They tried to sell their homes without a real estate agent. Here’s how it went

Just 6% of home sales in 2024 were “for-sale-by-owner.” But for some homebuyers and sellers, putting in the time and effort to save on commission fees is worth it.

When Jill Langen decided to list her Clarkston, Michigan, home of 25 years for sale last month, she did it without the help of a real estate agent. Seven days later, she had an agreement signed with a buyer and her home was off the market. Langen’s decision to go it alone isn’t typical among America’s home sellers. Just 6% of home sales last year were for-sale-by-owner (FSBO), an all-time low, according to an annual report by the National Association of Realtors, the trade organization that represents over 1.5 million real estate professionals. However, some homebuyers and sellers may be looking for alternatives to the traditional real estate agent model after the standard commissions were challenged in a series of lawsuits in 2024 that led to changes in industry practices. Langen, a 61-year-old higher education administrator, said the industry changes were “very much” on her mind when she decided to bypass a Realtor. Even after new rules for Realtors were enacted last year, most home sellers still pay a commission, averaging about 5% to 6% of their home’s sale price. Langen listed her home for $515,000; a sale at that price with the help of a traditional Realtor might have cost her between $25,750 and $30,900 in commission fees at closing. For some, working with a Realtor may be worth it. Langen and other home sellers who tried the FSBO route said it takes a significant amount of time ­— and homework — to successfully sell your own home. And the typical FSBO property sold for $380,000 compared to $435,000 for agent-assisted home sales last year, according to data from NAR. Real estate agents have pointed to this data as evidence that selling a home with a professional results in higher profits. “Our thought was: ‘We can try this for a few weeks and if it doesn’t work, we can always work with a Realtor. But let’s give it a shot,’” Langen said. “FSBO is great for some people and probably not a good option for everybody. It was a really good option for us.”