"2025-10-14T04:19:16","date_gmt":"2025-10-14T11:19:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/?p=34141"},"modified":"2025-10-16T22:39:09","modified_gmt":"2025-10-17T05:39:09","slug":"how-to-sell-a-house-by-owner-in-virginia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/how-to-sell-a-house-by-owner-in-virginia\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Sell a House By Owner in Virginia: Your VA FSBO Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"

With millions of homes sold each year, a modest portion of sellers \u2014 about <\/span>6% in 2024<\/span><\/a>\u00a0 \u2014 choose to list \u201cFor Sale By Owner\u201d (or FSBO \u2014 pronounced fizz-bow). Of those, <\/span>38%<\/span><\/a> decided to sell FSBO because they sold to a relative, friend, or neighbor, according to data from the National Association of Realtors (NAR).<\/span><\/p>\n

In this guide to selling FSBO in Virginia, we\u2019ll cover what can be the most difficult aspects of selling by owner in the Old Dominion, including the steps that might be harder than you think. We\u2019ll also provide a comprehensive overview of the full process to <\/span>prep<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>market<\/span><\/a>, and <\/span>close on your home<\/span><\/a> without the assistance of a real estate agent.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Feeling Overwhelmed by the Process of Listing Your Home FSBO in Virginia?<\/h3>\n

If you don\u2019t have the time or the expertise to list your home FSBO, working with a top agent in Virginia could be your best bet. HomeLight analyzes over 27 million transactions and thousands of reviews to find you the best agent for your unique situation.<\/p>\n \n

\n Get Started<\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Note:<\/i><\/b> Once you\u2019ve seen what\u2019s required, you can roll up your sleeves and get started with your FSBO sale. Or \u2014 in the event you\u2019d prefer to work with a real estate agent \u2014 HomeLight would be happy to introduce you to <\/span><\/i>highly-rated professionals in your Virginia market <\/span><\/i><\/a>who can help you command top dollar and provide a low-stress selling experience.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

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How does selling by owner (FSBO) work in Virginia?<\/h2>\n

FSBO is a method of selling your home without the involvement of a listing agent. In a FSBO scenario, the seller assumes the responsibilities that would normally fall to their agent, such as <\/span>pricing the home<\/span><\/a>, marketing it to potential buyers, arranging <\/span>showings<\/span><\/a>, and <\/span>negotiating<\/span><\/a> the deal.<\/span><\/p>\n

In an agent-assisted sale, the seller typically pays a commission amounting to <\/span>3%-5.8% of the sale price<\/span><\/a>, depending on <\/span>who pays for the buyer\u2019s agent commission<\/span><\/a>. That amount is deducted from the seller\u2019s proceeds at closing. By selling FSBO, a seller can eliminate the cost of the listing agent commission (around 3%), though they may still need to offer a <\/span>buyer\u2019s agent commission.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Even with <\/span>new commission rules in place<\/span><\/a>, buyers\u2019 agents will expect compensation for the work they do to bring a buyer to the negotiating table, such as arranging showings and helping to place qualified buyers on deck. <\/span>Plus, when a seller isn\u2019t working with an agent, the buyer\u2019s agent may end up carrying more of the weight to get the deal to the finish line.<\/span><\/p>\n

Next:<\/i><\/b> Consult our guide on <\/span><\/i>who pays closing costs<\/span><\/i><\/a> when selling a house by owner for more details.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Finally, a FSBO sale does not mean that a seller won\u2019t need any professional assistance. In Virginia, sellers are <\/span>not required to hire a real estate attorney<\/span><\/a>, but FSBO sales typically warrant legal and professional oversight of some kind to avoid an abundance of legal risk.<\/span><\/p>\n

Most people who sell by owner will need to hire an attorney to review and prepare key documents and make sure paperwork is filled out properly, such as the <\/span>seller\u2019s disclosures<\/span><\/a>. We\u2019ll address what disclosures are required when selling a house in Virginia later in this post.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n Their perception is they’re saving six percent. But really what they’re talking about is the listing agent commission (around 3%). And often the amount that they would make with a listing agent is dramatically more than what they save on the listing agent commission.<\/q>\n
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