: You communicate directly with sellers, which can speed up the process and reduce "telephone games" between intermediaries.
Buying a house without an agent is . While traditionally most buyers use a real estate agent to navigate the process, an estimated 12% of homebuyers in 2023 chose to go solo. This path offers maximum control but requires you to take on approximately 100 tasks normally handled by a professional. Review of Going Agent-Free
: Without an agent, you lack access to the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) , which can hide up to 50% of available inventory in some markets. You also risk overpaying due to a lack of professional "comps" (comparable sales data) and making costly errors in legally binding contracts.
Whether this route is "worth it" depends on your experience level and comfort with risk.