How to Buy a Home Without a Realtor and Save Thousands

Buying a home is one of the biggest financial decisions you’ll ever make, but paying thousands in realtor commission fees doesn’t have to be a part of that equation.

The traditional house buying process comes with a hefty 2.5-3% commission that the homebuyer is responsible for paying to their agent. That’s a lot of money, so you might wonder how to buy a home without a realtor (and if it’s even a good idea).

Here’s how to navigate the home buying process without a real estate agent and keep more money in your pocket for upgrades, furniture, or emergency funds. 

🏡Res/Direct equips you with expert guidance through every step of the home-buying journey, without charging you a single cent in commission fees.

Do You Need a Realtor to Buy a Home?

The straightforward answer: Nope.

While approximately 87% of buyers use real estate agents, the fact that it’s a common practice doesn’t make it a requirement, or even a smart financial decision. Many buyers assume they need an agent to access listings, negotiate offers, or manage paperwork—none of which is true.

Common misconceptions include:

• “Only realtors can access home listings”: With online platforms like Zillow and Redfin accessible to everyone, you have the same visibility into available properties.
• “I need expertise to negotiate”: With proper guidance and resources, you can make confident offers backed by market research and professional support.
• “The paperwork is too complicated”: Real estate lawyers can handle documentation more effectively than many realtors, often at a fraction of the cost.

Real estate agents are notoriously expensive. On a $400,000 home purchase, the typical 2.5-3% buyer’s agent commission equals $10,000-12,000 in fees. 

That’s money you could put toward renovating your kitchen, installing a backyard deck, or giving your walls a fresh coat of paint. 

SAVINGS CALCULATOR

Try our calculator to see how much you’ll save on a commission-free home purchase.

Most homebuyers accept real estate agents’ commissions as an unavoidable cost, but the truth is that you have a choice. These thousands of dollars are not a mandatory fee, and you have agency over how you spend them.

Is There an Advantage to Not Using a Realtor?

Yes, there are several advantages to not hiring a real estate agent as a buyer.

• Financial freedom: The most obvious benefit is keeping thousands in commission fees. These savings directly reduce the overall cost of your home purchase.
• Direct communication: Without a middleman, you communicate directly with sellers and their representatives. This often means fewer miscommunications and delays.
• More control: You decide which properties to view, when to make offers, and how to structure those offers based on your priorities. Someone else’s commission incentives don’t influence your home-buying journey. 
• Streamlined process: You can work directly with dedicated specialists for specific parts of the transaction (inspectors, real estate attorneys) instead of having one real estate agent, often with no specialized expertise, manage everything.

Of course, a good real estate agent can still provide some value for home buyers. If your time is extremely limited, you might benefit from an agent who can preview homes and handle negotiations.

But this support doesn’t come cheap.

Under the 2024 NAR commission changes, buyers are now responsible for paying their agent’s fees, which can add 2-3% to the cost of your home.

Previously, these fees were often hidden in the overall purchase price, so many buyers didn’t fully understand they were footing the bill. 

NAR’s legal settlement established them as a separate, explicit expense for buyers who choose to work with an agent. 

This brings more transparency to the real estate industry and makes it easier for buyers to understand and negotiate these fees—or decide to avoid them entirely.

Your Guide to Buying a House Without a Realtor

Now that you know you don’t have to use a realtor, here’s exactly how to buy a home without an agent—from start to finish.

1. Preparation

Before you start looking at houses, you need to get your finances in order. This means checking your credit score, saving for a down payment, and getting pre-approved for a mortgage. Being pre-approved shows sellers you’re serious and gives you a clear budget for your home search.

• Credit check: Aim for a score of at least 620, though 740+ will get you the best mortgage rates.
• Down payment: Save 3-20% of your target home price (conventional home loans typically require at least 3%, and FHA loans require 3.5%).
• Pre-approval: Gather tax returns, pay stubs, bank statements, and employment verification for your mortgage application.
• Budget planning: Calculate not just mortgage payments, but also property taxes, insurance, HOA fees, and maintenance costs.
• Closing cost preparation: Set aside 2-6% of the purchase price for closing costs.

How Res/Direct helps: Our team walks you through the financial preparation process step by step. We connect you with trusted lenders for competitive mortgage rates and help you understand exactly how much house you can afford without overextending yourself.

