4.1
Editor's Rating (56 Reviews)0
User Rating (0 Reviews)ByOwner.com is one of the oldest For Sale By Owner companies in the U.S. They offer Flat Fee MLS listings and let you browse homes for sale or rent on their website. The company also provides mortgage services for homebuyers.
Pros
Cons
ByOwner.com is a real estate company based in Florida. They give you the option to list your home or receive a cash offer. ByOwner.com reviews highlight that they primarily serve FSBO sellers. They also offer a Flat Fee MLS listing plan to help you save on Realtor commissions.
However, their $195 MLS listing plan lacks some advanced features. FSBO sellers may struggle to manage their listings and compare offers with them. They also don’t provide the option to request the highest and best offer.
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✍️ Editor’s Take: We recommend listing with Houzeo over ByOwner.com. With their stellar tech and 5-star customer support, Houzeo provides everything a FSBO seller needs. You can manage your listing, schedule showing, and even counter and compare offers online. Compare ByOwner.com vs. Houzeo.
Key Takeaways
- ByOwner.com is a trusted For Sale By Owner website for saving on listing agent commissions.
- With their $95 plan, your home gets listed on their site only; the $195 package adds MLS exposure.
- They activate the listing on the MLS within 24 hours of setup.
- Their positive reviews praise the customer support service and the easy listing process.
- Their negative reviews focus on limited agent support and inaccurate listing updates.
Is ByOwner.com Legit?
Yes, ByOwner.com is a legitimate company. Greg Sullivan founded it in 1996. The company is based in Boca Raton, Florida, and operates under Wild Wild West Group LLC. They have over 20 years of experience simplifying FSBO home sales.
How Does ByOwner.com Work?
Let’s look at who can benefit from ByOwner.com and who might not. It helps you decide if this platform fits your needs or if you should explore other options.
- Homeowners who want to sell without paying traditional agent commissions.
- Sellers who feel comfortable managing showings and negotiations on their own.
- Those who want MLS exposure through a low flat fee instead of full-service agents.
- Owners who want their listing to appear on major home search sites.
- Sellers who prefer full control over pricing, communication, and closing terms.
- Sellers who want full hands-on agent representation from start to finish.
- Homeowners who expect an agent to handle most negotiations for them.
- Those who want someone to run and schedule all showings automatically.
- Sellers who want comprehensive open house hosting and event staging support.
- People who prefer an agent to manage every part of paperwork and closing.
Where Does ByOwner.com Operate?
ByOwner.com covers all 50 states and DC. They are licensed in 37 states. However, in many states, Continental Real Estate Group, Inc. manages their licensing.
What Does ByOwner.com Offer?
» Jump to: ByOwner.com Listing | MLS Listing Package
ByOwner.com offers affordable options for homeowners to sell their properties. Their basic listing starts at $95, while the MLS package is available for $195.
1. ByOwner.com Listing – $95
| 👍 What We Like | 👎 What We Don't Like |
|---|---|
| ✅ Cost-effective plan | ❌ No MLS listing |
| ✅ 6-months listing | ❌ Limited market exposure |
| ✅ Easy cancellation | ❌ Fewer buyer inquiries |
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👉 Our Take: With this plan, you can list your property on ByOwner and BuyOwner portals only. Additionally, it does not include an MLS listing, which limits your property’s exposure.
2. MLS Package – $195
| 👍 What We Like | 👎 What We Don't Like |
|---|---|
| ✅ Flat Fee MLS listing | ❌ No option to review and compare offers |
| ✅ Maximum market exposure | ❌ No listing management platform |
| ✅ Online showing service | ❌ Additional charges for yard signs |
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👉 Our Take: The plan offers MLS listing at a low cost. Still, it misses essential services such as pricing guidance, comparing offers, and managing the entire listing, which are important for a good sale price.
ByOwner.com offers core services common to most flat fee MLS companies. These include online promotion to boost visibility, market data for accurate pricing, and yard signs to attract local buyers. Photo and brochure options come at an extra cost. Support for buyer showings is also included.
