FSBO Statistics: Will You Save Money Selling By Owner?
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Richard Haddad Executive EditorClose
Richard Haddad Executive EditorRichard Haddad is the executive editor of HomeLight.com. He works with an experienced content team that oversees the company’s blog featuring in-depth articles about the home buying and selling process, homeownership news, home care and design tips, and related real estate trends. Previously, he served as an editor and content producer for World Company, Gannett, and Western News & Info, where he also served as news director and director of internet operations.
In today’s market, home sellers are looking for ways to keep as much of their sale proceeds as possible. Some sellers choose to take the “For Sale By Owner” (FSBO) route to avoid paying Realtor fees. But will you save money selling by owner? What do the latest FSBO statistics tell us?
In this post, we provide key FSBO statistics to help you decide if selling by owner is the right path for you. We’ve also researched the numbers to show you estimated FSBO statistics in each state.
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FSBO statistics home sellers should know
This first set of FSBO statistics comes from an annual report by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) based on last year’s sales transaction data. We’ve broken it into four categories to give you a better understanding of what you might expect if you decide to be your own real estate agent.
FSBO sales overview:
- Only 6% of 2024 home sales were FSBO transactions (a historical low)
- 90% of home sellers sold with the assistance of a real estate agent
- 10% of FSBO sellers eventually hired an agent due to stress or complexity
Reasons why sellers choose FSBO:
- 30% of FSBO sellers wanted to avoid paying agent commissions
- 38% of FSBO sellers sold to a family member, friend, or neighbor
Top 3 most difficult steps for FSBO sellers:
- Getting the listing price right (17%)
- Selling within the length of time they planned (13%)
- Understanding and performing all the paperwork (10%)
FSBO sales proceeds:
- FSBO homes typically sell for less than other homes
- FSBO homes sold at a median of $380,000 in 2023
- Agent-assisted homes sold at a median of $435,000
- 75% of FSBO sellers still paid a buyer’s agent commission (2.5%-3%)
Will you save money selling by owner?
On the surface, selling your home without an agent might seem like an easy way to save money. After all, you could avoid paying a typical 2.5%–3% listing agent commission. However, the FSBO statistics we shared above tell a different story.
According to the latest report from NAR, FSBO homes sell for a median of $380,000. In contrast, agent-assisted homes sell for a median of $435,000 — a $55,000 difference. Even if a FSBO seller saves 2.5%–3% by not paying a listing agent, the lower sales price often outweighs that savings.
Here’s a simple example:
- FSBO sale: You sell your home for $380,000.
Subtract 2% in closing costs (about $7,600), and your proceeds would be about $372,400. - Agent-assisted sale: You sell your home for $435,000.
Subtract a 3% listing agent commission (about $13,050) and 2% in closing costs (about $8,700).
Your proceeds would be about $413,250.
In this example, even after factoring in closing costs and agent commission, you would walk away with about $40,850 more by using an agent.
In addition, if you used an agent, you could save time and effort, which can often be counted as financial savings if it meant not having to take time off from work or spend money on your own marketing materials and professional photography.
What about the buyer’s agent fees? Under new rules following the 2024 NAR settlement, sellers are no longer automatically expected to cover the buyer’s agent commission. However, in a slow market, many sellers are still offering to pay the buyer’s Realtor fees to help close a sale.
FSBO statistics: History and geography
Because of the time it takes, the complex paperwork, and the risk of fewer proceeds, selling a house by owner is not common. In fact, in the current market, FSBO transactions are at a record low, making up only 6% of all home sales nationwide. Here’s a look back at how the DIY route has diminished in popularity since 2008:
Percentage of FSBO home sales in the U.S.
| Year | % of sales | Year | % of sales | Year | % of sales |
| 2008 | 13% | 2014 | 9% | 2020 | 7% |
| 2009 | 11% | 2015 | 8% | 2021 | 7% |
| 2010 | 9% | 2016 | 8% | 2022 | 10% |
| 2011 | 9% | 2017 | 8% | 2023 | 7% |
| 2012 | 9% | 2018 | 7% | 2024 | 6% |
| 2013 | 9% | 2019 | 8% | 2025 | *5%-6% (est) |
Source: National Association of Realtors research and statistics
As you can see, there was a temporary spike in FSBO sales in 2022 when the pandemic-fueled seller’s market was still white-hot. (The pandemic housing boom saw home prices soar more than 34%.) Homes almost sold themselves, and in record time — often in just days or weeks. But this was unsustainable, and there was a rapid cooldown throughout the latter half of the year.
