How to Sell a House by Owner in California
2 min read
When the time comes to move, some tenacious homeowners are eager to take over the reins of their home sale and figure out how to sell a house by owner in California.
With millions of homes sold each year, a modest portion of sellers — about 7% in 2023 — choose to list “For Sale By Owner” (or FSBO — pronounced fizz-bow). Of those, more than half already knew the buyer of the home, according to data from the National Association of Realtors (NAR).
In this guide to selling FSBO in California, we’ll cover what can be the most difficult aspects of selling by owner in the Golden State, including the steps that might be harder than you think. We’ll also provide a comprehensive overview of the full process to prep, market, and close on your home without the assistance of a real estate agent.
Note: Once you’ve seen what’s required, you can roll up your sleeves and get started with your FSBO sale. Or — in the event you’d prefer to work with a real estate agent — HomeLight would be happy to introduce you to highly-rated professionals in your California market who can help you command top dollar and provide a low-stress selling experience.
How does selling by owner (FSBO) work in California?
Disclaimer: This blog post is intended for educational purposes only. HomeLight recommends that you look into the real estate regulations for your area and consult a trusted advisor.
FSBO is a method of selling your home without the involvement of a listing agent. In a FSBO scenario, the seller assumes the responsibilities that would normally fall to their agent, such as pricing the home, marketing it to potential buyers, arranging showings, and negotiating the deal.
In an agent-assisted sale, the seller typically pays a commission amounting to around 6% of the sale price, which is then most often split 50/50 with the buyer’s agent. That 6% is deducted from the seller’s proceeds at closing. By selling FSBO, a seller can eliminate the cost of the listing agent’s commission (so around 3%), though they may still need to offer a buyer’s agent commission.
