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The beauty of selling your home without a realtor is you don’t have to pay a listing commission, which in Oregon averages 2.5% of the sale price, or $12,649.
But selling for sale by owner (FSBO) involves financial and legal risks.
» Pros and cons of selling FSBO (more)
Should I sell my Oregon house without a real estate agent?
Selling a house without a real estate agent isn’t worth it for most homeowners in Oregon. You likely won’t get the best possible value from your FSBO sale. Here’s why:
🚫 Homes sold by their owners typically sell for less than homes sold by agents. A Clever Real Estate survey of people who sold a home in 2022 and 2023 found that selling with a realtor resulted in around 33% more profit than a FSBO sale.
The National Association of Realtors’ 2023 Profile of Home Buyers & Sellers found that agent-assisted sellers got around 30% more.
🚫 Many sellers make legal mistakes when they don’t use an agent. 36% of FSBO sellers say they made legal mistakes because they didn’t use an agent, according to a Clever Real Estate survey.
An agent can guide a seller through the matrix of contracts and paperwork. Agents also help sellers earn buyers’ trust.🚫 Selling FSBO takes a lot of time. You’ll have to do almost everything an agent does, without the efficiency and knowledge an experienced real estate agent brings to the deal.
Selling your house without a realtor might be right for you, though, if:
✅ You want to save on commission. FSBO sellers don’t pay a listing agent, though they generally pay the buyer’s agent commission with the proceeds from the sale. But changes may be coming regarding who may have to pay commission to the buyer’s agent.
✅ You’re an experienced seller with time to take on the responsibilities of a real estate agent.
✅ You’re in a hot seller’s market and you have a desirable Oregon home. In a hot market, you’re more likely to sell for list price or above.
✅ You lined up a buyer. 57% of FSBO sellers in NAR’s profile of buyer and sellers knew their buyer, which streamlined the selling process. Often they sell to a family member.
» MORE: How to sell a house to a family member
If FSBO sounds right for you, read our guide to selling without a realtor to take some of the stress out of your decision about how to sell.
If you’re not sure yet whether FSBO is right for you, check out some potential FSBO alternatives to weigh your options.
» FSBO alternatives (more)
Alternatives to selling your house without a realtor in Oregon
Discount real estate brokers are full-service realtors willing to work for a reduced listing commission rate. Sellers can save thousands and receive all the traditional services from an expert local agent.
🔎 Compare the best discount real estate brokers in Oregon (2024)
Other FSBO alternatives to consider
- Oregon cash home buyers purchase properties directly from home sellers for cash.
- Oregon flat fee MLS companies will post your listing on the local MLS, usually for a low, upfront fee.
- iBuyers are real estate companies that make near-instant cash offers on homes, using technology to determine a price.
» Jump to: 7 steps to sell without a realtor in Oregon
7 steps to sell a house without a realtor in Oregon
1. Set a price
2. Ready your home
3. List your home
4. Manage your showings
5. Review offers
6. Perform due diligence
7. Close the sale
FSBO paperwork
FSBO costs
1. Price your home accurately
Meet one of the biggest challenges of selling FSBO by using a comparative market analysis (CMA), a technique used by real estate agents to determine a listing price for homes.
You can do your own comparative market analysis, in which you’ll compare your Oregon home to other recently sold properties in your area to come up with a price.
Flat fee MLS companies will sometimes provide a CMA with their service package.
🔎 Expert insight: Honestly evaluate your home’s condition to ensure the CMA is accurate. If you’re concerned about assessing your property objectively, get help from a friend or family member.
» READ: Why FSBO sellers should use a flat fee MLS company
Get a pre-listing appraisal
A professional pre-listing appraisal is typically the most accurate way to determine your home’s market value. In Oregon, you can hire an appraiser for $250 to $400. Find an appraiser near you through the U.S. government’s Appraisal Subcommittee website.
🔎 Expert insight: Beware of underpricing your home. FSBO homes sell for about 24% less than those listed with licensed real estate agents, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR) 2023 Profile of Home Buyers & Sellers.
