Selling Your House Without a Realtor in Texas

Selling your house without a realtor in Texas doesn’t have to be a challenge. You still have options, and you can save a lot of time and money when you avoid the traditional housing market. 

Key Takeaways

• Selling on your own can save you time and money. Depending on your strategy, it can be a lot of work or very little. 
• It may be beneficial to work with a real estate attorney if you don’t have an agent. 
• Your main options: sell to a cash home buyer, work with an attorney once you identify a buyer, or go the FSBO route.

If you want to sell your home without a real estate agent in Texas, you have options. Real estate agencies want you to think that it’s a lot of work. While it can be, it can be a very simple and straightforward process. 

What a Realtor Says

For Texas sellers working on their own, they don’t have to pay a commission for an agent. Real estate agents will tell you that the cost is doing all the work yourself. You won’t have the guidance of a professional on your side, so you have a huge project to manage. 

Realtors have a great understanding of the local laws and regulations. They know how to market and negotiate on your behalf. And, that’s all great to have if you want to wait for them to identify a buyer, however long that might take.

The truth of the matter, though, is that the process doesn’t have to be such a huge undertaking. Ultimately, it depends on what you choose to do and how you go about selling your house. 

Options for Selling Your House Without a Realtor

1. Cash Home Buyers

When you want a faster sale, it’s possible to sell your house to a real estate investor. Cash buyers are individuals or companies that purchase property directly from the seller. Often, they don’t require a mortgage from a bank, so they don’t have to wait for approval. 

With a real estate investor, you have more convenience and a quick sale. The cost that you incur is selling the house at a lower price because the buyer takes on the responsibility of any repairs. 

At first glance, that probably sounds like a red flag, but there are a few things to consider. 

• While your house is listed, it accrues expenses for marketing, utilities, cleanings, and other costs. 
• Cash home buyers never take fees or commissions out of their offers. 
• Potential sales to traditional buyers can fall through in the approval or inspection phase, leaving you to start all over. 

2. Sell With an Attorney

In some cases, you already know a buyer who’s interested in your house. If that’s the case, selling your house without a realtor is a breeze. All you need is an attorney to help you close the deal. 

Now, the state of Texas does not require sellers to hire an attorney, regardless of whether they have a realtor. However, it can be a good idea to work with a lawyer because they have an understanding of contracts, local laws, and disclosure requirements. When it comes to contracts and selling your house without a realtor, a small mistake can have major consequences. 

Another issue in most private home sales is that it can cause a problem in the relationships. For example, if you sell to your cousin but don’t have everything in writing, it can cause strife in the family. With an attorney, you have someone to draft and interpret that massive stack of closing paperwork. 

3. For Sale By Owner (FSBO)

Often, the idea of FSBO is appealing because sellers want to save on commission costs and have more control over the process. However, more control means more responsibility. 

It’s on you to advertise, organize photography, create the listing, market it, and even price your house. You also have to organize your own walkthroughs or open houses. 

For most homeowners, that’s a lot to take on, especially if you already have a day job. In fact, back in 2022, FSBO sales only made up about 10% of home sales, according to a report by the National Association of Realtors. 

Still, if you’re savvy with marketing, design, and negotiation, you can try to make it work. 

Weigh the Pros & Cons and Decide for Yourself

If selling your house without a realtor appeals to you, you have plenty of options. Realtors may tell you that you have to wear a lot of hats to do their job, and in a FSBO situation, that may be true. However, you can work with a cash home buyer or real estate investor to ease that burden. 

At Third Coast Home Buyers, we work with sellers across the Greater Houston Area and Gulf Coast Bay Area of Texas to help them move forward, cash in hand, leaving behind a property they no longer want. To learn more about a cash offer from our team, you can contact us today.