The Facts About FSBOs

Each year some ambious home sellers try to sell their home without the assistance of a licensed real estate professional. It often turns out to be an experience they find less than gratifying. The numbers tell the true story.

Last year 12 percent of sellers decided to sell on their own (For Sale By Owner: FSBO), down from 13 percent the previous year. This is down from about 20 percent in 1987. 40 percent of all FSBOs sold their homes to someone they knew prior to the transaction. This means that only 7 percent of all home sales are open market FSBO transactions. The rest are simply unrepresented sellers in private transactions.

As for saving money by not hiring a Realtor — after all is said and done, FSBOs don’t always come out richer. Homes sold with the help of a Realtor in 2006 sold on average 32% more than FSBO sales. The median FSBO selling price in 2006 was $187,200, compared with $247,000 for agent-assisted transactions.

• Data and stats compiled from the National Association of Realtors, NAR's 2006 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers