How to Sell a House Without a Realtor in California

Selling your home without a realtor means you won’t have to pay a listing commission, which in California averages 2.5% of the sale price. Considering a typical California house is worth about $775,000, that’s a savings of $19,473.

However, trying to sell a home For Sale by Owner (FSBO) can be tough. You’ll be responsible for every step of the selling process, which can take up a lot of your time and energy.

In the end, selling a house without a real estate agent isn’t worth it for most homeowners in California. Many sellers don’t even realize that there are low commission real estate companies that offer professional assistance at reduced prices.

If you’re considering selling a house without a realtor in California, read on to find out everything you need to know to do it successfully.

✍️ Key Takeaways of FSBO Sales

Selling without a real estate agent means avoiding a listing commission (2.5% on average in California). But in exchange for those savings, you’ll have to do everything from advertising your home to completing legal paperwork to negotiating the final deal.
In most cases, you’ll still need to offer a buyer’s agent commission. 2.4% is typical in California.
Selling without an agent is best for experienced sellers or people selling to family or friends.
For most sellers, there are better cost-saving options that will net you more money and provide professional support.

Should I sell my house without a realtor?

Not sure if FSBO is right for you? Use the checklists below to find out if selling your California home without a realtor is the best option for your situation.

✅ Selling without an agent might be right for you if…

You want to save on commission.

When you sell without a realtor, you won’t pay a listing agent commission. In California, that puts 2.5% of your final sale price back in your pocket. However, you will still need to offer a competitive buyer’s agent commission (2.4% is typical in California).

» LEARN: How realtor commissions work in California

You already have a buyer.

If you’ve already lined up a deal with a friend or family member, there’s no need to pay an agent to list your home on the MLS, host open houses, or negotiate on your behalf.

You have lots of time to spare.

Selling a house is a lot of work! You’ll need time to take on all the tasks a realtor normally handles.

You’re in a hot seller’s market.

If you’re in a high-demand area with low inventory, it can be easy to find a buyer without an agent’s help. With a flat fee MLS package or “For Sale” in your yard, it’s possible to find several potential buyers in no time.

Here’s how fast and for how much homes in California are currently selling for so you see how your local market compares.

Avg. days on market	Avg. listing price
27 days	$734,950

^{Based on data from realtor.com}

🚫 Selling without a realtor might not be right for you if…

You’re short on time.

If you’re on a tight deadline, hiring an agent might be your best option. Unless you already have a buyer lined up, you’ll have to squeeze home selling tasks into your nights and weekends — or make sacrifices elsewhere in your schedule.

You’ve never sold a home in California.

Without an agent, you won’t have any professional guidance about increasing your property’s curb appeal, pricing your home, or choosing the best offer.

We can’t say this enough: If you’ve never been through a California home sale or are facing a complicated transaction, do not try it without a real estate agent.

Making one mistake could cost you tens of thousands of dollars or create some serious legal headaches for you.

You want to sell for more money.

There are conflicting studies about whether FSBO properties sell for less compared to those sold by agents.

On one hand, FSBO sellers are more likely to sell to friends or family and offer them a good deal on the home. This lowers the average price of homes sold without a realtor.

However, if a FSBO seller is inexperienced with pricing a home, they can lose money by pricing too low or scare away buyers by pricing too high.

There are other ways to save on commissions if selling your house without a realtor sounds too risky or stressful.

Clever Real Estate offers a free service that gets home sellers lower rates from top agents at trusted brands like Keller Williams and RE/MAX. You’ll get full service from a local agent (guaranteed) but pay just 1.5% in listing fees — half the rate agents typically charge. Get started today!

What does a realtor do in California?

Experienced realtors in California are familiar with the local and state regulations that can often confuse first-time sellers. A knowledgeable agent will manage dozens of tasks to help your home sell, such as connecting you with local pros to prepare your house for showings, listing your property on the MLS, negotiating with buyers, and taking care of all the paperwork.

Even in hot seller’s markets, selling a house can be a full-time job. If you don’t hire an agent, you’ll be responsible for handling every step of the selling process on your own.

