Can You Purchase a House Without a Realtor?

The short answer? Yes, you can buy a home without a realtor, but that doesn’t mean it is advisable to conduct one of the largest transactions of your life without some specialized support.

More buyers today are asking if they can (or should) represent themselves during a real estate transaction, especially with so many listings and tools available online. And while it’s legally allowed, self-representation comes with trade-offs, especially when you’re navigating pricing, contracts, negotiations, and disclosures on your own.

At TurboHome, we believe that most buyers / sellers should use a realtor, but that smart, savvy people will pay a flat fee to their realtors that aligns incentives.

Let’s break down what it really means to buy without a realtor, and why a flat-fee agent might be the smarter middle ground.

TL;DR - purchasing a house without a realtor is tricky and hard to do right. But full commission realtors are too expensive and outdated. We believe that flat fee agents (80%+ less cost than traditional agents) are the best option for value-orientated home buyers.

What Happens When You Buy Without a Realtor?

If you choose to go solo, you’ll be responsible for:

• Discovery - Finding and vetting listings. Most are available on Zillow / RedFin, but there are many private listings, pocket listings, and off-market deals that will be unavailable to self-represented buyers.
• Scheduling tours and contacting sellers agents directly - as a self-represented buyer, you can communicate directly with sellers and their agents, but your communication can be viewed as an amateur's efforts and can reduce your credibility.
• Reviewing disclosure documents and inspections - access to disclosures is theoretically available to unrepresented buyers, but listing agents will often gate keep and not provide disclosure packets to buyers. If you are able to get a disclosure packet, reading the document and understanding the risk takes specialized skills - and a good agent with technology can speed up this process.
• Deciding how much to offer and drafting the purchase contract - unrepresented buyers can determine price using available comps, but they are not allowed to use standard purchase contract forms. Given this issue, the contingencies may be inaccurate and the contract may be viewed as less professional than one coming from an agent.
• Handling negotiations, contingencies, and timelines.

In short, you’re taking on the full-time job of a real estate professional without the experience or legal support they typically provide.

While some experienced investors or attorneys can manage this, most everyday buyers find the process more overwhelming than expected. Even a small mistake in contract language or due diligence can cost thousands.

Why a Flat-Fee Agent is a Smarter Choice

A flat-fee agent gives you the same guidance, expertise, and legal protection of a traditional agent. TurboHome agents have AI tools and vet outputs to ensure the information is accurate as well. 

Here’s how it compares:

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Final Thought

Buying a house without a realtor is possible but having expert support doesn’t have to cost 2.5% to 3% of the purchase price. With TurboHome’s flat-fee model gives you the confidence and protection of a pro, along with the pricing clarity you deserve and the tools to make smarter decisions., the pricing clarity you deserve, and the tools to make smarter decisions.

Considering buying a home this year? Let’s talk strategy at TurboHome.com.

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