Updated November 2026. For owners who want to know what a realtor really costs, and what selling without one looks like step by step.
To sell your house without a realtor, price it from recent sales, get it ready, list it on the MLS through a flat fee broker, handle showings and offers, then close with a title company or attorney. On the $417,500 US median (NAR, September 2026), a 2.5% listing fee would be $10,437.50. A flat fee listing starts at $99.
Closing costs, taxes and any buyer-agent pay you agree to still apply. Ready to list? A flat fee MLS listing with Beycome has $0 due to Beycome at closing.
Jump to: 🪜 The 5 steps · 💲 What a realtor costs · 💵 No commission · 🤝 Contract and closing · 🏠 Who Beycome is · ❓ FAQ
Key takeaways
- No law sets a realtor’s fee. On a $417,500 home, each 1% of commission is $4,175.
- Only 5% of recent US sales were by owner, per NAR’s 2025 profile, so most buyers still find homes through the MLS.
- A flat fee MLS listing puts your home in front of agents and on the major home search sites while you keep control of price and offers.
- “No commission” means no listing agent fee. Buyer-agent pay is a separate choice, and closing costs still apply.
- Married couples can exclude up to $500,000 of gain on a main home if they qualify, per the IRS.
Selling on your own isn’t all or nothing. You can list on the MLS, handle showings yourself, and still bring in a lawyer or a title company for the contract and closing. Below, we put numbers on each choice so you can see where the money goes.
What does a realtor cost to sell a home in 2026?
There’s no fixed rate. The National Association of Realtors says agent compensation is fully negotiable. Sites like Bankrate track what sellers report paying, and the range is wide. So the honest answer is: whatever you and the agent agree to in the listing contract.
Here’s what different rates would cost on the September 2026 median price of $417,500. These are examples only, not typical or required rates.
| How you sell | Fee example | On $417,500 |
|---|---|---|
| Listing agent at 3% | 3% of price | $12,525 |
| Listing agent at 2.5% | 2.5% of price | $10,437.50 |
| Listing agent at 1.5% | 1.5% of price | $6,262.50 |
| Beycome Basic flat fee MLS | $99 upfront, $0 at closing | $99 |
| Beycome Concierge (full support) | $1,399 (list price); $0 at closing | $1,399 list |
These figures are examples only. Commissions are not set by law or NAR rules, and they’re negotiable. You choose whether to offer any buyer-agent compensation, and how much. Since August 17, 2024, such offers can’t be shown on the MLS, per NAR’s settlement page.
Are realtor fees part of closing costs?
Usually, yes. The commission is paid out of your sale proceeds at closing, and it shows up on your settlement statement. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau explains the closing forms and what each line means. Other seller costs, like title fees, transfer taxes and prorated property taxes, sit on the same statement. Our guide on estimating your net from a home sale walks through each line.
Do you need a realtor to sell your house?
No, it’s not required; it’s your choice. No state makes you hire a listing agent to sell your own home. Both paths work.
With an agent, you get someone who prices the home, markets it, runs showings, negotiates and keeps the file on track, in exchange for the fee you agree on. On your own, you do that work yourself, or you pay for only the parts you want help with, like the MLS listing, photos or a contract review. The right pick depends on your time, your comfort with negotiating and your budget. Our check of how hard it is to sell a house by owner scores each job.
NAR’s 2025 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers found that 5% of recent sales were by owner, a record low. FSBO homes sold for a median of $360,000, versus $425,000 for agent-assisted homes. That gap isn’t only about skill. In the same survey, 30% of FSBO sellers said they sold to a friend, relative or neighbor, which often means a lower, quicker deal.
The lesson we take from it: exposure matters. Owners who skip the MLS reach fewer buyers. Owners who list on it reach the same agents and home search sites as everyone else.
What does it mean to sell your house with no commissions?
It means you don’t pay a listing agent a percentage of the price. You either sell fully on your own or pay a flat fee for the parts you want, like the MLS listing. Two costs don’t go away: closing costs, and any pay you agree to give the buyer’s agent.
Here’s what each common setup means for the money at closing.
| Setup | Listing fee | Buyer-agent pay | On the MLS? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traditional listing agent | A % you negotiate | Your choice | Yes |
| Flat fee MLS listing | Flat fee upfront | Your choice | Yes |
| For sale by owner, no MLS | None | Your choice | No |
| Sale to an iBuyer or cash investor | None, but a service fee or lower price is common | Usually none | No |
Want to see the effect on your own numbers? Plug your price and payoff into our home sale proceeds calculator guide.
How do you sell your house without a realtor? The 5 steps
1. Set a price from real sales
Look at homes like yours that sold in the last three to six months, not asking prices. Our free property value calculator pulls comparable sales to give you a starting range. If your home is unusual, a paid appraisal can settle the question.
2. Get the home ready
Fix small things that show up in photos and inspections. Declutter, clean and stage the main rooms. Good photos do a lot of the selling, so shoot in daylight with the lights on.
3. List on the MLS without a realtor, not just one website
Most buyers work with an agent, and agents search the MLS. A flat fee MLS listing puts your home there, and the MLS feeds the major home search sites. Beycome lists in 17 states and DC. A complete, correct file usually goes live within 2 business days, often in about 2 hours. For the details, see how to list on the MLS without a realtor.