Prices homes competitively

Home value estimators can provide you with a quick ballpark estimate of your home’s potential value, based on your property’s key features, recent home sales and active listings, neighborhood data, and local market trends. Get a free, instant home value estimate now!

However, an agent can provide you with a comparative market analysis (CMA) for a more accurate valuation. CMA home values are calculated based on the strength of your housing market, how much similar properties are selling for, new upgrades or renovations, and other variable factors.

To get an idea of how much home values can vary, here’s a comparison of different sized homes value in California.

Home size	Home value in California
2 bedrooms	$604,393
3 bedrooms	$700,718
4 bedrooms	$880,965
5+ bedrooms	$1,208,681

^{Based on Zillow data}

If you decide to sell FSBO in California, you should consider hiring an appraiser. A state-certified appraiser will conduct an appraisal on your property to determine its condition and fair market value.

Pricing your house appropriately is one of the most important aspects of selling your property, so it’s worth it to get an objective report

» LEARN: What is an appraisal?

Connects you with local pros

Experienced agents have networks of the best professionals in the area. They can connect you with handymen, stagers, photographers, and other service providers so you don’t have to track down reliable pros on your own.

Markets and negotiates

An agent can market your home, schedule open houses, reach out to potential buyers, and follow up with people who toured your home.

Agents will also negotiate with prospective buyers, which can be intimidating for FSBO sellers. It can be difficult for homeowners to view their houses objectively, so having a professional take care of negotiations can lead to the best outcomes for both parties.

Completes paperwork

Agents can take care of all the paperwork required to complete the real estate transaction, which can be a huge relief for sellers. It’s easy to get overwhelmed at the sheer number of documents you’ll need to finalize the transaction.

» MORE: How to Sell a House By Owner: Paperwork You Need

Do I need a real estate attorney in California?

No, California doesn’t require sellers to get a real estate attorney. However, since state FSBO regulations are so complicated, inexperienced sellers may want to hire one just to make sure they’re meeting all legal requirements.

Cost of selling a house without a realtor in California

Below, you’ll find a list of prices for common services you might want to consider if you decide to sell without a realtor. However, know that if your home is in need of repairs or is in a buyer’s market, you might need to spend a lot more to prep and market your property.

💸 Common costs for FSBO sellers

Appraisal	$300 to $400	To price your home more accurately
Photography	$195	To compete with homes listed by agents
Staging	$3,664	To stand out to local buyers
Real estate attorney	$247 per hour	To assist with paperwork, contracts, and legal requirements
Flat fee MLS listing	$95 to $2,495	To get listed on the MLS
Buyer’s agent commission	2.4% of sale price	To compensate the agent that represents the buyer (it’s customary for the seller to pay)

^{Based on service estimates from across the country}

Overall, on average, it costs 7.5% of the home price to sell by owner and about 10% of the home price to sell with a real estate agent. However, the amount you’ll actually save will depend on repairs you need to make, concessions, and other expenses.

Use our calculator to get an idea of how much you can expect to spend if you sell without a realtor.

If you’re considering selling without a realtor in California, check out our friends at Clever Real Estate. Clever eliminates all the hassles and headaches of FSBO while helping you pay less than you would for a traditional realtor.

In California, sellers pay an average of 2.5% to a listing agent. Considering the median home value in California is $775,000, that amounts to $19,473. But with Clever, you can sell with a top local agent for just 1.5%, letting you keep more of your home’s equity in your pocket.

California regulations FSBO sellers should know

Whether you’re selling a modern condo in Anaheim or a cozy cottage in Napa, understanding California’s real estate regulations is essential. Learning about these laws now can help you prepare for common roadblocks and potential legal issues.

Below, we’ve listed some statewide regulations and laws that all sellers need to follow. However, you should also check with your local county to see if there are any additional requirements for your region.

Minimum service regulations

Brokers in California are required to perform certain services for all of their clients — even if they don’t want or need them. Flat fee MLS brokers must also meet minimum service regulations, and those additional services might make their packages may be more expensive compared to states without minimum service regulations.