2. Ready your home to sell
First, make necessary repairs and improvements. Minimize obvious issues that might repel potential buyers, like chipped paint or holes in the drywall.
You’ll also want to tackle any bigger issues. Which issues? It depends on your home and market. A real estate agent would typically recommend what the market demands or which repair will give you the best return — and which ones you can skip.
🧑 Want personalized advice? Connect with top local agents from leading brokerages — it’s 100% free, with no obligation.
Everyone selling a home without a realtor in Oregon should:
- Stage your home to help potential buyers imagine themselves living there. If you’ve already moved out or the house is empty, consider a virtual staging.
- Improve your curb appeal to make a good first impression.
- Hire a photographer to make your listing photos stand out online.
- Write a listing description to spotlight your home’s best features and capture details that photos can’t convey.
- Fill out property disclosures to be upfront about issues with your property and help head off potential legal troubles.
👉 Get in-depth tips on how to prep your home in our 2024 national guide to how to sell your house without a realtor.
If your home needs too much work to sell to a typical buyer, consider selling to a cash buyer in Oregon. You can use our free tool to compare cash offers against your home’s value on the open market — no obligation required.
3. List and market your home
The best place to market your home is on your local Multiple Listing Service (MLS).
The MLS digital database catalogs homes listed by real estate agents in the region. It’s the first stop for buyer’s agents searching for properties for their clients. Most MLSs also syndicate to Realtor.com, Zillow, and other real estate sites.
🚨 Here’s the catch: Only licensed realtors can list homes on the MLS. However, FSBO sellers can still list their properties on the MLS with the help of a realtor via a Oregon flat fee MLS company.
List using a Oregon flat fee MLS company
Flat fee MLS companies are run by brokers who will list your Oregon FSBO home on the MLS for a relatively small fee of $100 to $1,000.
You won’t have much help from a real estate agent (though some flat fee MLS plans offer limited agent support), but they’ll list your home alongside the other properties being sold by agents.
» COMPARE: Flat fee MLS Oregon: The 8 best listing services
List directly on free FSBO platforms
ForSaleByOwner.com, Zillow/Trulia, and others are among our picks for the best FSBO real estate websites for Oregon FSBO sellers.
You can also promote your home sale on social media and use a yard sign to get the word out. Yard signs cost $20–50.
Before you list your home online or anywhere else, read the rules for advertising real estate in Oregon. Most of these rules apply to realtors, but it’s best to make sure your actions don’t violate state regulations.
» DETAILS: How to get a for sale by owner MLS listing in 2024
4. Manage your showings
Set up private appointments or open houses for potential buyers to visit your home in person. Keep track of your appointments and contact information with tools like Google Calendar, spreadsheets, or scheduling apps like Calendly, Mixmax, and Trafft.
FSBO tips for successful home showings
- Keep your home at a comfy temperature (between 68° and 76°).
- Let in plenty of natural light.
- Use a neutral scent. Try subtle candles or air fresheners.
- Let buyers tour the home on their own. Your presence can be a distraction. If you’re around, potential buyers might not feel comfortable having an honest conversation with their real estate agent. Use a lockbox to provide agents access and plan to be away from the home before they arrive.
- Schedule showing appointments back to back. Blocks of appointments fuel the impression multiple buyers are interested in your home. You’ll also reduce the number of times you’ll vacate your home while buyers tour it.
- Share disclosure forms and property fact sheets. Put them in a noticeable spot in the home, like on a kitchen counter.
Promptly respond to buyer questions in person, on the phone, or via email or text. Buyers typically have many properties to evaluate. If you’re not responsive, they may lose interest in your home and focus on other options.
5. Review offers and negotiate
In addition to the offer price, a buyer’s offer will usually include:
- Closing costs information. Look for whether the buyer wants you to cover some or all of their closing costs.
- Closing timeline. The buyer’s proposed closing date will usually be 30–60 days.
- The buyer’s pre-approval letter. If the buyer doesn’t have pre-approval from a bank signaling they’ll likely get a loan offer to buy the house, the sale may fall apart. A buyer with a cash offer won’t need a pre-approval letter.
- Contingencies. Any criteria that must be met before finalizing the sale.