Today, while the national market only holds a 6% average of FSBO home sales, some state markets have three times that many. Others have only a 1%–4% FSBO statistic of houses being sold by owner. Below is a look at the 10 top and bottom sell-by-owner states.
Editor’s note: To generate these state estimates, we collected FSBO listings data from forsalebyowner.com and traditional home listings from Zillow as of April 7, 2025. We excluded vacant land, commercial properties, and multi-family home units. Put simply, our research only presents estimates for homes that most people purchase to live in, such as single-family houses, townhomes, condos, and manufactured homes.
Top and bottom 10 states for FSBO home sales
| Top 10 states for FSBO sales | Bottom 10 states for FSBO sales |
| 1. Texas (19.28%) | 1. District of Columbia (0.78%) |
| 2. Ohio (18.53%) | 2. Hawaii (1.96%) |
| 3. Indiana (17.08%) | 3. Wyoming (2.65%) |
| 4. Idaho (15.58%) | 4. South Dakota (2.70%) |
| 5. North Carolina (15.24%) | 5. Iowa (3.05%) |
| 6. Arizona (14.81%) | 6. Massachusetts (3.18%) |
| 7. South Carolina (13.33%) | 7. Alaska (3.33%) |
| 8. Delaware (13.19%) | 8. North Dakota (3.49%) |
| 9. Nevada (12.79%) | 9. Maine (3.77%) |
| 10. Kentucky (12.19%) | 10. Montana (4.08%) |
Based on an April 2025 analysis of FSBO data from Zillow.com and forsalebyowner.com.
FSBO statistics in all 50 states and DC
Using the same data parameters, Below is a list of the estimated percentage of FSBO sales and home listings in all 50 states and the District of Columbia:
| State | Estimated FSBO % | FSBO listings | Zillow total listings |
| Alabama | 9.39% | 2,419 | 25,751 |
| Alaska | 3.33% | 48 | 1,442 |
| Arizona | 14.81% | 6,210 | 41,924 |
| Arkansas | 5.61% | 828 | 14,747 |
| California | 9.12% | 7,094 | 77,820 |
| Colorado | 11.26% | 3,227 | 28,652 |
| Connecticut | 7.32% | 288 | 3,935 |
| Delaware | 13.19% | 539 | 4,087 |
| District of Columbia | 0.78% | 22 | 2,815 |
| Florida | 7.55% | 17,202 | 227,881 |
| Georgia | 8.96% | 4,687 | 52,325 |
| Hawaii | 1.96% | 48 | 2,451 |
| Idaho | 15.58% | 1,522 | 9,772 |
| Illinois | 10.90% | 2,164 | 19,857 |
| Indiana | 17.08% | 3,112 | 18,219 |
| Iowa | 3.05% | 345 | 11,307 |
| Kansas | 4.43% | 302 | 6,813 |
| Kentucky | 12.19% | 1,603 | 13,155 |
| Louisiana | 6.35% | 1,314 | 20,688 |
| Maine | 3.77% | 125 | 3,318 |
| Maryland | 4.57% | 681 | 14,905 |
| Massachusetts | 3.18% | 272 | 8,550 |
| Michigan | 11.67% | 2,594 | 22,228 |
| Minnesota | 8.90% | 1,330 | 14,950 |
| Mississippi | 5.01% | 478 | 9,542 |
| Missouri | 4.97% | 961 | 19,323 |
| Montana | 4.08% | 231 | 5,668 |
| Nebraska | 5.72% | 293 | 5,120 |
| Nevada | 12.79% | 1,703 | 13,316 |
| New Hampshire | 4.92% | 102 | 2,073 |
| New Jersey | 7.98% | 1,283 | 16,070 |
| New Mexico | 7.23% | 489 | 6,765 |
| New York | 8.74% | 1,547 | 17,700 |
| North Carolina | 15.24% | 6,922 | 45,411 |
| North Dakota | 3.49% | 71 | 2,036 |
| Ohio | 18.53% | 3,841 | 20,727 |
| Oklahoma | 9.28% | 1,766 | 19,027 |
| Oregon | 8.08% | 1,240 | 15,345 |
| Pennsylvania | 9.97% | 2,485 | 24,915 |
| Rhode Island | 4.32% | 54 | 1,249 |
| South Carolina | 13.33% | 4,274 | 32,059 |
| South Dakota | 2.70% | 90 | 3,337 |
| Tennessee | 7.63% | 2,523 | 33,048 |
| Texas | 19.28% | 33,893 | 175,776 |
| Utah | 8.40% | 1,236 | 14,717 |
| Vermont | 7.14% | 111 | 1,554 |