ByOwner.com Reviews
ByOwner.com has a 4.1 out of 5-star rating on Google based on 56 reviews. Most reviews are positive. They praise easy showing management, timely communication, helpful support, and quality photography.
However, some ByOwner.com reviews are mixed. They describe their listing process as complicated with the following issues:
- Limited agent support causing delays
- Inaccurate listing updates
- Poor buyer communication
- Difficulty scheduling showings
- Extra cancellation fees
ByOwner.com Reviews: Praises
✅ Stephen Noe saved money by not using a listing agent. ByOwner helped with paperwork. Showings were easy to manage. They also got professional photos for MLS and ByOwner.
ByOwner helped me with my listing and arranged all necessary paperwork to support my sale. I saved all the money I’d have spent on a listing agent and my showings were easy to manage. I had professional pictures taken of my home to put on byOwner and on MLS. Really I will not sell any property with listing agent any longer. Thank YOU byOwner!
Source: Google
✅ Anna White praised ByOwner.com for excellent communication. The team replied fast and provided valuable assistance.
Communication with the staff was excellent. Replies to emails on the helpline were timely and valuable. Materials were supplied when requested in a timely fashion. Their photographer was scheduled quickly and did a great job. Would definitely use them again in the future!
Source: Google
ByOwner.com Reviews: Complaints
❌ Scott Black encountered inaccurate listing updates, poor buyer communication, and added cancellation costs.
Worst real estate experience ever. Listed my property with them and they failed to make accurate updates and worst of all could not be contacted by prospective buyers. No way to schedule showings or ask questions via the MLS or other listings. Complete waste of time and money and I had to pay $300 to cancel their service. Overall $500 and one month wasted during the main buying season due to this “business”. DO NOT recommend them for anyone.
Source: Google
❌ Tina Fimbel faced delays due to limited agent support, which led to lost time during a key selling period.
The realtor they paired us with couldn’t help us all the way. We lost three weeks of prime real estate timing ironing out details and then they still couldn’t get it right. I demanded my money back which they did do. But like I said, the damage was already done and our condo sits……..
Source: Google
ByOwner.com Reviews: Pros and Cons
Let’s evaluate the pros and cons of ByOwner.com to see if they are an ideal choice for you:
✅ Pros
- Savings on Commissions: ByOwner.com charges no listing agent commissions on any package.
- Direct Contact With Buyer: You have the option to directly reach out to buyers without any intermediaries.
- Market Exposure: With their MLS listing package, your property is syndicated to other real estate sites like Zillow, Trulia, and Realtor.com.
- Stellar Customer Support: ByOwner.com reviews highlight their professional staff and excellent customer service.
❌ Cons
- Limited Agent Support: ByOwner.com reviews reveal that the assigned agent does not support sellers throughout the process. Issues take weeks to resolve. Sellers lose valuable selling time.
- Limited Features: Their listing packages lack additional tools like listing management, counter offers, and paperwork automation.
- No Information of Brokers: There is no information available about brokers associated with ByOwner.com; you’ll need to contact customer service for details.
- Time and Money Loss: Customer feedback shows that sellers lose time during peak market periods. Cancellation fees add extra cost. The value does not justify the price paid.
ByOwner.com Competitors
» Jump to: ByOwner.com vs. Houzeo | ByOwner.com vs. Congress Realty | ByOwner.com vs. Beycome
If ByOwner.com’s services don’t meet your needs, here are three other companies to consider:
1. ByOwner.com vs. Houzeo
ByOwner.com offers a $95 plan. However, your listing won’t get much visibility due to limited exposure. Additionally, their $195 MLS listing package is another option you have. However, it lacks important features needed to sell your home at a competitive price.
