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The best for sale by owner website depends on your goals for selling a house without a realtor:
📈 If you want to maximize your exposure with an MLS listing, take a look at low-cost flat fee MLS listing services.
- For a few hundred dollars, these companies will get your home posted to the local MLS and all the major real estate websites (Zillow, Realtor.com, Homes.com, etc.), where it will have the same online reach as agent-represented listings.
- You'll avoid paying a realtor commission to a listing agent while still having control over most aspects of the sale, such as showings and negotiations.
- Just look out for hidden fees and make sure you understand how interested buyers will be routed to you, since your contact information won't appear publicly — buyers will need to go through either the listing broker (who may not forward leads) or a buyer's agent with MLS access.
⏰ If you're not in a hurry to sell and don't want to spend money on an MLS listing, you can look into free options like Zillow for sale by owner or Craigslist.
- Just be aware that your listing will have limited visibility — even on popular sites like Zillow, since it separates FSBO listings from the main search results.
- Also, most of the calls you receive probably won't be from legit buyers. As an unrepresented seller, you're much more likely to encounter investors hoping to lowball unrepresented sellers or agents promising buyers if you'll give them your listing.
⚒️ If you're looking to save money selling a house 'as is' — maybe because your house needs work or you want a quick, low-cost out — then consider shopping offers from reputable cash buyers in your area.
- When selling for cash, your options range from nationwide iBuyers to local investors. However, most cash buyers pay less than full market value.
- Offers marketplaces like Clever Offers provide a safe and efficient way to compare offers, since they screen cash buyers before accepting them into their network. They also source competing offers on your behalf, which saves you a ton of time making phone calls and explaining about your property.
💰 If you want to save on realtor fees, but wouldn't mind having an agent do the work, consider selling with a low-commission realtor instead.
- You don't have to pay high commission fees to get the support of a full-service agent. Free agent-finding services like Clever Real Estate match you with quality agents from well-known brands like Keller Williams and RE/MAX. If you move forward with an agent, you'll pay a low 1.5% listing fee instead of the standard 2.5–3%. Find the best low-commission agents in your area.
Below, we go over our top for sale by owner sites — both free and paid — plus low-cost alternatives.
Best FSBO sites for MLS listings by owner
The most effective strategy to catch the eye of buyers and their agents is to get your home listed on the MLS. But only real estate professionals have direct access.
To get your house listed on the MLS by owner, you'll need to pay a listing broker for what's called an 'entry only' listing. The 'entry only' designation indicates to other agents that the broker is providing the MLS listing only — all other aspects of the sale will be handled directly by the seller.
Below is a list of the best flat fee MLS listing services with multi-state coverage. However, sometimes your best bet is to work with someone local, so check out the best flat fee MLS companies near you.
Listing Fee
Availability
Our take
Listing plans
Houzeo, a flat fee MLS service with a high average customer rating, shows promise in its customer service, particularly during the initial listing setup. However, limited reviews on the complete selling process suggest some challenges, including listing inaccuracies and variable service quality from partner realtors.
While Houzeo’s online dashboard and service plans appeal to FSBO sellers, potential users should weigh these mixed experiences, alongside the service's costs and refund policy, before choosing it for their real estate needs.
Pros
- User-friendly online dashboard
- Positive reviews of its customer service
- Nationwide coverage
Cons
- High fees for some services
- Varied service quality
- Restrictive refund policy
Listing Fee
Availability
Our take
Listing plans
Homecoin offers a streamlined, flat fee MLS service that stands out for its affordability and simplicity, appealing to sellers who prefer to manage their sale process directly. With a starting fee of $149, Homecoin makes it possible to list properties on the MLS without the hefty commissions associated with traditional brokerages. The service is praised for its straightforward approach and effectiveness in providing significant commission savings.
However, Homecoin may not provide the full spectrum of services and support some sellers seek. For those needing more comprehensive assistance, including professional photography or hands-on agent guidance, exploring alternatives is recommended.
Pros
- Cost effective service
- Allows sellers to manage their own listing process
- Straightforward, easy-to-use platform
Cons
- Limited support
- Extra services may incur additional charges
- Lacks some of full-service offerings
Listing Fee
Availability
Our take
Listing plans
Beycome stands out for homeowners who want to sell their homes independently, offering valuable exposure and tools at competitive rates. It has a 4.4-star rating from its customers, making it a strong contender for those seeking to bypass traditional agent fees.
Particularly suited for experienced sellers across its served states, Beycome’s flat fee MLS packages provide essential visibility and services. However, it might fall short for first-timers or those desiring more hands-on support. When considering Beycome, exploring other services to ensure the best fit for your selling needs and preferences is wise.
Pros
- Competitive pricing
- Good market exposure
- User-friendly platform
Cons
- Limited support
- Customer service issues
Listing Fee
Availability
Our take
Listing plans
HomeZu's Basic plan offers a straightforward approach with essentials like a six-month listing and ample photo space for a flat fee, ideal for sellers who prefer simplicity. While it's pricier than some competitors, including lead forwarding and easy cancellation add value. However, the one-plan-fits-all approach in most states and commission sharing might not suit everyone, especially those looking for more options or to keep costs low.
Pros
- High photo limit
- Lead forwarding included
- Free cancellation
Cons
- Pricier basic plan
- Commission sharing
Listing Fee
Availability
Our take
Listing plans
Congress Realty is a licensed brokerage that offers four affordable MLS listing plans and good customer service. It also provides add-ons so you can tailor the services to your needs.
However, lower-priced packages don’t include some features that most MLS listing services provide. For instance, the Basic plan only offers up to four photos and limits the number of changes to the listing.
Pros
- Showing schedule tool on all plans
- Responsive, knowledgeable customer support
Cons
- Basic plan limits photos to four
- Basic and Plus plans restrict listing changes
- Sales comps only on Full Service plan
Listing Fee
Availability
Our take
Listing plans
Fizber shines as a cost-effective, straightforward platform for FSBO sellers aiming for MLS listings with various service levels. While the low upfront costs are appealing, mixed reviews about customer service and aggressive sales tactics are worth considering. Before deciding, compare Fizber with other services to find the best match for your selling needs and preferences.
Pros
- Cost-effective
- User-friendly
- Listings get good visibility
Cons
- Mixed service reviews
- Aggressive sales
- Limited support
Listing Fee
Availability
Our take
Listing plans
Flat Fee Group is great for sellers who want to pick their broker. But, with prices and services varying by state and brokers that might not be nearby, it might not suit everyone. It's a decent choice if you value transparency, but consider other options if local expertise and consistent fees are important to you.
Pros
- Transparent brokerage
- Widely available
- Competitive pricing
Cons
- Limited local expertise
- Service is inconsistent between states
What to consider before paying for a flat fee MLS listing
In a survey of recent home sellers conducted by Clever Real Estate,[1] more than half of FSBO sellers (53%) reported facing skepticism from buyers because they didn't have an agent.
The vast majority of homes (90%) are purchased through a realtor,[2] and buyers may simply be wary of working with an unrepresented seller — especially if the home has been sitting on the market for a while or the photo quality and presentation don't match those of agent-represented listings.
On the surface, FSBO sellers appear to have an advantage, since they don't have to pay the typical 2.5–3% in commission to a listing agent. However, FSBO homes consistently sell for less than the U.S. median home sale price.
In 2024, FSBO sellers reported earning an average of $79,000 less in profit compared to sellers who used an agent.[1] FSBO sellers were also 64% more likely than agent-assisted sellers to say they didn't sell for their desired sale price.
One of the biggest downsides of an entry-only listing is that, due to MLS rules, your contact details won't actually appear to the general public. Instead, the listing broker's contact info will accompany the listing.
Your information will only be visible in the "agent remarks" that appear on the MLS. So unless a buyer's agent looks there first, showing requests and other inquiries will be routed through the listing broker.
While some 'entry only' agents forward leads promptly, others may fail to forward leads at all — a common complaint about flat fee MLS reviews. So before hiring a flat fee MLS company, be very clear on how the company will forward any inquiries that get routed to the listing agent.
Best FSBO sites for free listings
For a bare minimum of online exposure, FSBO sellers should consider listing their property on the following free websites. However, there are a few things to keep in mind before springing for a free FSBO listing.
Zillow / Trulia
Pros
- Widely popular real estate website
- Easy to use and navigate for sellers and potential buyers
Cons
- Less exposure for FSBO properties
- Difficult for interested buyers to contact you directly
Zillow is the world’s most popular real estate website, with an average of 233 million unique monthly users.
For FSBO sellers, Zillow offers a free listing option — just set up an account, and you’re good to go. If you opt for a paid FSBO service (like FSBO.com or Fizber), it’ll typically include Zillow in its listing package.
However, Zillow has a specific way of displaying FSBO listings that could impact their visibility. The site separates FSBO properties from those listed by agents. In the default map view, only homes represented by real estate agents are shown. FSBO listings only appear when buyers manually select the “By owner & other” filter — a feature that isn’t immediately obvious and often missed by users.
This separation could mean that, despite Zillow’s large audience, your FSBO listing may not receive the same level of exposure as agent-represented homes or flat fee MLS listings.
Another aspect to consider is that when a prospective buyer clicks “Contact Agent” on your FSBO listing, Zillow directs them to a randomly chosen local buyer’s agent, not to you as the seller. This setup can be frustrating for both buyers and sellers, as it adds an extra layer to the communication process.
ForSaleByOwner.com
Pros
- Free FSBO listings
- Decent website traffic
Cons
- Paid packages are inferior to alternative options
ForSaleByOwner.com offers a unique platform for FSBO sellers, allowing them to list their homes for free on its website, which claims to have seven times the traffic of any other FSBO-specific site.
The company also provides various paid packages, though these change frequently. One of their offerings, the agent support package, essentially mirrors the services of a traditional realtor, including similar costs. Through RocketHomes, it offers a closing advisor service ($495) where a licensed professional assists with legal documents, coordinates inspections, title work, and appraisals, and streamlines the closing process.
While ForSaleByOwner.com’s free listing option is attractive, remember that most homebuyers typically search for properties on MLS-syndicated sites like Zillow, Redfin, or Realtor.com. Opting for this website means limiting your buyer pool and possibly selling your home for less than its market value.
Facebook Marketplace
Pros
- Free to list anything you’re selling
- Large potential audience
Cons
- Not targeted to home buyers
Facebook Marketplace allows free home listings. Additionally, you can share your listing in targeted neighborhoods or real estate groups to help ensure your home is seen by prospective buyers. Users can also share the listing to give it even more visibility.
We think it’s best to list your FSBO property on Facebook Marketplace in addition to other real estate and FSBO-specific sites. After all, on Marketplace, you’re competing for views with anything other locals might be selling — from used furniture to event tickets.
Don’t be a target for scammers! Before you list your home on Facebook, remember to beef up your privacy settings so shady strangers can’t get any personal details from your profile.
Craigslist
Pros
- Free to list your FSBO property
- Well-known, highly trafficked website
Cons
- Very basic features
- Draws potential scammers
Though Craigslist isn’t as popular as it used to be, it’s still the second most visited real estate website in the U.S., ranking right underneath Zillow. With free real estate listings, it’s a helpful way to grow exposure for your FSBO home.
The Craigslist interface is very basic — you’ll be able to post some photos and a description of the house, but not much else. Still, one benefit compared to other free FSBO sites like Zillow is that interested parties can contact you directly from the listing.
Just be sure to keep your guard up when fielding messages from Craigslist patrons. Scammers are known to frequent the site.
What to consider before using a free FSBO site
One of the major drawbacks of skipping the MLS is limited visibility. While MLS listings automatically get syndicated to popular real estate sites like Zillow, Redfin, and Realtor.com, the process doesn't work in reverse.
Without an MLS listing, buyers and their agents will have a harder time finding your property — especially considering that sites like Zillow separate FSBO listings from the main search results when buyers look up properties for sale in their area.
While Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, and FSBO.com are other free options, most of the buyers you'll encounter on these sites are investors hoping to score a deal.
If you're open to selling to an investor, consider starting with a free cash offer marketplace like Clever Offers, which can help you get competing offers from investors who have already been vetted.
