FSBO in Texas: How to Sell a Home As-Is by Owner Without a Realtor

Pssst… want to know a secret that no realtor wants you to know? Today we’re giving away insider info in the realtor and real estate business – How do I sell my house without a realtor in Texas? Yes, you can sell your home by yourself!

How do I know this?  Well, I am a realtor myself and licensed real estate agent in Texas.  I want to help those of you out there that want to sell your house on your own.  Of course, this is not for everyone but for those of you who want to brave this path, let’s figure it out together and I’ll offer a few insider tips along the way.

This is definitely not our first rodeo, so we have the expertise and insight to be helpful to bring your property to the open market. Our team at Bright Bid Homes, we have over 2,800 real estate transactions under our belt, ranging from cash offer deals to traditional property sales for Texas homeowners that want that extra support in their home selling journey. Our toolbox of real estate transaction options is Texas-sized. If you want to sell your house without a realtor in Texas, we are all for it and here to be your guide.

What FSBO Means for Homeowners: How To Sale A House By Owner In Texas

This unique home selling process is often called ‘For Sale By Owner,’ or FSBO for short, and it’s a great option for home sellers who want to save on realtor commission fees. But there’s a lot to consider—from setting the right asking price to understanding closing costs. Don’t worry, we’re going to break it all down, so let’s keep going!

Selling a home without a realtor using the FSBO strategy in Texas can be a profitable and advantageous approach for many reasons. Nevertheless, it also comes with some drawbacks. When selling your house without the assistance of a realtor, you can benefit from saving on buyer’s agent commissions, as well as from having control over the selling process. At the same, the FSBO approach can be cumbersome and time consuming.

Understanding the Texas real estate market for FSBO sellers is a necessary component to succeeding. Matters such as fair market value, Texas real estate laws and regulations, and how to penetrate the market all play their part in succeeding when selling a house without a realtor.

FSBO vs. Realtor: What You Gain (and Lose) by Selling Without an Agent

Benefits of FSBO

• Saving on realtor commission fees is one of the major benefits of selling a property without a realtor. Typically, realtor fees are 6% of the final sale price. This fee is divided between the buyer’s and seller’s agents. Thus, when selling property without a seller’s agent the 3% that would normally be paid to the seller’s agent is saved. If property is sold without both a buyer’s and seller’s agent, then no commission is paid on the property sale.

• Having control over the sale of your home is another significant benefit of selling real estate without an agent. When opting for a realtor, one allows the agent to essentially take control of the selling process. While this might be nice for some, it can also be advantageous to be the one in the driver’s seat. Some realtors may not answer the phone at a time when it is “off hours” and could be a potential buyer calling. Others might not have the right answers at the right time – information that only a homeowner would know. Thus, having control of the selling process and house buyer interaction comes with its unique perks.

• Selling a probate property without a realtor can be an effective approach for those willing to manage the additional legal and administrative steps. Many sellers in probate situations opt to sell without a realtor to save on commission fees, maintain control of the process, and expedite the sale—especially when the estate needs quick liquidation or when the property has unique appeal to cash buyers and investors. Probate sales often require the seller to provide documentation, such as Letters Testamentary, to prove the authority to sell the property. Additionally, understanding the property’s market value and attracting potential buyers who see its unique value are critical to maximizing your sale. Tools like flat-fee MLS listings and legal assistance from a probate attorney can help you simplify the process. If you’re short on time or need a stress-free option, Bright Bid Homes specializes in working with probate sellers and can offer cash solutions with a fast closing.

• Yet another benefit is the potential to set your own asking price. Local agents can be highly influential when establishing a property’s list price. Some Realtors may not want to work with a seller if a property seems inadequately priced (i.e. lower commissions). Furthermore, when you sell a home as-is without a realtor, property owners get more cash in their pocket because of the “net” higher final sale price. This is the beauty of avoiding real estate agent commissions. Even more, there is more negotiation flexibility to get top dollar.

For Sale By Owner Marketing Methods

For Sale By Owner (FSBO) sellers must tackle the challenge of marketing their for sale properties without the support of a real estate agent’s established networks and resources. The NAR’s 2024 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers reveals the various marketing strategies these independent Texas sellers employ, from traditional networking to online platforms like Zillow, Realtor.com, or Redfin.