On the other hand, with Houzeo, you have to pay $249 and your home gets listed on the MLS. They offer 5-star customer support, advanced tech, unlimited listing updates and open houses. You also get to manage your listings and showings.
| Features | ByOwner.com | Houzeo |
|---|---|---|
| Listing Fee | $195 | $249 |
| Customer Rating | 4.1 stars (56 reviews) | 4.9 stars (11,241 reviews) |
| Coverage | Nationwide | 47 states + Washington D.C. |
| Showings Management | ✅ | ✅ |
| Offer Management | ❌ | ✅ |
| Counter an Offer | ❌ | ✅ |
| Request Highest and Best Offer | ❌ | ✅ |
| Home Inspection Dashboard | ❌ | ✅ |
2. ByOwner.com vs. Congress Realty
ByOwner offers two listing packages for home sellers. One option lists your property on the ByOwner and BuyOwner portals only, while the other offers a single plan for MLS listing. The features and services vary based on the option you choose.
In contrast, Congress Realty offers four MLS listing packages. This provides you with more flexibility to choose your package. Furthermore, they are highly transparent about the features included with each package.
3. ByOwner.com vs. Beycome
ByOwner charges $195 in most areas to list your property on the MLS. In comparison, Beycome allows you to list your property on the MLS for just $99.
With Beycome, you receive additional benefits, including professional HDR photos, free unlimited listing changes, and free access to all legal forms.
Best Flat Fee Companies Near You
Looking for alternatives to ByOwner.com? Check out these top flat fee companies.
Other Options You Should Consider
- Sell to an iBuyer: iBuyers such as Opendoor and Offerpad purchase homes needing minimal repairs in as-is condition. They can be a great option if you want to sell your house fast.
- Sell to Cash Home Buyers: Individual cash home buyers make all-cash offers, usually within 24 to 48 hours. They also let you skip listing on the MLS.
- Sell For Sale By Owner: For Sale By Owner websites help you list and sell a house yourself, saving thousands in agent commissions. Many FSBO websites will also help you with the paperwork.
Is ByOwner.com Worth It?
The most compelling feature of ByOwner.com is their $95 listing. But this package doesn’t include an MLS listing. If you want an MLS listing with ByOwner.com, you’ll need to pay $195. However, it misses key features such as pricing assistance and offer comparison.
Alternatively, Houzeo is America’s best home buying and selling website that offers three Flat Fee MLS packages. With Houzeo, you can easily track your listing, schedule showings, compare and counter offers, and request the highest and best offer.
» Houzeo Reviews: Check out why more than 10,000 home sellers have rated Houzeo 4.9 stars out of 5 on Google and Trustpilot.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is ByOwner.com legit?
Yes, ByOwner.com is a legitimate company founded in 1996. With more than 20 years of experience in real estate, they are one of the oldest FSBO companies in the U.S.
How much can you save with ByOwner.com?
You can save at least 2.5% to 3% in commission by listing with ByOwner.com. You will need to pay a $195 fee to get your property on the MLS. If you’re looking for comparable services at similar prices, you can check the competitors of ByOwner.
Is ByOwner worth the money in 2026?
Yes, you can sell with ByOwner.com. However, the lack of MLS exposure with the $95 plan and limited services with the MLS plan are important factors to consider. You can also check out these top MLS listing companies and choose the best option based on your needs.
We conducted a thorough review of ByOwner.com to provide an unbiased and fact-based analysis. Our research focused on real customer experiences and credible sources to ensure accuracy and reliability. The methodology included:
- Collecting Reviews: We gathered authentic customer reviews from trusted platforms such as Google Reviews.
- Analyzing Feedback: We examined reviews to assess service quality, customer experience, and satisfaction levels.
- Compiling Insights: We summarized findings objectively to highlight strengths and areas for improvement.
- Ensuring Neutrality: We avoided personal opinions and presented data-driven observations only.
We used reliable sources to gather information about ByOwner.com. Our research focused on real customer experiences and verified company details. Key sources included:
- Official Website – for company services, policies, and offerings.
- Google Reviews – for genuine customer feedback and service ratings.
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