2. Home Search

With online listing sites like Zillow and Redfin, you can easily search for homes that match your criteria. Make a list of must-haves and nice-to-haves, and start scheduling viewings directly with the listing agent. You can also go to open houses.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions and take photos during viewings to help you compare properties and asking prices later.

• Set search parameters: Use filters for price range, location, square footage, bedrooms, and bathrooms.
• Research neighborhoods: Check school ratings, crime statistics, proximity to amenities, and future development plans.
• Contact listing agents: Email or call the agent listed on the property to schedule viewings.
• Prepare viewing questions: Ask about the age of major systems (HVAC, roof, water heater), average utility costs, and reasons for selling.

How Res/Direct helps: You maintain control of your home search, but our advisors will provide insider tips on evaluating different houses. We can help you prepare questions that reveal important information about each property and bring you up to speed on the housing market so you don’t overpay. Happy house hunting! 😎

3. Making an Offer

Once you find a home you love, it’s time to make an offer. Research comparable homes in the area to determine a fair price. Your offer should include the purchase price, contingencies (like inspection and financing), and proposed closing date.

Be prepared to negotiate if the seller’s agent comes back with a counteroffer.

• Contingencies are conditions that must be met for the sale to proceed. They protect you as the buyer. For example, an inspection contingency allows you to back out or renegotiate if the home inspector finds serious problems.
• Earnest money deposit is a deposit you make when your offer is accepted, typically 1-3% of the purchase price. This money shows sellers you’re serious about buying their home. It’s held in an escrow account and eventually applied to your down payment or closing costs.

How Res/Direct helps: We help you craft a competitive offer based on market data and guide you through the negotiation process. Our advisors help you understand which contingencies to include and how to structure your offer for the best chance of acceptance.

4. Under Contract

After your offer is accepted, you’ll enter the “under contract” period. During this time, you’ll arrange a home inspection, complete your mortgage application, and potentially negotiate repairs based on inspection findings. This period typically lasts 30-45 days while the contingencies are addressed.

• Purchase and Sale Agreement: After your initial offer is accepted, you’ll sign this more detailed contract. This agreement includes all terms of the sale, property specifications, contingencies, and what’s included/excluded from the sale.
• Title search: Have the property’s title examined for liens or ownership issues.
• Home inspection: Hire a qualified inspector to evaluate the property’s condition, and consider additional radon, mold, pest, or structural inspections if needed.
• Repair negotiations: If issues are found, request repairs, credits, or price reductions.
• Clear contingencies: Formally notify the seller when you’re satisfied with inspections and other conditions.

How Res/Direct helps: We can recommend trusted professionals for your inspection and educate you on how to interpret the results. If repairs are needed, our team can help you come up with a negotiation strategy to reach fair solutions with the seller.

5. Closing Process

During the closing process, you’ll finalize your mortgage, do a final walk-through of the property, and sign the legal documents to transfer ownership. You’ll need to bring a cashier’s check or arrange a wire transfer for your down payment and closing costs.

• Final walkthrough: Verify the property is in the agreed-upon condition 24-48 hours before closing.
• Bring documentation: Government-issued ID, proof of homeowners’ insurance, and any other required paperwork.
• Record the deed: The title company will file the deed with local government offices.
• Get your keys: Once everything is signed and the funds are transferred, you’ll receive the keys to your new home. SUCCESS!

How Res/Direct helps: Our closing specialists, like Lori, help you make sure all documentation is prepared correctly and guide you through every page you’ll sign.

6. Post-Closing

After closing, you’ll receive the keys to your new home. You’ll need to set up utilities and update your address with the post office, DMV, banks, and any other offices. You can now start planning any repairs or renovations you want to do! 🔑

What Are the Risks of Not Using a Realtor?

Buying a home without a realtor can save you thousands of dollars, but there are potential challenges. Most mistakes happen when buyers lack knowledge about the process or miss important details that are second-nature to experienced agents.

Here’s what our team at Res/Direct will help you watch out for:

• Legal Considerations: Without a realtor, you’re responsible for understanding contracts and legal requirements. Our real estate attorneys will help you navigate this jargon, explaining everything in clear terms. 
• Negotiation Challenges: Negotiating directly with a seller’s agent can be intimidating, and you might struggle to identify which repair requests are reasonable or how to respond to counteroffers strategically. This is where we come in to support you.
• Documentation Requirements: Real estate transactions come with a lot of paperwork, which you’ll have to carefully review and complete on time. Sometimes these documents can be hard to understand without guidance from a third-party expert–like us

Buying a home without a realtor works for people who are motivated by financial independence and control over decisions. 

