Selling your home without a real estate agent (also known as for sale by owner or FSBO) can help you avoid the average 3.12% listing agent fee in Minnesota. When done right, FSBO could save you more money than going through a traditional agent. We simplify the Minneapolis for sale by owner process here at Real Estate Corners to help you sell your home at the best possible price. But before we explain how we support sellers, let’s take a closer look at how FSBO works and why it might be the right fit for you.
What is FSBO?
When selling your house, you can either handle the sale yourself or work with a real estate agent. Selling on your own — called FSBO — makes up a small portion of the market, with just 6% of sales in 2024, according to the National Association of Realtors® (NAR).
Why do some home sellers in Minneapolis choose for sale by owner? A common reason is to avoid paying commission to a listing agent. Traditionally, the commission on a home sale ranged from 3% to 6% of the sale price. Before the NAR settlement changes in August 2024, the seller typically paid both the listing agent and the buyer’s agent, who would split the total commission.
Under the new rules, buyers are now expected to cover their agent’s fees. However, many sellers still offer to pay the buyer’s agent commission as an incentive to attract more interest. If you decide to go FSBO, you may still choose to pay the buyer’s agent a 3% fee to make your property more appealing.
Is FSBO right for you?
Selling your Minneapolis home as for sale by owner gives you control, but it also comes with added responsibilities. Without an agent, you’ll manage every part of the process — from pricing and marketing to negotiations and closing paperwork. For homeowners without real estate experience, this can feel like a lot to take on.
Still, many sellers find that the potential savings make it worthwhile. By avoiding the listing agent’s fee, you could hold on to more of your home’s value when you sell it yourself in Minneapolis.
The benefits of FSBO
Although FSBO sales are not that common, there are solid reasons why some homesellers choose this approach. Let’s explore the advantages of selling your Minneapolis home as a for-sale-by-owner.
More control over the home sale
FSBO gives you full control of the entire house-selling process. If you already have a clear plan for pricing and marketing, this route gives you the flexibility to run the sale on your terms.
That said, taking full control means taking on more responsibility. You’ll need to handle everything — from setting a competitive listing price and hiring a professional photographer to securing access to the Multiple Listing Service (MLS). If you’re new to real estate, there’s a learning curve, but some sellers find the effort worthwhile, especially with our help.
Avoid paying the listing agent commission
One of the biggest reasons Minneapolis homeowners choose the for-sale-by-owner route is to save on the listing agent’s commission. For example, if your home sells for $300,000 and the agent’s fee is 3%, that’s $9,000 taken out of your earnings.
And while agents typically split that fee with their brokerage, the cost still comes out of your pocket as the seller. FSBO can be especially practical if you already have a buyer lined up — like a family member or friend — making an agent’s services less necessary.
What to keep in mind before going FSBO
While FSBO can save money and give you more control, it also comes with a few challenges:
- Pricing your home correctly is crucial. A poor pricing strategy can delay your sale or attract the wrong buyers.
- You’ll need to handle every step — from showings to paperwork — which can take significant time.
- Negotiating offers without guidance can be tough if you’re unfamiliar with the process.
- Marketing your home effectively requires effort and planning.
How a flat-fee real estate firm can simplify FSBO
Selling your home on your own doesn’t mean you have to do everything alone. A flat-fee real estate service like ours helps take the pressure off while still keeping costs low. At Real Estate Corners, we offer a Minneapolis For Sale By Owner package starting at just $399. This gets your property listed on the local Multiple Listing Service (MLS), where it can be seen by thousands of motivated buyers.
Our FSBO package includes a 6-month MLS listing, with an option to extend to 12 months for an additional fee. We make the process easy by handling the technical steps — like uploading up to 24 photos and providing online forms for data input and e-signatures. Once your home is listed, it also appears on popular real estate platforms like Realtor.com and Trulia.
Here’s what else you get with our Minneapolis for sale by owner package:
- No hidden fees
- Required Minnesota disclosure forms included
- A complete ad and listing on our website
- Broker listing support from start to finish
- No cancellation fees—you can cancel anytime
- We forward all buyer phone and email inquiries directly to you
Sell your home at a lower cost without cutting corners
Our flat-fee real estate agents are here to help you sell your Minneapolis home as a for-sale-by-owner — and save thousands in commission. If you’re also buying a home, we can represent you as a buyer’s agent and even offer rebates of up to $4,000 after closing.
Call us at (612) 483-1230 to get started today. Let’s make your home sale easier and more affordable.