Here’s a breakdown of how home FSBO sellers marketed their properties:

Necessary Paperwork For Selling a House Without a Realtor in Texas

The Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) facilitates “For Sale By Owner” transactions. Therefore, understanding TREC rules and regulations (as found in legal documents such as the residential purchase agreement, the Seller’s Disclosure Notice, and addendums) is vitally important.

Key Forms For Selling A Property in Texas:

o Seller’s Disclosure Notice – This TREC downable form “Seller’s Disclosure Notice” describes problems or issues with a property that could affect the home’s value or the buyer decision on purchase price of the property.

o Purchase Sale Agreement is a contract and disclosure addendums forms – The purchase contract form often called the “One to Four family residential contract” is a detailed document that lists the terms and conditions of the sale and the various features of the property. Addendums for a house associated with an HOA, homes that were built before lead-based paint was banned, or properties that may contain lead require a lead-based paint addendum.

Local laws and regulations may differ from state laws on a jurisdiction to jurisdiction basis. However, unique features of Texas laws exist, and those opting for the FSBO approach will want to be aware of them. For instance, Texas requires that sellers disclose detailed information about a home’s flood history.

6 Easy Steps to Sell Your House Without a Realtor

Step 1: Prepare Your Texas Home To Sell FSBO

o To prepare your home to sell by owner, you will want to consider ways you can enhance its curb appeal. Setting the tone to give an exceptional first impression is highly important. A fresh paint job or pressure wash on your house, newly mowed grass, fresh mulch surrounding previously planted shrubs, or a new layer of gravel if needed can all enhance a buyer’s first impression. You may also want to consider a home inspection to preempt buyer concerns. This can be helpful because it allows the seller to proactively target areas of concern before they arise in the buyer’s home inspection.

o You will also want to be sure to take high-quality photos for online FSBO listings. Taking professional photos is one of the most important aspects of drawing in potential buyers. When buyers peruse their various purchase options, their choice in which property to view can often be dependent upon the pictures they are viewing. Even more than curb appeal, the first impression people have of a property is when they view it online or through virtual tours.

Step 2: Set the Right Price for your house in Texas:

o Conducting a comparative market analysis (CMA) to find the fair market value is a mandatory starting point when selling property without a realtor. When you conduct a CMA, you can get an idea of what similar properties (aka comps) in your area have been selling for.

o You will also want to consider current condition of the property and markets trends in the Lone Star State both on a state level but also in your local real estate market. The housing market varies in each local area, so what is happening in Arlington TX might be different than across town in Plano.

Asking questions like, “Is it a buyer’s market or seller’s market?”, “Are interest rates in my favor, or aren’t they?”, or, ” what is demand for housing in my area, and what is the competition?”, are all a part of the process of determining housing market conditions and possible higher price trends. As a result, gaining answers to these questions and ones like them can help the seller to gain an advantage in the selling process.

Step 3: Marketing Your Texas Property

o Making use of “For Sale by Owner” yard signs and listing on a Multiple Listing Service (MLS) via a flat-fee MLS company are a couple of strategic ways to penetrate the market.

o Leveraging social media and real estate websites for exposure to potential buyers is a must. Most as-is home sales occur through online exposure. While there is merit with yard signs, homebuyers typically look for properites online. Thus, making use of social media platforms such as Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram and even Craigslist is a wise marketing strategy. Not only that, but real estate websites must also be taken advantage of when seeking to gain a buyer’s attention. Real estate websites have an overwhelmingly large amount of traffic from people that are typically concerned with one thing – buying a home. Thus, when selling without a realtor, it is a top priority to make use of these online valuation tools.

Step 4: Host Showings and Open Houses

o Organizing an open house to attract interested buyers could also be a good approach to selling a home without a realtor. By doing so, you could streamline the process of showing your house to many people and avoid the cumbersome task of hosting many showings.

o When showing a home, it is important to not overbook, to highlight key features of the house that spark the buyer’s interest, to make a good first impression, and to negotiate with prospective buyers by being informed about the fair market value of your home.

