Military For Sale By Owner: Is It Worth It?

For most service members making a permanent change of station (PCS), selling for sale by owner (FSBO) doesn’t make financial sense. Realtor commissions are typically reimbursed at 95%, so you won’t save much by skipping an agent. You might as well use an agent to get full support throughout the process and sell for a higher price.

Military FSBO can still be an option in certain situations, like selling outside of a PCS move. In these cases, avoiding commission fees can help you save money. But the reality is that the unpredictable military lifestyle can make a DIY home sale challenging.

If you’re leaning toward working with an agent, Real Estate Witch can help you connect with top-rated agents who understand military moves. Your realtor will handle the entire sale for you and use their expertise to maximize your sale price.

If you’re still weighing your options, we’ll walk you through the pros and cons of military FSBO and share resources designed to make your transition smoother.

Military FSBO pros and cons

✅ Save money on realtor commission

Most FSBO sellers, military or not, choose this approach to save money on real estate commissions. Traditional listing agents typically charge a 3% commission on the home's sale price. On a $400,000 home sale, that commission would cost $12,000.

However, these commission savings aren't much of an incentive during a military PCS move, since realtor fees are reimbursed at 95% (and the remaining 5% can be deducted on your tax return). 

If you're a service member selling your home outside of a PCS, a FSBO sale can result in significant savings.

But selling on your own isn't the only way to save on realtor fees. If you want savings and support, consider working with a low-commission agent.

Real Estate Witch can match you with top-rated local agents who will sell your home for just 1.5%. The average seller saves $7,000.

✅ Easy to find a buyer

One of the main benefits of hiring a listing agent is that they do the hard work of marketing your home and bringing in potential buyers.

But if you live near a military base and sell FSBO during PCS season, finding an interested buyer shouldn't be difficult. 

✅ Free access to legal assistance

One of the more challenging aspects of a FSBO home sale is managing the paperwork and ensuring you file it correctly to comply with local laws. Because of this, many FSBO sellers hire a real estate attorney to review their sales contract and other documents to prevent legal issues. 

But, as a member of the military, you should have access to a legal assistance office at your military installation. With free legal counsel at your disposal, you'll have support for one of the most difficult aspects of a FSBO sale.

⚠️ Homes sell for less on average

FSBO homes sell for an average of $55,000 less than those sold with a listing agent.[1]

So even if you save 3% on the listing fee, you'll likely walk away with less money overall — plus you'll have to do all the work.

⚠️ Selling FSBO is hard

Selling FSBO requires a lot of time and effort. You're essentially taking on the full-time job of a real estate agent. This is especially tough when balancing your full-time work and prepping for a move.

Military FSBO sellers, in particular, need to devote time and resources to prepping for a sale since military buyers won't have time to take on a fixer-upper, and those using a Veterans Affairs (VA) loan aren't permitted to purchase a home requiring significant repairs. 

You'll have to market your listing, host showings, evaluate offers, and file a lot of legal FSBO paperwork. And that sale process can be stressful. For most home sellers, it's worth it to pay an expert real estate agent to handle the work.

⚠️ May waste time 

Many home sellers try to sell FSBO, then eventually get the help of a realtor. Only 6% of successful home sales are FSBO.[1]

With orders to report to your new installation by a certain date and only 10 days of permissive leave to situate your new housing there, service members don't have time to try and fail at a FSBO sale.

Plus, if you're currently deployed, it's nearly impossible to handle a FSBO sale long-distance. And asking someone else to do it may be too much for them to handle.

An agent can work with you long-distance and take care of any sale-related tasks in case you haven't closed by the time you need to report to your new assignment.

⚠️ Potential legal ramifications

Sellers may be liable for any misrepresentation (intentional or not) in a home sale. If you fail to disclose a defect or you fill out a form incorrectly, you could face legal ramifications from the buyer.

For example, you may think your home has real hardwood floors when they're actually laminate. When the buyer finds out, they may come back to you for a credit to make up the difference in value.

Real estate agents have the experience and knowledge to flag issues like this that most home sellers are unaware of. Your realtor's expertise could potentially save you a lot of trouble and money in the long run.

Important things to know about military moves 

These factors about moving as a military member may impact your choice to sell military FSBO.

Changing assignments

Service members are typically notified of an assignment change via email, phone call, or a discussion with a supervisor. Note that things can change until you receive documented formal orders.

You should start prepping for a move now by organizing financial paperwork and browsing housing options at your new destination online. But don't make any official decisions yet.

Once you receive a document with your orders, you should initiate the moving process immediately, especially if you choose to sell FSBO, as FSBO homes often spend more time on the market.

Your orders will include: 

• Your rank
• Your assigned location
• Your reporting date
• The duration of your job or training
• Whether dependent family can come with you 
• What you are allowed to bring and how those items will get to your new location 

Assignment length

Selling your home only makes sense for a PCS move. If you have a temporary duty (TDY) assignment, keep your home and consider on-base accommodations or a low-cost rental. 

Move type

Whether you sell for sale by military owner or not, the military allows you to move with military-provided crew and materials or with a personally procured move (PPM).

If you choose a PPM, you arrange your move independently, including truck rental, packing, and transportation. 

With a PPM, the military will reimburse you for 95% of the expenses incurred. Receipts and paperwork can be submitted to your designated management official (DMO) via email, mail, or in person.

Basic allowance for housing (BAH)

A service member's BAH is based on: 

• Geographic duty location
• Pay grade
• Dependency status

It provides equitable housing compensation for military members based on costs in their local civilian housing markets.

Ask about your BAH as soon as you get your orders (or calculate it here) to determine how much you can spend on your new home and what you can afford to spend on a move.

FSBO sellers can also use the BAH calculator to get an idea of what the average service member in the area can afford, which could help when calculating their asking price.

VA loan 

Many military members take advantage of the VA loan program to purchase a home. One of the biggest benefits is that a VA loan requires zero down payment. 

It's important to note that the VA will not approve a loan on a fixer-upper property. So, if you live near a base and think it's likely you'll sell to another member of the military, ensure your home meets the following VA loan requirements:

• Suitable sanitary living space with room for sleeping, cooking, and hygiene 
• Electrical and plumbing systems in good working order
• Safe and functional heating system
• Safe access from the street

Also note that if your buyer has a VA loan, you will need to budget to cover their closing costs and processing fees, as these are non-allowable fees according to the VA.

Permissive leave 

Military families generally get 10 days of permissive leave for house hunting and moving, so both of these will be on a compressed timeline. On average, typical homeowners spend 3–6 weeks house-hunting and 8–16 weeks to navigate a move.[2]

Some parts of the buying and selling process could occur while you're deployed or traveling for military service. Instead of worrying about selling your home long-distance, it's smart to leave it to a trained realtor. 

Military FSBO resources

Whether you're selling military FSBO or not, take advantage of the moving resources provided to service members. 

Bottom line: Is military FSBO right for me?

Because military life is uncertain, we don't think FSBO is the best approach to selling a home for military personnel. 

FSBO's most compelling advantage is cost savings. Since service members are reimbursed for moving expenses, including realtor fees, that benefit is negated. Plus, with tight timelines and the chance you may need to handle some things remotely, it's best for service members to enlist a professional real estate agent to take on the heavy lifting.

If you’re looking for a great real estate agent, we can connect you with a proven local realtor who’s the right fit for your needs. Just answer a few quick questions, and we’ll send personalized agent recommendations straight to your inbox. It’s a free, fast, and hassle-free way to find an agent — with no obligation to move forward.

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