Agentless home buying has vaulted from fringe experiment to mainstream movement in just a few years. In 2025, more aspiring homeowners than ever are willing to buy a house without an agent, empowered by transparent listing data, all‑in‑one apps, and a well-deserved pushback against 6‑percent commissions. What was once considered risky is rapidly becoming a strategic choice, and DIY real estate transactions are leaving traditional brokers scrambling to redefine their value.
According to the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) 2024 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, 5 percent of buyers purchased directly from a previous owner and another 6 percent of all home sales were For Sale By Owner (FSBO). The raw numbers may look small, but they translate to roughly 240,000 homes annually and an $115 billion slice of the market changing hands outside the old two‑agent model. Combined with the historic March 2024 settlement that decoupled buyer agent commissions from the MLS, thousands of consumers are asking a simple question: “Can I buy a house directly from the owner and keep the savings?”
Here we unpack how unrepresented buyers, tech innovators, and policy shifts are converging to fuel commission‑free home buying in 2025. Along the way, we’ll cover practical takeaways from legal steps when buying without a realtor to escrow tips for unrepresented buyers, and exactly where the platforms like Hom fits into this fast‑evolving landscape.
Agentless home buying has vaulted from fringe experiment to mainstream movement in just a few years. In 2025, more aspiring homeowners than ever are willing to buy a house without an agent, empowered by transparent listing data, all‑in‑one apps, and a well-deserved pushback against 6‑percent commissions. What was once considered risky is rapidly becoming a strategic choice, and DIY real estate transactions are leaving traditional brokers scrambling to redefine their value.
According to the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) 2024 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, 5 percent of buyers purchased directly from a previous owner and another 6 percent of all home sales were For Sale By Owner (FSBO). The raw numbers may look small, but they translate to roughly 240,000 homes annually and an $115 billion slice of the market changing hands outside the old two‑agent model. Combined with the historic March 2024 settlement that decoupled buyer agent commissions from the MLS, thousands of consumers are asking a simple question: “Can I buy a house directly from the owner and keep the savings?”
Here we unpack how unrepresented buyers, tech innovators, and policy shifts are converging to fuel commission‑free home buying in 2025. Along the way, we’ll cover practical takeaways from legal steps when buying without a realtor to escrow tips for unrepresented buyers, and exactly where the platforms like Hom fits into this fast‑evolving landscape.
Agentless home buying has vaulted from fringe experiment to mainstream movement in just a few years. In 2025, more aspiring homeowners than ever are willing to buy a house without an agent, empowered by transparent listing data, all‑in‑one apps, and a well-deserved pushback against 6‑percent commissions. What was once considered risky is rapidly becoming a strategic choice, and DIY real estate transactions are leaving traditional brokers scrambling to redefine their value.
According to the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) 2024 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, 5 percent of buyers purchased directly from a previous owner and another 6 percent of all home sales were For Sale By Owner (FSBO). The raw numbers may look small, but they translate to roughly 240,000 homes annually and an $115 billion slice of the market changing hands outside the old two‑agent model. Combined with the historic March 2024 settlement that decoupled buyer agent commissions from the MLS, thousands of consumers are asking a simple question: “Can I buy a house directly from the owner and keep the savings?”
Here we unpack how unrepresented buyers, tech innovators, and policy shifts are converging to fuel commission‑free home buying in 2025. Along the way, we’ll cover practical takeaways from legal steps when buying without a realtor to escrow tips for unrepresented buyers, and exactly where the platforms like Hom fits into this fast‑evolving landscape.
A Market Ripe for Disruption
From shifting consumer expectations to evolving regulatory frameworks, 2025’s housing market is primed for a shake up. The four forces below explain why the traditional agent‑centric model is rapidly giving way to leaner, tech‑enabled alternatives.
Record Online Engagement: NAR reports that 100% of recent buyers used the internet during their search, with two of the seven homes they toured being “online only.” Zillow’s 2024 Consumer Housing Trends adds that 52% actually purchased a home they first discovered online. Digital discovery is no longer supplemental, it is the home buying journey.
Commission Math: Even after a decade of discount brokers, the typical combined commission still hovers between 5% and 6% of the home's sale price. On a $425,000 median‑priced home, that’s $21,000, enough to scare budget‑conscious buyers.
Regulatory Tailwinds: The 2024 NAR antitrust settlement ended what were essentially mandatory commission sharing rules, opening the gate to commission‑free home buying at scale.
Platform Maturity: End‑to‑end tech platforms are replacing buyer’s agents, from self‑tour‑lock providers to instant‑offer escrow services. They've reached the "good enough" threshold for mainstream adoption.
These forces converge to make agentless home buying less an outlier and more a rational economic choice in 2025.
The Core Motivation: Saving Real Money
Home buyers cite cost savings as their top reason to buy without a realtor. If you save on real estate commissions by negotiating directly, the dollars add up fast:
Sale Price
Buyer‑Agent Fee (3%)
Potential Savings
$300,000
$9,000
A mortgage interest rate buy down
$500,000
$15,000
A down payment bump that could remove PMI
$750,000
$22,500
Full kitchen remodel
With price histories, automated valuations, and one‑click "make an offer" tools just a tap away, skipping a buyer’s agent now feels like trimming a needless expense.