Step 5: Receiving and Evaluating Offers

o Another important part of the process is navigating between the benefits and drawbacks of a cash offer vs. a financed offer. Cash offers come with their perks. Many cash buyers are not concerned with home inspections. They also do not deal with mortgage payments, so the seller will not be blindsided with lender required repairs. On the other hand, cash buyers tend to realize they have negotiating power and will seek a lower price than traditional retail home buyers. As a result, a seller may profit more from a traditional mortgage financed offer than a cash offer.

o Opting for a real estate attorney to review offers and contracts could also be a good decision and worth the extra expense.

Step 6: The Closing Process

o Working with a reputable title company for the title search and title insurance is an essential part of the closing process. The title company assembles and reviews records related to the property, including potential liens and unpaid taxes. After review, the title company will issue title insurance with coverage specifications.

o Finalizing the sales contract and loan documents processes is another important part of the closing process. Using a real estate attorney to help in this endeavor could be a wise choice.

o To ensure a smooth closing date, it is important to be up-to-date on property taxes, remove any property liens associated with the property, and repair areas in a home that may necessitate lender required and necessary repairs.

Breaking Down the Costs and Fees of Selling

Commission fees play a significant role in the decision to sell without a realtor. If you’re exploring the FSBO route, you may wonder how much you can save by avoiding listing agent commissions. Typically, the seller’s agent earns three percent of the final sales price. For example, selling a $300,000 property without a realtor could save you $9,000 in agent fee.

The home FSBO sales process puts more money in your pocket but does not come without associated costs. Other costs, such as a Texas flat-fee MLS services, title company fees, and closing costs, may still be a part of the overall expenses to sell without traditional real estate company services.

Buyers often have their own realtor to help them with their side of the home-buying process. Therefore, if opting to sell your home without a realtor, you still have to deal with the commission costs associated with the buyer’s agent. Once again, the commission fee is three percent.

Marketing Your FSBO Property in Texas

When marketing your property, you will want to consider the importance of highlighting the best features with a focus on curb appeal and home staging including professional photography. For instance, gaining attention and interest with the outside of your home can lead to a good first impression and possible sale of your home that a professional photographer can capture and put into visual marketing materials.

• Using social media to attract prospective buyers is a necessary marketing component. With the high traffic of social media platforms, marketing strategies have been adjusted to make use of these platforms with increasing success.

• Listing on real estate websites is yet another essential aspect of marketing your house as an FSBO seller. You may also want to consider the advantages of using a flat-fee MLS listing, such as avoiding the real estate listing fee, but at the same time having your property seen by numerous buyers and real estate brokers.

Negotiating with Buyers and Closing the Deal

The negotiation process consists of negotiating the best price, handling counteroffers, and knowing when to consult a real estate attorney. FSBO Texas sellers must have an awareness of the fair value of their property and the current market trends to know how to negotiate and handle counter offers. It could also be beneficial to consult a real estate attorney when handling necessary documents such as the purchase agreement and the Seller’s Disclosure Notice.

• Working with a title company and developing an understanding of the closing process are also crucial components of selling a property without a realtor.

• To ensure a quick sale and expedite the sale process, it can be beneficial to perform a home inspection before marketing the property. Doing so can help you to be aware of possible lender-required repairs and to make those home improvements before a lot of time delays are caused.

Seeking cash offers can also be a fast option. Most homeowners are familiar with these type of real estate companies with the “sell my house fast” ads. Cash buyers often look offer a quick close, may not be require a full home inspection, and are not dealing with a slow bureaucratic mortgage lender.

If you are considering selling your house for cash, our team at Bright Bid Homes is a Texas house buyer. We buy houses throughout Texas from Dallas TX to Fort Worth and down into Houston, Texas.

Call us for a free estimate if going the cash as-is home sale route is appealing to your needs.

Common Mistakes FSBO Sellers Make in Texas

While there are many perks to selling a property without a realtor, there are also some drawbacks. There is more work and responsibility on the seller’s side when selling without an agent. Yes, more money can be made, but the benefit may often not be worth the cost.

Fielding calls throughout the day and dealing with handfuls of people who will often eventually be uninterested can be exhausting. Not to mention, the time and energy that go into marketing and showing the home can make working with a realtor worth it.

