Updated November 2026. Market figures are from NAR’s September 2026 sales report and its 2025 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, read October 26, 2026.
Selling your own home (FSBO) has one big pro: you can keep money you’d otherwise pay a listing agent, about $12,525 at a 3% example rate on the $417,500 median home (NAR, September 2026). The cons are the work and the reach. You price, market, show, negotiate and handle the paperwork, and most buyers’ agents search the MLS, not FSBO sites. More on getting buyer agents to show a FSBO house.
Jump to: 🏠 Pros · 🪜 Cons · 💲 What you save · 🤝 3 ways to sell · ❓ FAQ
Key takeaways
- You don’t need an agent to sell a home. It’s legal in every state, and the choice is yours.
- 91% of sellers used an agent in NAR’s 2025 Profile, so FSBO sellers compete with homes that have full MLS exposure.
- A flat fee MLS listing is a middle path: MLS exposure for a set price, while you run the sale.
- About 36% of Beycome sales closed in 2026 so far had a buyer with no agent (Beycome internal data, October 2026).
That 3% is an example only. Commissions are not set by law or NAR rules and are fully negotiable. Sellers choose whether to offer any buyer-agent compensation, and how much. Since August 17, 2024, those offers can’t be shown on the MLS.
What are the pros of selling your house by owner?
You keep more of the price
This is the reason most people try it. With no listing agent, there’s no listing commission. On the median home, every point of commission is about $4,175. You still pay taxes, title and closing costs, and any buyer-agent pay you agree to.
You control the sale
You choose the price, the showing times and the open house dates, which is the heart of the for sale by owner meaning. You talk to buyers directly, and you hear their questions firsthand. Nobody pushes you to drop the price before you’re ready.
You know the home best
You know when the roof was replaced, what the neighbors are like and which school bus stops at the corner. Buyers trust details that come from the owner. Write them into your listing and your disclosures.
You can move on your own schedule
Sellers stayed a median of 11 years before selling, per NAR’s 2025 Profile. After that long, many want a sale that fits their own timing. Selling by owner lets you set it, as long as you’re realistic about price.
What are the cons of FSBO?
Less exposure without the MLS
Most buyers work with an agent, and those agents search the MLS. A yard sign and a post on a FSBO site reach fewer of them, though these free ways to advertise a house still add local reach. That’s the biggest risk to your price, not the paperwork.
Pricing is on you
Price too high and the home sits. Price too low and you lose the savings you were after. NAR counted 4.8 months of supply in September 2026, up from 4.5 a year earlier, so buyers have more to choose from. Use recent sold comps, not list prices. Our home value calculator is a free place to start.
It takes time
You answer calls, book showings, follow up with buyers and meet the appraiser. If you work full time, plan for evenings and weekends. Tools for scheduling and offers help a lot.
Negotiation and paperwork
Offers come with deposits, contingencies and deadlines. A missed date can let a buyer walk. You’ll also need your state’s disclosure forms and a sound contract. Our checklist of documents needed to sell your home lists them.
What is an FSBO preview appointment?
It’s a request from an agent to tour your home before bringing any buyers. Some agents do it to check a home for a client; others hope to win the listing. Ask a simple question first: do you have a buyer for a home like mine? If they do, agree in writing whether you’ll offer that agent any pay, and how much, before the tour. If they want to list your home, you can say no thanks. Both are normal requests.
Treat a preview like any showing. Get the agent’s name, brokerage and license number, book a set time, and put away valuables and mail.
How much can you save selling FSBO?
Here’s the listing side on NAR’s September 2026 median price of $417,500. The percentages are examples, not standard rates.
| How you sell | Listing cost on $417,500 | MLS exposure | Who runs the sale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pure FSBO | $0, plus your marketing spend | No | You |
| Flat fee MLS (Beycome Basic) | $99, $0 to Beycome at closing | Yes | You, with Artur AI for offers |
| Full-service agent at a 3% example rate | $12,525 | Yes | The agent |
| Full-service agent at a 2% example rate | $8,350 | Yes | The agent |
Buyer-agent pay is separate in every row and is up to you. Want your own numbers? Try our guide to estimating your net sale profit. Closing costs are covered in who pays closing costs when selling a home.
What are the three ways to sell a home?
1. Pure FSBO. You list on free sites, put up a sign and handle everything. It costs the least. It also reaches the fewest buyers’ agents. If you go this route, Zillow is a common first stop; our guide to selling by owner on Zillow shows how it works.
Sell smarter
List your home on the MLS from $99
A flat fee instead of a percentage, and $0 to Beycome at closing. You stay in control of your sale.
Sell your home →Buy smarter
Get up to 2% back at closing
On homes listed by other agents, Beycome credits you up to 2% of the price at closing (1% kept, $1,499 minimum; not on FSBO homes or homes listed by Beycome sellers).
Buy a home →2. Flat fee MLS. A licensed broker puts your home on the local MLS for a set price, and you run the sale. Your listing shows up where agents search and on the big portals that pull from the MLS. Our pros and cons of a flat fee MLS listing covers the trade-offs in depth. Beycome’s flat fee MLS plans start at $99, with e-signature, unlimited listing changes and ShowingTime where the MLS offers it.
