Is it actually possible to buy a house without using a realtor?

real estatefirst time home buyerhome buying

Ross_B

Joined:
23.10.2022
Posts: 2148

Topic Starter

14.04.2025 20:29

I'm currently looking at my first home purchase and I'm wondering if I really need to hire a buyer's agent. I've heard that doing it solo could potentially save on closing costs or give me more leverage in negotiations, but I'm worried about missing legal details or paperwork issues. Has anyone here gone through the process of buying a home directly from the seller or a FSBO listing? I'd love to hear about your experiences, specifically what the biggest hurdles were and if you felt the savings were worth the extra stress.

13 replies in this topic

old_wolf

Joined:
30.10.2021
Posts: 375

24.05.2025 08:16

It is absolutely possible, but you need to be prepared to do a lot of homework. If you're not experienced with contracts, hire a real estate attorney to review everything.

Fari_P

Joined:
27.06.2020
Posts: 269

15.06.2025 15:21

I did a FSBO purchase last year. Honestly, it was fine, but only because the seller was also a bit of a pro. If you don't know what you're doing, you can easily get burned on the inspection contingency.

advice_pro

Joined:
06.12.2024
Posts: 1202

24.06.2025 06:14

In reply to a previous post

What @user1 said is spot on. Don't skip the attorney. It costs a few hundred bucks but saves you thousands in potential legal headaches.

KnowItAll

Joined:
19.10.2024
Posts: 624

02.08.2025 23:48

I tried going solo on my first home and it was a nightmare. The seller wasn't organized, and I ended up paying for a lawyer anyway to fix the mess. Just get an agent.

robert_d

Joined:
14.12.2020
Posts: 1210

19.09.2025 05:39

In reply to a previous post

I disagree with the person above. Agents are just an extra middleman taking a cut. If you find a good title company, they handle almost all the paperwork for you.

sunday_guest

Joined:
14.03.2021
Posts: 1564

26.09.2025 05:16

The savings are usually baked into the price anyway. If you go without an agent, the seller usually just keeps that commission for themselves rather than passing it to you.

tech_geek

Joined:
31.05.2025
Posts: 2092

28.09.2025 00:28

In reply to a previous post

Exactly! I tried to negotiate a lower price because I didn't have an agent, and the seller flat out told me no. They basically just pocketed the extra 3%.

Oli_L

Joined:
05.10.2023
Posts: 922

01.10.2025 12:41

If you decide to go for it, make sure you have your financing 100% locked down. Sellers are much more likely to take a solo buyer seriously if they know the bank is ready to wire the funds.

Kevin_M

Joined:
26.08.2024
Posts: 2039

16.11.2025 23:56

Is it worth the stress? For me, it wasn't. I value my time too much to spend hours chasing down escrow documents.

BlackCat

Joined:
15.12.2024
Posts: 1257

18.11.2025 07:25

I've bought two houses without an agent. It's not that hard if you're organized. Just read every single page of the purchase agreement twice.

Leon_M

Joined:
12.10.2020
Posts: 1790

24.11.2025 17:43

In reply to a previous post

How do you handle the appraisal process without an agent? That's my biggest fear.

Maya_L

Joined:
27.10.2022
Posts: 1129

11.01.2026 15:29

In reply to a previous post

To answer @user11, the appraiser is a third party. They don't care if you have an agent or not. Just make sure you're present during the inspection so you can ask questions.

IdkButIWrite

Joined:
20.02.2022
Posts: 1868

09.03.2026 04:01

Good luck with the house hunt! Whatever you choose, just don't rush the contract phase.

Is it actually possible to buy a house without using a realtor?

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