Use this calculator to estimate how much you can save by selling without a realtor.
Selling your house without a realtor in your state
Pick your state from the list below to learn how to sell for sale by owner (FSBO) in your market.
Understanding the FSBO savings calculator
This calculator compares the cost of selling your home without a realtor to listing with a traditional real estate agent. Here's a breakdown of all the fees associated with a FSBO vs. traditional sale:
Estimated home value
Determining the best listing price for your home is one of the trickiest parts of a FSBO sale. In a traditional home sale, your realtor would provide you with a comparative market analysis (CMA) from a realtor. A CMA is a detailed report that takes into account recent sale prices, recent upgrades or renovations on your home, and your home's unique features (such as number of bedrooms, lot size, and square footage).
As a FSBO seller, you will need to set a price on your own. Keep in mind that homes sold without a realtor typically sell for 13% less than homes sold with a realtor's help.[1]
Listing agent fee
As a FSBO seller, you won't have to pay listing agent fees.
If you choose to sell with a realtor, you'll be responsible for paying your agent out of your home sale proceeds. The average listing agent fee in the United States is 2.74%.
Buyer's agent concession
Even if you sell without a realtor, you may still need to offer a buyer's agent concession. Sellers are not required to cover the buyer's agent fee — but offering a concession to cover this fee will make your property more competitive.
If you don't offer a concession, it might limit your pool of potential buyers, making your home more difficult to sell.
Currently, the average buyer's agent fee in the United States is 2.58%.
Mortgage payoff
In general, you'll pay off the rest of your mortgage with the proceeds from your home sale. Contact your mortgage lender to find out how much is left on your mortgage.
Flat fee MLS listing
If you're selling your home without a realtor, working with a flat fee MLS company may be a good option.
A flat fee MLS company lists your home on the multiple listing service (MLS) where potential buyers can see your listing. Budget plans typically range from $50–$200 and include basic services like an MLS listing and documents. If you want additional features and support, you may pay anywhere from $200–$3,000.
Attorney fees
The cost to hire a real estate attorney varies widely depending on your location and the complexity of your home sale. Some states require you to hire a real estate attorney for a FSBO sale. Even if you don't live in an attorney state, it's a wise idea to hire an attorney to guide you through the legal and technical aspects of the sale.
Closing costs
Closing costs include all the various fees and expenses that you'll pay at the close of your real estate transaction. These typically include title service fees, owner's title insurance, transfer taxes, recording fees, and buyer's incentives.
Learn more and estimate your closing costs with our seller closing costs calculator.
Moving expenses
In the United States, a local move typically costs around $483. A long-distance move (1,000 miles or more) may cost closer to $4,037.
Why you can trust us
Our team conducted in-depth research on selling without a realtor in the United States. Our research involved:
- Surveys of more than 1,000 home sellers, including for sale by owner (FSBO) sellers and those who considered selling FSBO but eventually sold with an agent
- Surveys and interviews of real estate agents for on-the-ground insights into the home-selling process
- Analyses of flat fee MLS companies, as well as publicly available data on pricing, plan services, and customer reviews
- Original research from other trusted sources, such as the National Association of Realtors
As our primary sources update, we refresh the data in our series accordingly.