Evaluate the offer and choose one of three options to proceed:
- Reject the offer. Send a polite no to the buyer or the buyer’s agent if the offer is far from what you’re looking for. The buyer could come back with a better offer.
- Accept the offer. Say yes if the price and terms are what you were hoping for.
- Make a counteroffer. If you don’t like the offer but it’s in the ballpark, or if you have other offers, consider making a counteroffer. You can counter the price as well as the terms of the deal. Almost everything’s up for negotiation in real estate.
» LEARN: 26 negotiation strategies for home sellers
6. Allow the buyer to conduct due diligence
During the due diligence period — the time frame between accepting a buyer’s offer and the closing date — the buyer can inspect the property and its history.
A buyer may take one or more of the following steps:
- Home inspection
- Termite inspection
- Home appraisal
- Mortgage underwriting
- Property title search
- Final walkthrough
If the buyer finds any issues, they may try to reopen negotiations.
During the due diligence period, the buyer and seller have the right to withdraw from the agreement. However, we recommend consulting a real estate attorney before walking away from a deal to ensure you follow the law.
» DETAILS: The buyer’s due diligence period
7. Close the sale
In Oregon, closing a home sale usually involves hiring a third party, such as a title company or attorney.
The closing typically takes place at the title company or agent’s office. You will:
- Review and sign the closing disclosure. The disclosure documents the final terms and closing costs.
- Hand over the house keys. Give them to the buyer’s agent or your attorney.
- Get paid. You’ll receive a statement detailing the proceeds from the sale and how much you can expect to take home after paying for closing costs. In Oregon, you should receive your payment via a wire transfer or check on closing day.
Paperwork for selling a house by owner in Oregon
Our comprehensive list of the paperwork for selling a house without a realtor covers the general documents home sellers need, including where to find free paperwork.
Key paperwork and disclosures for FSBO sellers in Oregon include:
- Lead-based paint disclosure. If your home was built before 1978, it’s mandatory to provide the lead-based paint disclosure.
- Flood risk disclosure
- Seller’s property disclosure form
Cost of selling a house without a realtor in Oregon
Sellers pay approximately 7.5% of the final home sale price to sell by owner vs. about 10% of the home price to sell with a real estate agent.
Use our calculator below to estimate how much selling FSBO will likely cost you. The amount you’ll actually save depends on many factors, including repairs you need to make and concessions you may make to a buyer.
💸 Common costs for FSBO sellers
The prices below cover common services for those selling without a realtor in Oregon.
- Home appraisal: $250 to $400
- Professional home photography: $152 avg.
- Staging: $305 avg.
- Real estate attorney: $250 to $250 per hour
- Flat fee MLS listing: $100 to $1,000
Seller closing costs in Oregon include:
- Title service fees (search and transfer): $425 avg.
- Title insurance: $1,485 avg.
- Recording fees: $150 avg.
- Buyer’s agent commission: Around 2.5% of the sale price*
*It’s currently customary for the seller to pay the buyer’s agent commission, but this may change pending the resolution of a lawsuit against the National Association of Realtors (NAR).
🚨 NAR lawsuit challenging traditional commission model may impact FSBO sellers
A lawsuit in November 2023 against the National Association of Realtors challenged the traditional real estate commission model, where sellers pay their listing agent and the buyer’s agent out of the proceeds of the home sale.
NAR settled the lawsuit without admitting wrongdoing, agreeing to pay some impacted home sellers $418 million over four years. NAR also agreed to change some of its practices, potentially including who pays the buyer’s agent commission.
The terms of the settlement are scheduled to take effect in mid-July 2024 but still await official approval. Objections could change the terms or delay the implementation of the settlement.
Related links
Average Real Estate Commission in Oregon: Realtors earn a commission when they help a client buy or sell a home. Learn how much Oregon agents expect to earn and what you can do to reduce commission rates.
Cost to Sell a House in Oregon: Seller Closing Costs and More: Selling your home without a realtor can save you money on commission, but you’ll be on the hook for other costs.
How to Sell a House By Owner: Paperwork You Need: Check out all the forms you’ll need for the transaction.
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