You can take your time researching properties and make offers without the pressure to “act fast” to secure someone’s commission.

However, you’ll need to educate yourself on how the process works, which isn’t always easy. Even experienced buyers can find themselves navigating unfamiliar territory as regulations and market conditions change.

For a more stress-free experience, partnering with Res/Direct gives you expert guidance throughout the process without the commission fees.

Is It Safe to Buy a House Without a Realtor?

Yes, buying a house without a realtor is safe when you understand the process and have proper support. You’ll need to improve your market knowledge and partner with specialized professionals like a real estate attorney and a trusted home inspector.

It’s important to strike the right balance between taking control of your home purchase and getting professional support when you need it. That’s where we come in.

Resources for Buying a House Without a Realtor

Here are a few resources to help you gain more confidence and clarity in the buying process without breaking the bank.

• Online platforms for home searches: Use Zillow, Redfin, and Realtor.com to find available properties, view photos, and check price history. Most listing sites now show the same properties that were once only accessible to agents through MLS.
• Legal resources: You can find state-specific real estate contract templates through your state’s real estate commission website. Res/Direct can also help you with this.
• Checklists: The American Society of Home Inspectors publishes its Standard of Practice, and Res/Direct has a comprehensive First-Time Homebuyer Checklist for a step-by-step guide through the entire process.

How to Buy a House Without a Realtor with Res/Direct

Res/Direct helps homebuyers navigate every step of the journey without the need for traditional realtor commissions. 

We equip buyers with the tools, expertise, and transparency they need to confidently purchase their dream home—and keep more money in their pockets. 

Here’s how:

• Professional Support System: Our team includes dedicated advisors who guide you through each phase of the home-buying process.
• Expert Advice: Get help with offer preparation, contract review, and negotiation strategy without paying realtor commissions.
• Trusted Vendor Network: Access our pre-vetted network of home inspectors, escrow companies, contractors, and other professionals you’ll need along the way.
• Title and Closing Expertise: As a subsidiary of Res/Title, a trusted name in the title industry for over 30 years, we bring unmatched expertise to the closing process.

Start with our independent home-buying assessment to get a personalized roadmap and see exactly how much you could save.

FAQs

Why Do I Need a Realtor?

You don’t. Working with a realtor is optional, not required. That said, realtors can be beneficial in certain scenarios, such as if you have an extremely complex situation (like selling and buying simultaneously in different states). 

For most tech-savvy, independent buyers who value transparency and financial control, the traditional realtor model simply adds high and unnecessary costs.

Who Gets Commission If the Buyer Has No Agent?

With the 2024 NAR settlement changes, commission structures have been completely overhauled. Now, buyers are explicitly responsible for paying their own agent’s fees directly (typically 2-3% of the sales price). If you don’t use a buyer’s agent, you simply don’t pay this commission at all. The seller still pays their listing agent’s commission, but that’s separate from your costs as a buyer.

By choosing to go without a buyer’s agent, you’re eliminating a significant expense that other buyers now have to pay out of pocket, saving thousands of dollars that can go toward your down payment or home improvements instead.

Can I Buy a House Directly from the Owner?

Yes, you can purchase directly from an owner in a “For Sale By Owner” (FSBO) transaction. This approach can save both parties money since neither side pays agent commissions. You’ll still need to handle the purchase agreement, title search, and closing process, typically with help from a real estate attorney or title company.

Who Writes the Contract When Buying a House?

It depends. Real estate attorneys can prepare contracts for a flat fee, some states allow title companies to provide standard forms, and online legal services often have contract templates specific to your state. Make sure that your contract includes all necessary contingencies and follows state requirements.

Contracts CAN get confusing, but Res/Direct can guide you through the entire process. 

What Is It Called When You Don’t Use a Realtor?

Buying without a realtor is often called “unrepresented buying” or a “direct purchase.” Whatever term you use, it means that you’re taking control of the process instead of delegating it to a commissioned agent.

So, Should You Buy a Home Without a Realtor?

Yes, especially if you value transparency, financial control, and making independent decisions. You’re an excellent candidate for buying without a realtor if you’re comfortable using technology to research properties, prefer direct communication, and want to save thousands in commission fees.

Start with our independent assessment to get a personalized roadmap for DIY home buying, whether you’re purchasing your first home, upgrading, or downsizing.