4. Handle showings and offers
Set showing windows you can keep. Ask every buyer for a pre-approval letter or proof of funds before you negotiate. Compare offers on net proceeds, not just price: concessions, inspection terms and the closing date all change what you keep.
5. Close with a pro
Use a title company or a real estate attorney to hold the deposit, check the title and record the deed. In some states an attorney must handle the closing.
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 →What paperwork and legal help do you need?
You’ll need a purchase contract, state disclosure forms, a lead paint disclosure for most homes built before 1978, and the deed. Our list of paperwork to sell your home without an agent covers each one.
For plain-English legal background, Nolo has state-by-state guides. A local real estate attorney can review your contract for a flat fee in many areas. That’s often a few hundred dollars, which is small next to a percentage commission.
What about taxes on the sale?
The closing agent usually reports the sale to the IRS. If you owned and lived in the home as your main home for at least two of the last five years, you may exclude up to $250,000 of gain, or $500,000 for a married couple filing jointly. IRS Publication 523 has the full test.
How do you handle the buyer’s agent?
Many buyers will show up with an agent. You can offer that agent’s pay, refuse it, or negotiate it as part of the offer. It’s your call. Put any agreement in writing before the showing or with the offer.
About 36% of Beycome sales closed in 2026 so far had a buyer with no agent at all (Beycome internal data, 2026). The rest came through buyer agents, which is why MLS exposure still matters. Read more in do sellers pay the buyer’s agent commission.
Who is Beycome, and is Beycome Brokerage Realty LLC legit?
Beycome Corp. is a software company, not a brokerage. Listings go through licensed sister brokerages: Beycome Brokerage Realty LLC, and Beycome of Florida LLC in Florida. The full list of licenses is on our licensed broker page. Beycome is licensed in 18 states and DC.
Here’s what each package includes. Basic is $99 in most states and puts you on the MLS with e-signature, unlimited listing updates, ShowingTime scheduling where the MLS offers it, and the Artur AI assistant for offer help. Enhanced is $399 and adds a photo shoot and more marketing. There’s $0 due to Beycome at closing on every package.
Want people on your side? Beycome Concierge is $1,399, its list price. Our experts give you full support from listing to closing, and a person negotiates with you, always on your side. You stay in control of every decision.
Buying your next home? The Beycome buyer program is open to every buyer on homes listed by other agents (the commission credit can’t apply where no buyer-agent commission is offered, like most FSBO homes, or on homes listed by Beycome sellers), with no upfront fee. Beycome keeps 1% of the price (minimum $1,499) and credits the rest of the buyer-agent commission at closing, with lender approval. On a $400,000 home with 3% offered, that’s $8,000 back. Our FAQ explains how the Beycome buyer program works.
Selling in a specific place? See our guides for Florida, Texas, Indiana and Chicago.
Frequently asked questions
How do you sell your house without a realtor?
Price it from recent sales, get it ready, list it on the MLS through a flat fee broker or on your own, handle showings and offers, and close with a title company or attorney.
What does it mean to sell your house with no commissions?
It means you don’t pay a listing agent a percentage. You may still choose to pay the buyer’s agent, and closing costs and taxes still apply.
What is the average realtor cost to sell a home?
There’s no legal average or set rate; it’s negotiated. As an example, 2.5% on the $417,500 median price is $10,437.50. A flat fee MLS listing can cost $99.
Can I sell my house on the MLS without a realtor?
Yes. A flat fee MLS company’s licensed broker places your listing on the MLS, and you handle the rest or add help as you need it.
Can I sell without paying a realtor’s commission?
Yes, if you choose to sell on your own. A flat fee MLS listing replaces the listing commission, and you decide whether to offer a buyer’s agent anything. Closing costs and taxes still apply.
Is Beycome Brokerage Realty LLC a real brokerage?
Yes. It’s one of Beycome’s licensed sister brokerages, and every state license is listed on Beycome’s broker page.
Do I need a lawyer to sell my house without a realtor?
In most states, no, but many owners pay one to review the contract. A few states, like South Carolina, require an attorney for the closing.
Will buyers’ agents show a for sale by owner home?
Yes, if they can find it and the terms are clear. An MLS listing puts your home where agents search every day.
Prices as of November 2026 and subject to change. “$0 at closing” means no Beycome fee at closing; title, taxes, recording fees and any buyer-agent compensation you agree to still apply. Basic and Enhanced get offer and negotiation help from the Artur AI assistant, not a person; a person negotiates on Concierge. Basic is $99 in most states. Concierge is $1,399 (its list price).
Commission figures are examples only; commissions are not set by law or NAR rules and are negotiable. Buyer credit: Beycome keeps 1% of the price, minimum $1,499; the credit needs lender approval and some states limit rebates. General information, not legal or tax advice; rules vary by state and MLS.
Sources
- NAR, existing-home sales, September 2026, read October 22, 2026.
- NAR, what the settlement means for home sellers, read October 22, 2026.
- Virginia REALTORS, key takeaways from NAR’s 2025 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, read October 22, 2026.
- IRS Publication 523, Selling Your Home, read October 22, 2026.
- CFPB, Closing Disclosure explainer, read October 22, 2026.
- Beycome, licensed broker page, read October 22, 2026.
- Beycome, listing package features, October 2026.
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.
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