A Market Ripe for Disruption
From shifting consumer expectations to evolving regulatory frameworks, 2025’s housing market is primed for a shake up. The four forces below explain why the traditional agent‑centric model is rapidly giving way to leaner, tech‑enabled alternatives.
Record Online Engagement: NAR reports that 100% of recent buyers used the internet during their search, with two of the seven homes they toured being “online only.” Zillow’s 2024 Consumer Housing Trends adds that 52% actually purchased a home they first discovered online. Digital discovery is no longer supplemental, it is the home buying journey.
Commission Math: Even after a decade of discount brokers, the typical combined commission still hovers between 5% and 6% of the home's sale price. On a $425,000 median‑priced home, that’s $21,000, enough to scare budget‑conscious buyers.
Regulatory Tailwinds: The 2024 NAR antitrust settlement ended what were essentially mandatory commission sharing rules, opening the gate to commission‑free home buying at scale.
Platform Maturity: End‑to‑end tech platforms are replacing buyer’s agents, from self‑tour‑lock providers to instant‑offer escrow services. They've reached the "good enough" threshold for mainstream adoption.
These forces converge to make agentless home buying less an outlier and more a rational economic choice in 2025.
The Core Motivation: Saving Real Money
Home buyers cite cost savings as their top reason to buy without a realtor. If you save on real estate commissions by negotiating directly, the dollars add up fast:
Sale Price
Buyer‑Agent Fee (3%)
Potential Savings
$300,000
$9,000
A mortgage interest rate buy down
$500,000
$15,000
A down payment bump that could remove PMI
$750,000
$22,500
Full kitchen remodel
With price histories, automated valuations, and one‑click "make an offer" tools just a tap away, skipping a buyer’s agent now feels like trimming a needless expense.
A Market Ripe for Disruption
From shifting consumer expectations to evolving regulatory frameworks, 2025’s housing market is primed for a shake up. The four forces below explain why the traditional agent‑centric model is rapidly giving way to leaner, tech‑enabled alternatives.
Record Online Engagement: NAR reports that 100% of recent buyers used the internet during their search, with two of the seven homes they toured being “online only.” Zillow’s 2024 Consumer Housing Trends adds that 52% actually purchased a home they first discovered online. Digital discovery is no longer supplemental, it is the home buying journey.
Commission Math: Even after a decade of discount brokers, the typical combined commission still hovers between 5% and 6% of the home's sale price. On a $425,000 median‑priced home, that’s $21,000, enough to scare budget‑conscious buyers.
Regulatory Tailwinds: The 2024 NAR antitrust settlement ended what were essentially mandatory commission sharing rules, opening the gate to commission‑free home buying at scale.
Platform Maturity: End‑to‑end tech platforms are replacing buyer’s agents, from self‑tour‑lock providers to instant‑offer escrow services. They've reached the "good enough" threshold for mainstream adoption.
These forces converge to make agentless home buying less an outlier and more a rational economic choice in 2025.
The Core Motivation: Saving Real Money
Home buyers cite cost savings as their top reason to buy without a realtor. If you save on real estate commissions by negotiating directly, the dollars add up fast:
Sale Price
Buyer‑Agent Fee (3%)
Potential Savings
$300,000
$9,000
A mortgage interest rate buy down
$500,000
$15,000
A down payment bump that could remove PMI
$750,000
$22,500
Full kitchen remodel
With price histories, automated valuations, and one‑click "make an offer" tools just a tap away, skipping a buyer’s agent now feels like trimming a needless expense.
How to Buy a Home Agent‑Free in 2025
Below is a step‑by‑step guide to agentless home buying that combines the best practices from thousands of unrepresented home buyers:
Clarify Criteria and Budget: Connect with a mortgage lender through Homa to secure a pre-approval, then set alerts on Zillow or Redfin to find homes, and run them through Homa's analysis tools to see if they're the right fit for you.
Tour Smarter: Visit open houses, tour virtually, visit with the listing agent, or schedule a private but low-commitment showing through Homa.
Run Comps: Homa pulls up to five sold comps for any home you're interested in to help you determine your offer price.
Craft Your Offer: Use standardized state forms (often downloadable) or Homa’s Offer Builder. Include any special terms you need to make sure you protect yourself.
Negotiate Directly: Keep communications in writing and timestamp changes. If the seller has an agent, reiterate that you are representing yourself.
Secure Escrow and Title: Choose an escrow company experienced with DIY real estate transactions and see our escrow tips for unrepresented buyers below.
Inspect and Appraise: Hire third‑party inspectors and appraisers to make sure you have the right professionals you need to buy a home without an agent succesfully.
Close on Your New Home: Sign the paperwork, get your keys, and celebrate the fact that you bought a home by yourself!
Pros and Cons of Agentless Buying
Pros
Cost Control: Retain 2% - 3% of the purchase price as a credit in lieu of a buyer's agent commission.
Speed: No middleman getting in the way. Get direct answers from the seller or the listing agent
Transparency: You select your inspectors, lenders, and escrow, avoiding steering.
