How to Sell Your House Fast Without a Realtor: Your Stress-Free Guide
Looking for a way to sell your house without the added cost and hassle of a realtor? You’ve come to the right place.
$29,700
Realtor commissions
Selling a home for $495,100 can cost $29,700 in realtor commissions.
6%
Extra buyer and seller fees
Selling a home for $495,100 can cost $29,700 in realtor commissions.
89%
Deals with agents
While 89% of home sellers use real estate agents, this choice has its drawbacks.
To avoid these hefty commissions, you can list your property as “For Sale By Owner” (FSBO). However, FSBO sales account for only 7% of all home sales, and that's for a good reason:
Challenges of FSBO sales
31%
Selling at a desired price
15%
Paperwork
13%
Selling on time
11%
Facilitating buyer financing
10%
Renovations
10%
Devoting enough personal time
10%
Attracting buyers
3 ways to sell your home without a realtor
1. Сash offer
Sell your home to a cash investor who doesn’t require bank financing. Connect with investors online and enjoy a quick, commission-free sale. This method makes up 32% of all real estate sales.
Pros
Quick sale closing- No realtor commissions
- Good for sellers facing divorce, foreclosure, etc.
- No need for home upgrades
- Less paperwork
Cons
No bidding wars- Potentially lower price
2. Home trade
Swap your home for another property, avoiding the traditional selling process. Though this method is ideal for relocations, it offers limited flexibility. It accounted for only 8% of all home sales in 2023.
Pros
- Good for sellers in a slow market
- Good for relocation
- Quick home transition
- Easier to get bank financing
Cons
- No flexibility
- Slow process
- Not always available
3. FSBO listing
Sell your home independently. This involves handling all listing, marketing, negotiating, and closing activities yourself. It requires real estate knowledge and a significant investment of time and effort. FSBO listings represent only 7% of real estate sales (NAR).
Pros
- Full control of the process
- Potentially higher profit
- Fewer commissions
Cons
- You take all the responsibility
- You may still pay buyer’s realtor commissions
- Time-consuming process
- Requires real estate knowledge
- Less listing visibility
Pros and cons of cash offers
Pros
Quick closing
Skip the lengthy home-selling process as cash investors don’t need lenders. These offers take 5-14 days to close, several times faster than 44 days with traditional home buyers.
This method is especially beneficial for those facing divorce, financial distress, foreclosure, or needing to relocate quickly without the hassle of flipping a house.
This method is especially beneficial for those facing divorce, financial distress, foreclosure, or needing to relocate quickly without the hassle of flipping a house.
Simple process
Cash investors don’t need mortgage approvals or associated appraisal inspections. That simplifies the process and reduces the risks of the deal failing or delaying because of paperwork issues. There is generally less hassle involved.
Sell your house as is
If you cannot afford to spend $40,000 for renovation, you might want to sell your house as is. You can do that with cash sales. Cash investors typically purchase properties in their current conditions. That is a great benefit for the seller as you can avoid costly repairs while selling your home. This method is ideal for sellers without funds for extensive repairs.
No commissions
Home sellers typically pay up to 10% of the sale price in closing costs and realtor commissions. In cash deals, you pay neither. That is because you don’t need realtors or deal with buyer loans. Therefore, you don’t pay closing costs typically associated with bank financing, like loan origination and escrow fees.
No house inspections
Cash buyers can skip third-party home inspections. Moreover, cash investors often seek distressed properties, and house conditions don’t bother them as much. It means several benefits for you:
- No need to clean or repair your house.
- No need to organize stressful home showings.
- No need to welcome inspectors.
Cons
No bidding wars
House trading can result in two mortgages. You may end up in a situation where you finalize the purchase agreement before you finalize the sale one. It means you will pay two mortgages until you finalize the sale agreement. That is ~$4,400 a month (national average).
Potentially lower sale price
Cash investors may be more interested in maximizing their profits and statistically pay 10% less than mortgage buyers. However, cash transactions are still more beneficial for sellers due to low costs, minimum hassle, and fast closing.
Pros and cons of trading your house in (buy and sell)
Pros
Financial flexibility
Trading your house will give you equity to use as a down payment for a more valuable property. It will help you avoid large cash down payments. Also, you will qualify for a mortgage loan easier if you already have a 3.5%–10% down payment.
Convenience
You don’t need to spend weeks searching for short-term rentals as you move into a new house instantly. This method helps you save at least $1,500 on temporary accommodation and $75–$185 on storage each month.
Sell your house as is
If you cannot afford to spend $40,000 for renovation, you might want to sell your house as is. You can do that with cash sales. Cash investors typically purchase properties in their current conditions. That is a great benefit for the seller as you can avoid costly repairs while selling your home. This method is ideal for sellers without funds for extensive repairs.
