ForSaleByOwner.com is similar to a flat fee MLS company, which helps you list your home on the multiple listing service (MLS) for an upfront fee. However, ForSaleByOwner.com lists your home on its own website, not on the MLS, and provides that service for free. It's available nationwide.
On a $400,000 home, a traditional agent costs $12,000 (3%). ForSaleByOwner.com is free, so if you successfully sell your house through its platform, you’ll save the full $12,000.
However, you won't get the full range of support that an agent gives. You'll be responsible for managing the home sale yourself, and you may need to pay for additional services (like pro photography) from other providers. You'll also miss out on a huge pool of potential buyers through the MLS.
This approach comes with risks — including the chance of selling your home for less than it’s worth if you don’t know how to price and market it effectively. In fact, homes sold without an agent sell for $55,000 less on average than agent-assisted sales.[1]
If you want to save on fees but still get expert help, a low-commission agent might be a smarter alternative. These agents offer full service for a reduced listing fee, helping you keep more money in your pocket without sacrificing sale price or support.
ForSaleByOwner.com flat fee MLS plans and pricing
| Free Plan |
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| Listing on ForSaleByOwner.com Home valuation tools Personal selling dashboard and inbox |
ForSaleByOwner.com offers only one plan. This plan is free, but it doesn’t include MLS access. Instead, you’ll have a listing on ForSaleByOwner.com’s website, which, unlike the MLS, isn’t syndicated to major real estate websites like Realtor.com and Zillow.
Instead, you’ll be completely reliant on buyers — many of whom are likely to be investors looking for a deal — searching out listings specifically on ForSaleByOwner.com. As a result, your buyer pool will be much smaller, and you risk selling for less than if you listed on the MLS (either with or without an agent).
In addition to your listing, you’ll also get a dashboard from which you can manage your listing and communicate with potential buyers. There are also some home valuation tools to help you price your home.
ForSaleByOwner.com is a part of Rocket Companies, which operates a number of major real estate and financial services companies throughout the U.S. While ForSaleByOwner.com may refer you to some of these companies, you’re under no obligation to use them and you could potentially find a better deal elsewhere.
Rocket Homes
Rocket Homes is a real estate brokerage that offers discounts for both buyers and sellers. Buyers can get up to $10,000 back and sellers up to a 0.5% rebate. You’ll still have to pay standard real estate commission, which is usually around 2-3%. You can save even more money while still getting great service by using a low commission realtor instead.
Rocket Mortgage
Rocket Mortgage is a large online mortgage provider offering both standard mortgages and refinancing. You’re under no obligation to use Rocket Mortgage if you’re buying a home through ForSaleByOwner.com. You should compare rates of multiple mortgage providers if you’re looking to finance a home purchase.
Rocket Loans
Rocket Loans is a personal loan provider. Loans are offered on either 36- or 60-month terms and come with fixed rates. These types of loans are typically used for things like debt consolidation, home renovations, or other large projects. Again, compare multiple loan providers to ensure you’re getting the best rate.
Rocket Money
Rocket Money is an app designed to help you manage your money. It includes features like subscription tracking, spending insights, free credit score, automatic savings, and budgeting advice.
Who does ForSaleByOwner.com work best for?
ForSaleByOwner.com is for home sellers who want to avoid paying a 3% commission to a listing agent and are willing to manage the sale themselves. However, not everyone is equipped to successfully sell a home on their own.
ForSaleByOwner.com may be a good fit if:
- You have experience with and expertise in selling homes
- You're comfortable handling most of the sales process yourself
- You're tech-savvy
ForSaleByOwner.com is likely not the right fit if:
- You don't have in-depth knowledge of the home sale process
- You don't have a lot of time to dedicate to the sale
- You want hands-on, in-person support
- You're looking for MLS access
- You want traditional services like help getting your home ready to sell and coordinating open houses
Need more support at a great price? Clever Real Estate gets you a low 1.5% listing fee with top-rated, full-service agents from trusted brokerages like Century 21 and Keller Williams. You'll receive affordable, comprehensive support from an expert dedicated to maximizing your sale price. Just answer a few quick questions, and we’ll match you with a top-rated agent near you.