When selling without a realtor, you will want to be aware of the dangers of the wrong pricing strategy – either too high or too low when determining a good price to target. The first-time FSBO seller will need to pay careful attention to local comparable homes sales (comps) and get any real estate market advise from friend, family, or even professional colleagues.

It is important to consider the home’s value from an unbiased perspective. Pricing too high will leave a house on the open market for too long. Pricing too low may cause buyers to think something is wrong with the property, and it will leave money on the table.

Preparing incomplete disclosure forms like a lead-based paint disclosure is another common mistake that can often be avoided when partnering with a real estate attorney.

One of the greatest benefits of having a realtor is the expertise in negotiation and legal issues knowledge. Selling a house is more than signing on the dotted line. An experienced realtor knows the local housing market and how to sell. Furthermore, a realtor knows how to draft up a contract and move through the legalities of selling property.

Finally, failing to use a real estate attorney when it would be wise to do so or not understanding the legal risks and requirements for selling a house by owner is another common pitfall.

Here is a 2024 NAR survey of home sellers with the most common FSBO challenges:

Alternatives to FSBO: When Selling With An Agent Is A Good Idea

Partnering with a real estate professional or real estate investor is always an option. Choosing to do so can be valuable. It may also increase your profit through a competitive listing price and strategic negotiations that come when partnering with a professional that knows the local market inside and out.

Using a flat-fee MLS company is a smart alternative to explore. It strikes a balance by letting you avoid paying a traditional real estate commission while still getting your home listed and seen by a wide audience.

Working with our team at Bright Bid Homes offers a fast, hassle-free and best way to sell your house. By choosing experienced cash homebuyers, you can streamline the closing process, avoid common financial issues and complications, and close the deal quickly with confidence.

Final Thoughts

Selling your home through the FSBO process starts with preparing your property, setting a competitive price, and marketing it effectively. Along the way, you’ll likely show your house to potential buyers and may even host an open house to attract more interest. When offers come in, take time to weigh the pros and cons of cash offers versus those with traditional financing.

To ensure a successful sale and closing, we recommend working with a trusted title company to finalize the sales contract and loan documents. The ability to save on commission fees and maintain control over the selling process are key reasons many homeowners choose the FSBO route.

Selling your home without the assistance of a realtor requires thorough preparation and collaboration with realty professionals, such as real estate attorneys or title companies, as you move toward closing. Keep in mind that FSBO isn’t the right fit for everyone. To determine if it’s the best option for you, carefully evaluate your goals and the current market conditions.

Appendix: Additional Resources

Check out the following resources for additional information regarding FSBO homes in Texas:

Texas Real Estate Commission guidelines

Online discussion if can you sell your own home in Texas without being a licensed real estate agent

National Association of Realtors

Real estate market trends

DIY home selling guide for Texas residents

*updated 1-15-2025

** Disclaimer: This blog post is intended as a general resource for homeownership topics like selling a house FSBO, addressing home repairs, and understanding real estate contracts. While we touch on preparing your home’s condition, recent sales data, and working with buyer agents, FSBO sellers should evaluate factors like mortgage loans, credit scores, and the role of a local real estate agent to avoid a lower sale price. Some readers may search for terms like ‘how to sale a house by owner,’ but the correct phrasing is ‘how to sell a house by owner.’

For sellers in Texas, New York, Florida, or other parts of the United States, consulting professionals such as real estate lawyers or mortgage lenders like Rocket Mortgage is crucial for navigating property-specific issues like water damage, homeowners association rules, or probate cases involving personal items. We prioritize helping sellers achieve a higher sale price while ensuring compliance with legal requirements. This content is not a substitute for professional advice—contact a real estate expert to address your unique situation.

***About the Author: Hilary Schultz is a licensed Realtor and expert in Texas real estate transactions — a leading authority on DFW metroplex real estate. Hilary is a member of the executive board of her Texas PTA in Dallas Fort Worthand active member of the Texas community.  Along with her husband Patrick, they have combined 40 years of experience with over 2800 real estate transactions completed. Read our reviews on google to see our commitment to serve the Texas community and provide homeowners with valuable insights, guidance, and a personalized experience through the home selling process. Let us serve you and help to navigate the housing market on your real estate journey.