Financial flexibility
Trading your house will give you equity to use as a down payment for a more valuable property. It will help you avoid large cash down payments. Also, you will qualify for a mortgage loan easier if you already have a 3.5%–10% down payment.
Convenience
You don’t need to spend weeks searching for short-term rentals as you move into a new house instantly. This method helps you save at least $1,500 on temporary accommodation and $75–$185 on storage each month.
Sell your house as is
If you cannot afford to spend $40,000 for renovation, you might want to sell your house as is. You can do that with cash sales. Cash investors typically purchase properties in their current conditions. That is a great benefit for the seller as you can avoid costly repairs while selling your home. This method is ideal for sellers without funds for extensive repairs.
Cons
Financial risk
House trading can result in two mortgages. You may end up in a situation where you finalize the purchase agreement before you finalize the sale one. It means you will pay two mortgages until you finalize the sale agreement. That is ~$4,400 a month (national average).
Contingency concerns
Contingency home offers account for 76% of home sales. It’s an offer a buyer can cancel unless specific conditions, most commonly home inspections, are met.
A home can be in a contingency state for 30 and even 60 days, a period of high stress and uncertainty for the seller. As a seller, you may lose better opportunities, especially if you find the buyer’s house less attractive.
A home can be in a contingency state for 30 and even 60 days, a period of high stress and uncertainty for the seller. As a seller, you may lose better opportunities, especially if you find the buyer’s house less attractive.
Timing challenges
Contingency offers may carry additional challenges related to sale and purchase alignment. Sellers may pay holding costs for the home under the sale contract, including mortgage, insurance, and taxes. Contingencies may also cause buyers and sellers to replan moving schedules.
Lower proceeds
Sellers may be forced to lower the home price in contingency offers due to time pressure and double mortgages. As such homes appear “under contract” in RE listings, they become less attractive to other buyers. As a result, sellers may miss more competitive opportunities.
Pros and cons of selling your house without a realtor as an FSBO listing
Pros
Save on commissions
While typical home sellers pay 6% in realtor commissions, FSBO sellers pay 3% — only for buyers’ real estate agents. Although you might find a buyer who doesn’t use a realtor, those chances are slim — only 11% of home buyers purchase homes without realtors.
List on MLS
FSBO sellers can get more exposure by using multiple listing services (MLS). MLS platforms typically charge $50–$100 monthly and offer access to private databases. It can help sellers close deals faster, especially when they know buyers.
Cons
Lower sale price
FSBO homes are sold 23.5% lower than homes listed with real estate agents. That is nearly a $100,000 difference if the national average is considered. Many factors come into play, such as a lack of professional guidance and negotiation skills in people who sell homes independently.
Time-consuming process
FSBO sellers do realtors’ full-time jobs — marketing, listings, communications with buyers and buyer agents, and other tasks. Keep in mind that real estate agents work 30–50 hours a week (according to career service Zippia). Even if you do half of those activities, you may still devote 15 hours a week to the home-selling process. Pre-sale renovations can also take considerable time.
Exhausting negotiations
FSBO sellers often regret not using realtor services. It’s difficult for individuals without professional experience to handle negotiations, manage contracts in their favor, and battle against buyer realtors. Surveys show that 36% of FSBO sellers make mistakes in legal documents, and 40% struggle to understand contract terms.
Safety concerns
FSBO sellers put themselves at substantial risk by inviting strangers to their properties. Tracey Hawkins, a real estate safety expert, emphasizes that “For Sale by Owner (FSBO) are sometimes oblivious to the risks that real estate agents face. Male and female agents have been killed, assaulted, robbed, carjacked, etc., in recent years.”
3 things to know about selling your house for cash
Each method of selling your house has pros and cons. You can choose one based on your needs. Here are a few considerations.
Sell to a cash investor if your goal is minimum hassle
Selling a house to a cash investor is the best option if you want to:
- Sell your house fast
- Skip property appraisals and inspections
- Sell your house as-is
- Avoid realtor commissions
- Accept a slightly lower price and miss on bidding wars
Explore FSBO if you have time and money
FSBO is the best option if you want to:
- Make renovations to get the maximum market value
- Do all the marketing and organizational work yourself
- Accept financial, personal safety, and fraud risks
Choose a trade-in if you want a market price
Trading your house can be your best option if you want to:
- Get equity for a down payment
- Move into a new house as quickly
- Get the best market price
- Wait for longer and do some home repairs to drive the price up
Way to sell your house
Quick closing
Selling as-is
Low or no commissions
MLS listing
Transaction safety
Higher market price
Selling to a cash buyer
Trading your house in
Listing as FSBO property
Selling to a cash buyer
Trading your house in
Listing as FSBO property
Quick closing
Selling as-is
Low or no commissions
MLS listing
Transaction safety
Higher market price
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When to sell your house to a cash investor: 8 key scenarios
1. Foreclosure
Foreclosure filings have been skyrocketing since 2021. According to ATTOM, 357,062 properties were foreclosed in 2023, compared to 151,153 in 2021. As foreclosure proceedings commence in 90 or 120 days of overdue mortgage payments, acting quickly is in your best interest. Selling your property to a cash investor might be the quickest solution to the foreclosure problem.
2. Divorce
Diving marital real estate with a traditional home sale can be super stressful during a divorce. Many divorced couples are forced to live together as it becomes harder to sell homes in the current market, according to the Wall Street Journal.
In this scenario, contacting cash investors is the answer to the “how to sell your house for cash” and “how to divide marital assets and start a new life chapter” problems.
In this scenario, contacting cash investors is the answer to the “how to sell your house for cash” and “how to divide marital assets and start a new life chapter” problems.
“We are working on what some days feels like the impossible: cohabiting and co-parenting in a 1,200-square-foot home.”
— one woman said in the interview with WSJ
3. Inherited property
High interest rates and rising costs of home repairs force many adults to sell an inherited property. Many still need to spend money on inherited homes before selling them. But if you need to sell such property quickly at no additional cost, cash offers are for you.
“One of the first things many people do when they inherit their parents’ home these days is put up a for-sale sign.”
— The WSJ
4. Financial hardships
A recent economic survey has found that 77% of Americans are anxious about their finances. Those who experience hardships often question themselves: “How to sell my house and get much-needed liquidity?” If that is your question, selling your property to a cash investor provides instant liquidity for urgent payments.
5. Rental property
Are you tired of difficult tenants, or your property doesn’t generate anticipated income? Here is how to sell a house for cash: connect with a cash investor. That has been a popular way for landlords to liquidate unwanted property, especially in the UK, as up to 40% of British landlords sell their properties in 2024.
6. Distressed property
If you don’t know how to sell a house that needs work, you can sell it as-is to cash investors. Doing so will allow you to capitalize on the rise of distressed real estate investing.
Do you know that cash investors will be eager to buy your property for conversion projects? Consider this: the number of office conversion projects in major American cities has increased 150% since 2016.
Do you know that cash investors will be eager to buy your property for conversion projects? Consider this: the number of office conversion projects in major American cities has increased 150% since 2016.
7. Downsizing
Downsizing has reached a 14-year record. Homeowners transition to smaller houses primarily to save money. If you also consider this opportunity, you can do it hassle-free with cash offers. Skip realtor commissions, home showings, and time-consuming renovations — just meet the right investor and receive cash.
8. Relocation
Relocation can be costly, especially for individuals on limited budgets. Thus, an average three-bedroom home can cost up to $4,400 to move. If your goal is to find a solution to how to sell your house quickly at a minimum cost, you can sell it off-market to cash investors.
FAQs
How do you sell a house as is?
You can easily sell your property as-is by connecting with cash investors. At OfferTap, we connect home sellers with cash investors who buy houses as-is. You can sell a house in 5-14 days without home inspections, realtor fees, or renovations.
What are the pros and cons of selling a house as is?
The advantages of selling a house as-is to a cash investor are the easy process and fast closing, less stress, fewer preparations, no home showings, and zero realtor fees. The disadvantages are fewer opportunities to drive the price up, less buyer competition, and a slightly lower sale price.
What is the most common reason a property fails to sell?
Overpricing is the most common reason a property fails to sell. A few traditional home buyers can easily afford homes at current market prices. It’s much easier to sell your house off-market to cash investors.
What is the secret to a fast sale of a property real estate?
Here is how to sell your house fast without a realtor: research comparable home listings to gauge fair market prices, connect with cash investors, and sell your house as-is.
How to avoid fees when selling a house?
You can save thousands of dollars on realtor fees by selling your house as for-sale-by-owner property (FSBO), trading your house in, or selling it for cash to investors.
What are the disadvantages of not using a realtor?
Limited market exposure, the need to do all the work yourself, and a lengthy process are disadvantages of using a realtor. But you can sell your house without a realtor and actually benefit from it — just sell your house for cash off-market or trade your house for another one.
Is selling a house good for taxes?
Individuals selling their main homes can exclude up to $250,000 from capital gains taxes. If you file a joint return with your spouse, you can sell a house for up to $500,000 tax-free.
How to sell a house that needs major repairs?
Finding a cash investor is the best way to sell a house that needs major repairs. Cash buyers are often interested in distressed properties as they buy them for lower prices and repurpose them to generate income.
Can you help me if I’m in foreclosure?
Absolutely, we have many compassionate buyers who specialize in this exact category, and will help you move on to your next chapter.
Connect with a fully vetted, top-rated cash buyer in your area!
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