Buying FSBO

Buying a home directly from the owner can be an advantage if the seller has priced their home competitively by eliminating some or almost all of the real estate commission from their asking price. Homes listed on the MLS include a commission for the buyer’s agent and a commission for the listing agent in the sales price paid by the buyer. If you're interested in making an offer on a for-sale-by-owner home, a Comparative Market Analysis, (CMA), which compares the size and value of the features of the seller’s home with comparable homes that have sold recently in the same area, will help you determine if the for-sale-by-owner home you’re interested in is priced well or not.

If the home is overpriced, you may still want to make an offer on it, but you are going to have to present credible support for a lower priced offer, or you risk the seller rejecting your offer outright. A buyer's agent will get the negotiating ball rolling by presenting your offer to the seller on your behalf and using a CMA as support for your offer price. Since most FSBO Sellers are willing to compensate a Buyer's Agent, your offer price would include the commission for your buyer's agent.  Since there is no listing agent commission, you’ll still save more than you would on a comparably priced home listed on the MLS.  To find out more about working with a buyer's agent on your for-sale-by-owner home purchase, visit www.DonAnthonyRealty.com to assist you with the purchase.