Transfer taxes

A transfer tax is collected by the county and/or the city wherever a property is sold. In most California counties, the total transfer tax is $1.10 per $1,000 of the property’s value. For every $1,000 of a home’s sale price, $0.55 is collected by the city, and $0.55 is collected by the county.

However, some cities have total transfer tax rates much higher than this, so be sure to research the rate for your specific location.

Example of how California transfer tax works

Orange County’s transfer tax is $0.55, and Anaheim’s city transfer tax is $0.55. So, a property that sells for $450,000 would require $495 in transfer taxes.

(450,000 / $1,000) x ($0.55 + $0.55) = $495

(Sales price / $1,000) x (county tax + city tax) =

total transfer tax

Buyers and sellers can negotiate who pays for the transfer tax, but the standard expectation is for sellers to pay in Southern California and the buyer to pay in Northern California.

Disclosure requirements

Federal regulations require sellers in every state to disclose the presence of lead paint in properties built before 1978. However, unlike “buyer beware” states, California has several additional disclosure regulations that sellers must follow.

All of the required disclosure forms and documents can be found from the California Department of Real Estate, but here are some key details you’ll need to know:

Transfer Disclosure Statement

All material facts about the property must be disclosed in this form. For most sellers, they’ll just have to focus on the standard details of their home, including the condition of the:

Walls, ceiling, and floors
Insulation
Roof
Foundation
Driveways and sidewalks
Electrical systems
Plumbing systems
Any other structural components

The form will also ask the seller to disclose if the property has any methamphetamine contamination, window security bars, or has been used for industrial purposes.

Natural Hazards Disclosure

This form discloses if the lot is in a flood zone, a designated wildlife area, at high risk of fire damage, over an earthquake fault zone, or is within a seismic hazard zone.

Smoke detector compliance

The state of California requires all homes to have a smoke detector installed outside each sleeping area. Sellers have to provide buyers with a written statement verifying their home adheres to this law.

Some cities can have stricter smoke detector requirements than the state law, so check with your local county fire department for more information.

Purchase and Sale Agreement

If your property has a water heater, you’ll need to certify that it has been braced or anchored to avoid falling during an earthquake. The certification is usually part of the Purchase and Sale Agreement or the Homeowner’s Guide to Earthquake Safety.

For more detailed information, check out our step-by-step guide to selling a house in California

Do I have to disclose if someone died on my property?

Yes, if the death occurred within the past 3 years. If someone died more than 3 years ago, you don’t need to inform the buyer. However, if a prospective buyer asks about any deaths that have happened in your home, you have to be honest.

FSBO marketing rules

Californians can put temporary “For Sale” signs on their own private property as long as they follow state regulations.

California standards for all temporary signs:

No flashing or artificial lights
Can’t be used or maintained within the public’s right-of-way
Can’t be placed upon property without the owner’s permission
Must not damage any structure, endanger the public, or obscure views of the road or road signs

Standards for real estate signs:

Single and two-family homes can have one sign that doesn’t exceed 6 square feet in area.
Multi-family or commercial lots can have one sign (not exceeding 32 square feet in area) for each road the property faces.
Signs can’t exceed 6 feet in height.
No more than four signs are permitted per development.
Signs have to be removed within 10 days of the property’s sale or lease.

9 steps to sell a home in California without a realtor

Selling your home without a realtor can be intimidating. Here, we’ve created a step-by-step guide for you to rely on and make the selling process less daunting.

🏡 Section 1: Prepare your home for sale

✍ Section 2: List your home

📅 Section 3: Manage showings

🤝 Section 4: Accept an offer

🏡 How to get your home ready to sell

1. Make basic repairs

Simple repairs, such as fixing a squeaky door or repairing dents in the drywall, can greatly improve the aesthetic appeal of your house. Outdoors, a fresh coat of paint, and some basic landscaping work can boost curb appeal.

» LEARN: The 8 most important repairs to make before selling your home

2. Stage the rooms

You can hire a professional stager to get your home picture-perfect for showings, but this can be expensive. While prices vary from city to city, in California it costs an average of $3,664 to stage a house.

3. Photograph the home

High-quality photos of your property can make a huge difference when attracting buyers. Prices can vary based on your location, but in California you can expect to pay $195 on average for a session with a professional photographer.

