FSBO Sellers Decreasing

According to Jessica Lautz, NAR Senior Research Analyst, the percent of FSBO Sellers has steadily decreased in the last 10 years. In 1997, 18 percent of sellers sold their home without using a real estate agent. In 2007, the portion of FSBO sellers decreased to 12 percent. During this time, the percent of sellers who sold their home using an agent or broker has steadily increased. FSBO sellers recognize the benefits of using an agent and that selling a home often needs professional assistance.

More than 40 percent of FSBO sellers sold their home to someone who they knew. For these FSBO sellers, less than five percent were assisted by an agent. However, FSBO sellers who did not sell their home to someone who they knew, nearly one-quarter were assisted by an agent in the sale of their home.



For FSBO sellers, who at first were not assisted by an agent, but later were, their selling price was typically lower and the number of weeks on the market was longer, than those who were assisted by an agent all along. Ironically, FSBO sellers who originally were selling their home solo, but later assisted, were most urgent to sell their home than any other type of home seller.

FSBO sellers know the challenges of selling a home solo, such as understanding and performing paperwork, preparing and fixing up their home for sale, and selling their home within the length of time planned. This group of home sellers needs the help of a professional agent to help them with their home selling needs.


This article is an Economist's Commentary dated 3-12-08 on www.realtor.org