When you’re looking to sell a home, one of the best ways to save money at closing is to do all the legwork yourself. Selling your own home can cut out the expensive middlemen, including real estate agents and brokers. This strategy also ensures you have full control over the advertising, negotiations, and purchase and sale agreements.
While there is more time and effort involved in selling your own home, the Internet can be a viable resource for people intent on getting the job done alone.
You can find informative For Sale By Owner (FSBO), flat fee MLS listing, and other discount brokerage sites that cater to people seeking to sell their own homes. These websites give you access to handy resources and tools that will help maximize your success.
Here are a few of the best FSBO websites to list homes for sale by owner and buy owner-listed properties.
Best FSBO Sites
1. ForSaleByOwner.com
As one of the most popular websites for homeowners wanting to sell their homes without an agent, ForSaleByOwner.com is a vast resource that is both easy to use and affordable.
Sellers and buyers can utilize the free tools found on the site, including the Pricing Scout which estimates a home’s value and finds comparable properties in nearby neighborhoods. Users also have access to other information about the characteristics of local real estate markets to help evaluate what a home is worth without needing a listing agent and brokerage.
Some of these tools require registration with an e-mail address and password, but access to other features is free to the public externally.
Home Seller Packages – ForSaleByOwner.com
Homeowners interested in listing their house, condominium, land, or other property type for sale through this top FSBO website have two package options:
a. The Independent package (FREE) – 30-day free listing gives homeowners the ability to create a standard listing on the site. Homeowners can also attach an unlimited number of photos with this package. Access to legal forms is available, but these must be paid for when utilized.
b. The Partner package ($399) – is an upgrade and costs $399 as a one-time fee. This includes the services offered in the Independent package, as well as 25 professional photos, a ForSaleByOwner yard sign, and state-specific legal forms. Most importantly, a Home Listing Coordinator is included to help sellers navigate the process if needed.
c. The Professional package ($399+) – offers the help of a licensed agent, powered by Rocket Homes, with a fee of $399 upfront, plus $499 percent upon closing and 3% of the sale price for the buyer’s agent. Unlimited professional photos are included, as well as listing on MLS sites, all legal forms, showings, and negotiation and transaction coordination by the agent.
For Home Buyers – ForSaleByOwner.com
Prospective homebuyers can use ForSaleByOwner to search for available properties in the desired area and compare their prices and features without paying a fee. Buyers can contact sellers by sending a message through the platform to request a showing or make an offer.
Notifications can also be sent when new opportunities that match buyer criteria arrive, so long as registration is completed on the home for sale by owner site. Closing assistance and financing are available to buyers too.
2. FSBO.com
This top FSBO site has a long history of maintaining a large marketplace of homes that are listed for sale by owner, beneficial for both buyers and sellers in just about any real estate market. Through FSBO.com, sellers have access to a couple of property advertising plans with various features and benefits.
Home Seller Packages – FSBO.com
For home owners wishing to use the site for listing their commercial or residential property for sale, there are these two packages available:
a. The FSBO package ($99.95) – homeowners can list their property for sale on the FSBO website for up to 6 months, include unlimited photos of the home and a video if desired, and receive a free Redfin.com listing for a flat fee of $99.95.
b. The MLS package ($399.95) – with this package, homeowners gain enhancements such as MLS and Realtor.com listings for six months, syndication to Zillow, Trulia, and other top buyer sites, as well as an FSBO.com listing. The MLS listing package is a premium upgrade option that costs $399.95 and includes a buyer’s broker commission that is set up front, ranging from 2-3 percent.
All sellers who utilize the site get access to additional resources and supplies helpful in the home selling process, including yard signs available for purchases, and expert advice along the way.
For Home Buyers – FSBO.com
Buyers using FSBO.com can search all listed properties and contact sellers without signing up for a subscription or paying a one-time fee, but registration online is required to view foreclosure listings.
3. Houzeo.com
Another top option for homeowners wanting to sell their property without a costly real estate agent or broker is Houzeo.com. This fast-growing FSBO site rivals both FSBO.com and ForSaleByOwner.com platforms through its four listing package offerings: Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum.
Home Seller Packages – Houzeo.com
For home sellers looking to list their house, condo, vacant land, multifamily, or other type of real estate, there are these 4 packages to select from:
a. The Bronze Package ($199) – home sellers receive a basic three-month MLS listing, up to six photos, and listings on Zillow, Trulia, Realtor, Redfin, and other major homebuying marketplaces online. Each property listing change costs $25 with this package, a custom yard sign can be purchased for $49 and a basic listing fee of $199 applies.
b. The Silver package ($249) – a step up from the Bronze plan, this package includes additional features like a six-month MLS listing, and up to 24 photos. Sellers have their property listed on several different real estate web sites and can make unlimited open house and listing changes for no additional cost. The Silver package price is $249, and you can order a custom yard sign for $49 if you choose.
c. The Gold package ($299) – includes the same features as the Silver package but adds in federal and state disclosures, the Houzeo Offers platform, and Showing Manager. The limit on photos is still 24, but limitless open houses and listing changes can be made for no added cost. The Gold package costs a flat fee of $299 for posting the listing and you’ll need to pay an extra $49 if you want a custom yard sign.
d. The Platinum Package ($999) – full-service virtual home selling package that includes everything from the other plans plus access to a licensed real estate broker. The professional services include contract reviews, pricing assistance, real estate forms, and contract-to-close consulting, among other things.
All users receive access to the Houzeo blog, informational FSBO videos, and a complete seller’s guide to help navigate the home selling process.
For Home Buyers – Houzeo.com
First-time and experienced home buyers can browse the home for sale by owner listings for free and submit an offer to purchase by messaging the seller through the web site or via their email address. Seller phone numbers are publicly available to call too.
Top FSBO Websites That Are Completely Free
If you’re looking for the absolute basics when marketing homes for sale, don’t forget other convenient websites for real estate listings, such as Zillow, Craigslist, and Facebook Marketplace. You won’t get much assistance, but they each attract a significant amount of internet traffic, with individuals, partners, and businesses researching properties to buy.
Regardless of how you sell your home, either with an experienced REALTOR or a self-sell, we recommend listing your property for sale with those three sites too. They’re free and will provide excellent exposure for your property.
Final Thoughts on Using Homes For Sale By Owner Sites
In order to successfully sell your own home without the expensive real estate agent and broker fees, you will need to have the right information and support at your fingertips.
Using a quality home For Sale By Owner website will provide you with an inexpensive option with great do-it-yourself tools. Helpful websites such as ForSaleByOwner.com, FSBO.com, and Houzeo.com are cheap when compared to full-service real estate brokerages. They can be crucial in helping you understand the housing market and get the best price for your home when going at it alone.
Just be sure to read the pricing fine print because you may still need to pay a buyer’s agent commission at closing if you want to also attract buyers working with agents and brokers via the MLS. Even so, you can still save a considerable amount of money by not paying the typical listing agent commission of 3-4% of the final sales price too.
However, trusted real estate agents can bring a significant amount of experience and expertise to the table that could actually save you money in the end. If you’re not ready to invest a significant amount of time to properly prepare your home, analyze the market, and negotiate with buyers, then you could end up costing yourself more cash selling by owner.