✍ How to list your home for sale

4. Get an appraisal

Pricing your house can be difficult without an agent’s guidance. Getting a professional appraisal done can make it easier to estimate your home’s fair market value based on its condition, location, and other factors. In California, an appraisal costs $300 to $400.

If you don’t want to meet with an agent or pay for an appraisal, and just want a quick ballpark home value estimate, we recommend using several free online home value estimators. Comparing pricing estimates from multiple tools can get you an estimate that’s closer to your home’s fair market value — especially if one of the websites relies on inaccurate or outdated information.

» MORE: Tools for pricing your home

5. Advertise your home

You can find several websites to list your home for free or for a low cost. Although sites like Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace may help you get more eyes on your property, buying a flat fee MLS package will likely get you the most bang for your buck.

In California, this will cost you $95 to $2,495, but without a realtor, it’s the only way to get your property listed on the MLS — which is how most buyers find homes.

📅 How to show your home

6. Get organized

As you start planning for open houses and collecting information from interested buyers, stay organized by using a digital calendar. This will make it easier to schedule showings, keep track of visitors, and take notes about people who seemed particularly interested in buying your house.

When you schedule tours with individual buyers, make sure they have a pre-approval letter from a mortgage lender first. Pre-approved buyers know they’re qualified to purchase a house, so they’re more likely to make an offer.

7. Don’t hover

When people attend your open houses, avoid following visitors from room to room. You might come off as overbearing or overly pushy, which might scare off interested buyers. Instead, remain nearby in a common area, such as the kitchen, so visitors can easily come to you if they have any questions.

🤝 How to accept an offer and close

8. Know your priorities

When you review offers, it’s important to look beyond the price offered. Keep your own priorities in mind, such as your preferred closing date or your renovation budget.

For example, if a buyer is willing to waive certain contingencies, that could save you money on expensive home repairs.

» LEARN: Common home buying contingencies

9. Use a title and/or escrow company

To make sure the closing process goes smoothly, find a title or escrow company to oversee the closing. The third-party agency will help you and your buyer complete the required paperwork, collect the closing fees, and handle the title transfer.

» LEARN: What fees sellers should expect to pay at closing

Alternatives to selling without a realtor in California

For many people, trying to sell without an agent isn’t worth the hassle. If you think you’ll need some help along the way, here are a few other low-cost options.

California flat fee MLS companies

If you’re confident about selling your home on your own, you might benefit from using a flat fee MLS company to increase the visibility of your property.

A few of the best flat fee MLS agencies in California include HomeListers, Flat Fee Guru, and MLS Town by Berg Properties. Prices for a flat fee MLS package range from $95 to $3,995, depending on how many services you need.

💰 Service is an additional cost or not included in the basic package
	HomeListers	Flat Fee Guru	MLS Town
Price	$1,295 (at closing)	$595-$3,995	$95-$895
Number of Photos	Max allowed	20-50	8 to Max allowed
MLS Listing	6 months	6 months to Unlimited	3 months to 2 years
Pricing Assistance	✅	💰	💰
Negotiation Support	✅	💰	💰
Yard Sign	❌	💰	❌
Open Houses	❌	💰	❌

» READ: The Top Flat Fee MLS Companies in California

Discount brokers

Discount brokers are full-service real estate agents who are willing to work for a reduced commission rate. Sellers can save thousands while still receiving assistance from an expert local agent.

Read more about the best discount real estate brokers in California.

For discount broker services, we highly recommend our friends at Clever! Clever pre-negotiates with top agents to offer you low commission rates without compromising on service quality.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a real estate attorney to sell my house in California?

No, California law doesn't require sellers to hire an attorney to sell their home. It can still be a good idea to hire an attorney to read through your offers or review your paperwork before closing day, though. An attorney can identify potential legal issues and resolve them before they make your sale more complicated.

What do I have to disclose when selling a home in California?

California sellers must disclose all known material issues with the property to interested buyers. This includes everything from the home's foundation to the age and condition of the roof. Additional disclosures may also include details about flood or fire hazards, recent deaths, or the use of lead paint.