ForSaleByOwner.com pros and cons
Pros
- Free to use
- Easy to post a listing
- May attract cash buyers and investors
Cons
- No MLS access
- Very limited buyer pool
- Very limited assistance
ForSaleByOwner.com reviews from customers
Unlike many other national flat fee MLS companies, ForSaleByOwner.com has very few reviews online. The few reviews we did find were largely negative, although some highlighted relatively positive aspects of the company.
The closest we could find to positive reviews were a couple comments acknowledging that the site is free and therefore low risk. As one Reddit user recently said, “I did their free listing because why not? I don't think anything else on their site is worth spending any money on.”
That same user also noted that the site was easy to use, although it didn’t actually help them find any buyers: “Was it easy to fill out the listing? Sure. Same as Zillow and Fizber and all the other free sites. It hasn't gotten me any leads. Zillow, Facebook and the sign in the front yard seem to drive most of my interest.”
A couple online complaints claimed that ForSaleByOwner.com provided less than stellar service. Negative reviews highlighted how the company was difficult to get a hold of, especially for sellers who were trying to get their listings removed. As one customer (BBB, 2024) said, “They have very poor customer service. They have phone numbers which are never answered. They have email address which are never answered. I cannot find a way to delete the listing online.”
ForSaleByOwner.com company info
| 🏢 Business address | 701 Griswold Street, Suite 21, Detroit, MI 48226 |
| 🌐 Website | forsalebyowner.com |
| 📞 Phone number | (888) 367-7253 |
| 🗓️ Founding | 1999 |
| 🏆 Credibility | Acquired by Rocket Companies (formerly In-House Realty) in 2018[2] |
ForSaleByOwner.com alternatives
ForSaleByOwner.com vs. flat fee MLS companies
ForSaleByOwner.com is free to use, so it is fairly low risk. However, it doesn’t offer MLS access or support for selling your home, making it a poor choice compared to many flat fee MLS options. The following alternatives can get your home on the MLS for a low fee, which will help your listing reach a much larger pool of buyers.
Beycome is a flat fee MLS company that offers MLS access plans starting at just $99. Beycome’s plans provide very good value for a low price. You’ll get an unlimited listing term, the maximum allowable photos on the MLS, and unlimited listing changes. While support is limited, it’s a good alternative to ForSaleByOwner.com if you’re looking for a DIY-approach while still reaching as many potential buyers as possible.
Homecoin is another good flat fee MLS listing option with plans starting at a very affordable $95. Similar to Beycome, this plan gets you a 12-month listing, maximum photos allowed, and 10 free changes. You can also upgrade to a $194 or $394 plan if you’d like some support managing your listing. Thanks to its low price and MLS access, it’s a much better option for most FSBO sellers than ForSaleByOwner.com.
Fizber, like ForSaleByOwner.com, offers a free option, which gets your listing on Fizber and Redfin, and also provides you with an open house manager. However, the free option doesn’t have MLS access and is unlikely to be effective at helping you find many potential buyers. Fizber, unlike ForSaleByOwner.com, does offer MLS plans for under $300. Its Premium plan, which is a reasonable $295, gives you a 12-month listing, max photos, scheduling tools, and a virtual tour to help market your home.
ForSaleByOwner.com vs. low-commission agents
Services like ForSaleByOwner.com work best for confident, hands-on sellers. But if you’re not comfortable handling everything yourself, a low-commission agent can be a smart way to still save on commission.
Low-commission agents (which you can find through services like Clever Real Estate) charge just 1.5% to list your home and offer full service, managing all parts of the sale for you.
You’ll pay more upfront than you would with ForSaleByOwner.com, but you'll have a lot less work on your shoulders, and you'll likely sell for a much higher price. Agents are experts at pricing, marketing, and negotiating, which can help you get top dollar for your home.
- FSBO listings sell for 13% less on average vs. agent-assisted sales
- Clever lets you list with top local realtors for just 1.5% at closing
- Get full in-person representation, showings, pro photos, and more