With any free option, you should be prepared for a LOT of calls from agents trying to get your listing — something you don't have to worry about with a flat fee MLS service, since technically you're already listed with an agent, and it violates NAR's code of ethics to try to poach another agent's listing.
Other callers may simply be curious neighbors who aren't genuinely interested in buying your house.
“The advantage to having a realtor is that a lot of times they pre-qualify people,” explains Hans Baker, who has had both successful and unsuccessful attempts at selling FSBO. “I’d have 14 or 15 people look at the house, but a lot of them weren’t qualified. They didn’t have a lender or realtor. A realtor will sort of screen the people who are messing around.”
LEARN: Which real estate companies offer the lowest commission?
While FSBO listings come with less overhead, they also get much less exposure — resulting in sale prices that are 17.5% lower on average than comparable homes listed on the MLS.[3]
While approximately 90% of homes are listed through an agent, only 5% are purchased directly from the seller[2] — and in about half of those cases, the seller already knows the buyer. If you don't already have a buyer lined up, an MLS listing is likely to get you a far better outcome than a FSBO listing.
Best FSBO sites for resources and information
Selling FSBO is difficult, especially if you’ve never done it before. These are the best FSBO websites for learning about selling without a realtor.
US Legal Forms
US Legal Forms has all the paperwork you’ll need to complete the sale of your home. For a monthly subscription fee of $8, you can download as many forms as required. Upgrade to the $15 monthly premium plan, and you can sign the forms electronically.
Several FSBO websites have partnerships with US Legal Forms. However, purchasing the forms directly from its site is significantly less expensive.
For example, FSBO.com sells US Legal Forms packages for each state for about $60. You could get all those forms plus more from the US Legal Forms website for $8. Just remember to cancel your subscription when you’ve downloaded everything you need.
Even with the help of US Legal Forms, you may want to consult a real estate lawyer to ensure you’re filing all paperwork properly. A small mistake may bring costly litigation in the future.
Real Estate Witch
Real Estate Witch has an extensive library of FSBO guides to help you choose the right approach and maximize sale profit.
Here are some of our most popular guides:
- How to Sell Your House Without a Realtor
- Paperwork for Selling a House Without a Realtor
- For Sale by Owner Contract Guide
- FSBO vs. Realtor Statistics: What You Need to Know
- How Much Does It Cost to Sell a House by Owner?
- The Best Flat Fee MLS Services
- FSBO Tips for Home Sellers and Buyers
- How to List on MLS by Owner: My Flat Fee Success Story
Top FSBO alternative: Low-commission agents
Selling your home without a realtor (FSBO) may seem like a good way to save money, but it often comes with major trade-offs — like pricing mistakes, legal issues, and tough negotiations.
A better alternative for most sellers is working with a low-commission real estate agent. These agents offer the same full-service support as traditional realtors — but for a fraction of the typical 3% listing fee.
Best low-commission companies
Each of these companies will pair you with a local low-commission agent. Since the agent knows your market, they can price your home competitively, create a strong marketing plan, and negotiate better offers. That often leads to faster sales and higher sale prices than most FSBO sellers can achieve on their own.
FAQ
Yes, Zillow allows for sale by owner (FSBO) homes on its site. As a FSBO seller, you can list your home for free on Zillow and on its sister site, Trulia. Learn more about how to list FSBO on Zillow and what the potential pros and cons may be.
The best site for you depends on whether you're looking for a paid, free, or specialty FSBO website. Our top picks for paid MLS listing by owner are Congress Realty and Beycome. For free listings, we recommend Zillow. If you have a specialty listing, like commercial property or land, consider LoopNet or LandFlip, respectively.
A flat fee MLS listing service is a company that charges a fixed fee (usually a few hundred dollars) to list your home on the multiple listing service (MLS), which only real estate agents have access to. Listing your home on the MLS is important because it's the primary tool real estate agents use to find properties for their clients. Additionally, MLS listings are posted on major real estate websites like Zillow and Realtor.com.
Our top picks for free FSBO sites are Zillow/Trulia, ForSaleByOwner.com, Facebook Marketplace, and Craigslist.
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