Negotiation Leverage: Sellers sometimes reduce price because they’re not paying a buyer's agent fee.
Cons
Paperwork Load: You shoulder disclosures, addenda, and timeline tracking.
Emotional Bias: No buffer during tense renegotiations.
Local Nuance: Things like complex HOA rules or local negotiation norms can trip you up if you don't ask the right questions.
Likelihood of an Agent Still Being Involved: Only 6% of listings remain FSBO, so you’ll interact with plenty of agents on the seller side.
Weighing the pros and cons of agentless buying or the pros and cons of skipping a buyer’s agent often boils down to personal risk tolerance and willingness to learn.
Technology Is the New Middleman
Nearly 94% of buyers used at least one online resource when buying a home in 2024, and mobile home search usage hit 69%. These trends underpin a wave of digital platforms replacing realtors.
Listing Aggregators: Zillow, Redfin, and Realtor.com syndicate virtually every MLS listing, plus FSBO inventory.
Self‑Tour Tech: Companies like OpenDoor offer secure, app‑authenticated property access for their listings.
End‑to‑End Tools: Homa integrates property analysis, offer creation, and closing tasks into one workspace, purpose‑built for agentless home buying.
The result: tech platforms replacing buyer’s agents don’t eliminate humans, they relocate expertise into services you can hire à la carte while allowing you to take on more of the responsibility yourself which can be empowering and even save you money.
Legal & Escrow Tips for Unrepresented Buyers
Task
Why It Matters
Quick Tip
Title search
Verifies clear ownership; prevents liens surprises
Request "expanded" title insurance if property has remodels
Disclosures
State‑mandated seller statements
Use checklists; missed items can void sale
Contingency deadlines
Protect earnest money
Sync dates with digital calendar and escrow portal
Remote Online Notarization (RON)
Close from anywhere
Confirm your lender allows RON prior to signing
Legal considerations when buying without a realtor vary by state. Always review local statutes on agency representation and dual‑agency restrictions. If uncertain, purchase a limited‑scope consultation with a real‑estate attorney, which are often $300‑$500 and well worth it.
Homa Platform Benefits for Agentless Buyers
Homa was designed from the ground up to streamline commission‑free home buying:
Analyze Property: Enter any address - listed or FSBO - and Homa’s AI uncovers market trends, red flags, and negotiating power so you can buy a house directly from owner or through a listing agent confidently.
Zero‑Commitment Tours: Book in‑person or virtual showings with the listing agent or through Homa’s showing partner with no contracts, no sales pressure.
Smart Offer Pricing: Homa’s algorithm crunches comps and hundreds of data points to recommend a data‑driven offer that helps you save on real estate commissions while staying competitive.
AI Disclosure Review: Upload seller disclosures and let Homa flag hidden issues before you submit an offer, keeping surprises out of escrow.
Contract Creation and e‑Sign: Generate state‑approved purchase agreements on the same legal forms agents use, then sign digitally from any device.
Escrow Guidance: Interactive checklists and an on‑demand AI chat walk you through inspections, title, and funding, helping with negotiation leverage and escrow tips for unrepresented buyers at each milestone.
In short, Homa's home buying platform offer benefits and tools that align perfectly with the self‑service ethos of today’s modern and savvy home buyers.
Conclusion: The Agent-Free Revolution Is Here
The rise of agentless home buying is no fad. Demographics, technology, and regulatory shifts make 2025 a tipping point. Buyers who want to buy a house without an agent or buy a house directly from owner now have robust tools, transparent data, and proven workflows to succeed. Yes, challenges remain - from paperwork to the emotional vortex of negotiations - but those who embrace a DIY real estate transaction stand to capture five‑figure savings and gain full control of one of life’s biggest purchases.
At Homa, we’re betting that the next generation of unrepresented home buyers won’t just disrupt the status quo, they’ll redefine it. Ready to join them?
Conclusion: The Agent-Free Revolution Is Here
The rise of agentless home buying is no fad. Demographics, technology, and regulatory shifts make 2025 a tipping point. Buyers who want to buy a house without an agent or buy a house directly from owner now have robust tools, transparent data, and proven workflows to succeed. Yes, challenges remain - from paperwork to the emotional vortex of negotiations - but those who embrace a DIY real estate transaction stand to capture five‑figure savings and gain full control of one of life’s biggest purchases.
At Homa, we’re betting that the next generation of unrepresented home buyers won’t just disrupt the status quo, they’ll redefine it. Ready to join them?
Conclusion: The Agent-Free Revolution Is Here
The rise of agentless home buying is no fad. Demographics, technology, and regulatory shifts make 2025 a tipping point. Buyers who want to buy a house without an agent or buy a house directly from owner now have robust tools, transparent data, and proven workflows to succeed. Yes, challenges remain - from paperwork to the emotional vortex of negotiations - but those who embrace a DIY real estate transaction stand to capture five‑figure savings and gain full control of one of life’s biggest purchases.
At Homa, we’re betting that the next generation of unrepresented home buyers won’t just disrupt the status quo, they’ll redefine it. Ready to join them?