| Virginia | 7.37% | 1,566 | 21,240 |
| Washington | 10.42% | 2,106 | 20,209 |
| West Virginia | 8.99% | 337 | 3,750 |
| Wisconsin | 12.10% | 1,161 | 9,597 |
| Wyoming | 2.65% | 66 | 2,486 |
Estimates as of April 7, 2025
What is your home worth now? Try HomeLight’s free Home Value Estimator to get a preliminary estimate of your home’s worth. Our online tool looks at millions of transactions and information you provide to give you a ballpark dollar amount of what your home is worth today.
Pros and cons of selling a house by owner
Selling your home without an agent can offer some advantages, but it also comes with notable risks. Here’s a quick breakdown of the pros and cons to consider before you decide to go the FSBO route.
Pros of selling by owner:
- Save on listing agent commission: You could save about 2.5%–3% by not paying a listing agent to represent you.
- More control over the sale: You can set your own schedule for showings, marketing, and negotiations without working through a third party.
- Direct communication with buyers: Some sellers prefer handling negotiations and offers on their own, especially if selling to someone they know.
Cons of selling by owner:
- Lower sale price: You’ve seen the FSBO statistics; homes sold by owner typically sell for less on average compared to agent-assisted homes.
- Complex paperwork and legal risks: Handling contracts, disclosures, and closing documents without professional help can open you up to costly mistakes.
- Limited marketing reach: Agents have access to the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) and professional networks that can expose your home to more buyers.
- More effort and stress: Pricing the home correctly, handling showings, and managing negotiations can quickly become overwhelming for many sellers.
- Can take longer to sell: Unless you already have a buyer lined up, such as a relative or friend, FSBO homes can take longer to sell.
- May receive lowball offers: Homes sold by owner can attract lowball offers from buyers trying to take advantage of a no-agent seller.
- Potential buyer agent fees: Even with recent commission changes, you might still need to offer a competitive commission to attract buyer agents, cutting into your savings.
Top agents can put statistics in your favor
You’ve seen the FSBO statistics. While selling by owner might seem like a way to save, most sellers come out ahead by working with a professional.
HomeLight’s data shows that the top 5% of real estate agents sell homes for up to 10% more than the average agent. They also sell homes 10% to 50% faster so you can move on sooner with your life plans — and with far less anxiety.
If you want to maximize your profit and minimize your stress, HomeLight can connect you with a top-rated agent through our free Agent Match platform. Simply tell us a little about your home, and we’ll recommend trusted agents in your area who have a proven track record of success.
More home-seller resources from HomeLight:
- Home Value Estimator
- Best time to Sell Calculator
- Agent Commissions Calculator
- Net Proceeds Calculator
- Recently sold homes map
Header Image Source: (Roger Starnes Sr/ Unsplash)
At HomeLight, our vision is a world where every real estate transaction is simple, certain, and satisfying. Therefore, we promote strict editorial integrity in each of our posts.