3. Full-service agent. An agent prices, markets, shows and negotiates with buyers. It costs the most, and many sellers find it worth it. That’s a fair choice. If you want people to handle the sale while you stay in control of each decision, Beycome Concierge is $1,399. Experts negotiate with you, always on your side, with support 7 days a week and Artur AI 24/7.
So, do you need a realtor to sell?
No, it isn’t required; it’s your choice. An agent brings pricing data, marketing, showings and a negotiator. Selling yourself means you do those jobs and keep the fee. Many sellers land in the middle. For a step-by-step version, read how to list your house for sale by owner.
What do Beycome reviews and numbers show?
If you found this page while reading Beycome reviews, here’s what we can show. Over 22,000+ homeowners have used Beycome, saving over $225 million (Beycome internal data, October 2026). About 36% of our 2026 sales so far had a buyer with no agent, so the seller dealt with the buyer directly.
When you read reviews of any FSBO helper, look for the parts of this article that matter to you: how fast the listing went live, how showings and offers were handled, and what support was like. Then check what the package actually includes. Our ranking of for sale by owner websites compares them side by side.
Frequently asked questions
What are the pros and cons of selling FSBO?
Pros: you keep the listing fee, control the sale and set your own schedule. Cons: less exposure without the MLS, and you handle pricing, showings, negotiation and paperwork.
Do you pay commission if you sell by owner?
No listing commission. If the buyer has an agent, you may choose to offer that agent pay; it’s negotiable and not required. Commissions are not set by law.
What is an FSBO preview appointment?
An agent asks to tour your home before bringing buyers. Ask whether they have a buyer, and put any pay you agree to in writing before the showing.
Can a FSBO home be listed on the MLS?
Yes, through a licensed broker. A flat fee MLS service lists it for a set price while you keep running the sale.
Is Beycome legit?
Yes. Beycome Corp. is a technology company; brokerage services come from licensed affiliates in 18 states and DC, and sellers can list in 17 states and DC. More than 22,000+ homeowners have sold with Beycome, saving over $225 million (Beycome internal data, October 2026).
What is Beycome?
A full platform to sell, buy and close. Sellers list on the major home search sites and the MLS from $99 ($129 in California and Illinois) with $0 to Beycome at closing, buyers can get a closing credit (not in Alabama or Tennessee), and Beycome Title closes in Florida, Texas, Michigan, Ohio, Illinois and Indiana.
Where can I read Beycome reviews?
On independent review sites and Google. Look for comments on go-live speed, showings, offers and support, and compare them with what each listing package includes.
Do I need a realtor to sell my house?
No, it’s not required; it’s your choice. An agent handles pricing, marketing and negotiation for a fee. Selling yourself, or with a flat fee MLS listing, means you take on more of the work.
Median price and supply are NAR’s September 2026 figures; agent use and time in home are from NAR’s 2025 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers. Percentages are examples only.
Commissions are not set by law or by NAR rules and are fully negotiable. Sellers choose whether to offer any compensation to a buyer’s agent, and how much; since August 17, 2024, those offers can’t be shown on the MLS.
Beycome prices as of November 2026. Concierge is $1,399. “$0 at closing” means no Beycome fee at closing; other closing costs, taxes, title fees and any agreed buyer-agent compensation still apply. ShowingTime is included where the MLS offers it. No refund once a listing is live.
Brokerage services through licensed affiliates in 18 states and DC; sellers can list in 17 states and DC. Beycome Title: Florida, Texas, Michigan, Ohio, Illinois and Indiana. General information, not legal advice; rules vary by state and MLS.
Sources
- NAR, existing-home sales for September 2026, read October 26, 2026.
- NAR, 2025 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers news release, read October 26, 2026.
- NAR, what the settlement means for home buyers and sellers, read October 26, 2026.
- Beycome, listing package features, October 2026.
- Beycome internal data, 2026 (share of sales with an unrepresented buyer; homes sold and savings).
Disclosure & Disclaimer
Beycome provides real estate services through affiliated licensed brokerages and has a commercial interest in the services and business models discussed on this blog. Content reflects Beycome’s perspective and may promote our services; it should not be treated as independent or neutral reporting.
Articles are provided for general informational and educational purposes only, not as financial, tax, legal, or investment advice or a recommendation for your particular situation. Reading this blog does not create a brokerage, advisory, or other professional relationship.
Information, opinions, pricing, service descriptions, and comparisons reflect the sources and information available when an article was published or last updated and may change. Although we aim for accuracy, we do not guarantee that all content is complete, current, or applicable to your circumstances. Laws, market conditions, and service availability vary by location. Examples and estimated savings are illustrative, depend on stated assumptions, and do not guarantee individual results.
Verify relevant information directly and consult qualified professionals before making decisions. Beycome services are subject to applicable agreements, eligibility requirements, and state-specific terms.
