For sale by owner
A home sold directly by the owner, without a listing agent. Pronounced 'fizz-bo'. The seller handles marketing, showings, negotiation, and paperwork on their own.
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Where this comes up in a sale, and what follows
- Write your listing description (comes before)
Part 1 of 4
Why a seller cares
Selling without a listing agent keeps the listing side of the commission and puts the marketing, the showings and the paperwork on you. Buyers' agents still bring buyers, and they still expect to be paid.
Part 2 of 4
A simple example
You sell your $300,000 home yourself. A buyer arrives with an agent who asks for 2.5%.
| The piece of the job | Who does it in a FSBO sale |
|---|---|
| Pricing, photos, listing | You, with flat-fee MLS entry if you want the portals |
| Showings | You, on your own schedule |
| The contract and disclosures | You, with a title company or attorney for the closing |
| The buyer's agent fee | Negotiated in the offer; often still paid |
FSBO trades an agent's fee for an agent's work. The work is the part people underestimate.
Part 3 of 4
What people get wrong
That FSBO means no commission at all. The buyer's side often still asks for one, and the offer says whether you pay it.
Part 4 of 4 · where to read next
Where it appears in the sale
What a definition is, and what it isn't
Keighbor is a software company, not a law firm, brokerage, or tax adviser. This is general information, not legal, tax, financial, or real estate advice about your sale. Your situation may differ. Before acting on a contract, disclosure, title, tax, or pricing question, ask an appropriately licensed professional in your state.
Written and researched by Keighbor Research · drawn from the reference glossary · how we research and check what we publish
In your Room, this word explains itself where it appears.
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