First-Time Buyer Guide
Buy Your First Home
Without a Buyer's Agent
Save the 2–3% buyer's agent commission — $7,000–$12,000 on a typical first home — by purchasing directly from FSBO sellers. Free guides for all 50 states.
On a $400,000 home, a 2.5% buyer's agent commission = $10,000 you can keep.
Free Buyer Guides
Everything you need to buy your first home from an FSBO seller — in the right order.
Get Pre-Approved Before You Shop
FSBO sellers won't take an offer seriously without a pre-approval letter. Compare rates from 200+ lenders — free, no commitment.
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Can a First-Time Buyer Really Skip the Agent?
Yes — and buyers do it every day. The buyer's agent commission (typically 2–3% of the purchase price) was historically paid by the seller, but the 2024 NAR settlement changed the rules. Buyers must now negotiate or agree to their agent's compensation upfront, which means the cost is more visible than ever.
When you buy directly from an FSBO seller, there is no buyer's agent to pay. That commission stays with you — either as negotiating leverage to reduce the purchase price or simply as savings at closing.
The risk isn't skipping the agent. The risk is not doing your homework. This site covers every step: pre-approval, offer structure, inspection, title, and closing — so you don't need someone to hold your hand through a process you can learn in an afternoon.