ByOwner.com is one of the oldest For Sale By Owner companies in the U.S. They list your home on the MLS for a flat fee. Additionally, you can browse homes for sale and rental properties on their website. The company also provides mortgage-related services to homebuyers.
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Pros
- ByOwner.com helps you list your home on the MLS for as low as $99.
- You can save on Realtor commissions with their Flat Fee MLS listing.
- Their website is user-friendly and easy to navigate.
- They assist you with professional photography and closing coordination.
Cons
- Their $499 MLS package is costly compared to the features it offers.
- They lack advanced technology, such as a listing management platform.
- They charge $39 per month to list a property only on their website.
- You’ll pay $59.95 for a yard sign, since it's not included in their plans.
ByOwner.com is a real estate company based in Florida. They primarily serve FSBO sellers. You can list your property for both sale and rent with them. They offer Flat Fee MLS listing plans to help you save on Realtor commissions.
However, their MLS listing packages lack 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.
Is ByOwner.com Legit?
Yes, ByOwner.com is a legitimate company. Greg Sullivan founded it in 1996. The company is based in Florida and is licensed in 17 states through Wild Wild West Group LLC.
How Does ByOwner.com Work?
Here’s how you can list your property with ByOwner.com.
- Choose the Listing Type: Go to their website and click on “List My Property.” Select whether you want to list your property for sale or rent.
- Enter Property Information: Provide your address or ZIP code to proceed further.
- Select Listing Options: Choose whether you want your property listed only on ByOwner.com or also on the MLS and other websites.
- Provide Your Personal Details: Enter your name, email address, and phone number (optional). You can also log in using your Google or Facebook account.
- Create Your Ad: Fill in property details, such as the built year, number of stories, bedrooms, bathrooms, and finished area, to create your listing advertisement.
- Add Property Description: Upload photos and videos of your property. Write a description that highlights its features.
- Review and Pay: Review your listing and make any changes if needed. Select a package and pay to finalize your listing.
ByOwner.com makes your listing live on the MLS within 24 hours. They also syndicate it to other real estate websites such as Zillow, Realtor.com, Redfin and many more..
Where Does ByOwner.com Operate?
ByOwner.com covers all 50 states and DC. They are also licensed in 17 states.
What Does ByOwner.com Offer?
» Jump to: ByOwner.com Listing | MLS Listing Package | Rental Package
ByOwner.com allows you to list your property for sale or rent. Additionally, you can browse homes for sale, rental properties, and vacation rentals on their website.
They primarily focus on home listings and offer three distinct packages. In addition, they have a $399 package specifically for rental listings.
1. ByOwner.com Listing – $39/month
| 👍 What We Like | 👎 What We Don't Like |
|---|---|
| ✅ Cost-effective plan | ❌ No MLS listing |
| ✅ 7-day free trial | ❌ Limited market exposure |
| ✅ Easy cancellation | ❌ Fewer buyer inquiries |
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👉 Our Take: This plan doesn’t include an MLS listing which would limit exposure for your property. Also, you’ll pay $234 for the six-month listing term. However, they do offer a 7-day free trial, and you can cancel it anytime.
2. MLS Packages – $99 and $499
| 👍 What We Like | 👎 What We Don't Like |
|---|---|
| ✅ Flat Fee MLS listing | ❌ Difference in pricing of packages |
| ✅ Maximum market exposure | ❌ No listing management platform |
| ✅ Professional photography | ❌ Additional charges for yard signs |
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👉 Our Take: The pricing of the MLS package varies by each state. For the $99 package, they charge 0.25% at closing. And for the $499 plan, the fee is 0.10%. Plus, their MLS listing packages lack many essential features.
3. MLS Plan for Rentals
ByOwner.com also offers a rental listing option. Their rental package costs $399. With this plan, your listing will appear on both MLS and ByOwner.com for 3 months.
They provide a rental guarantee. If you don’t find a tenant within 3 months, you’ll get a 3-month free extension on ByOwner.com. However, this extension does not apply to the MLS listing.
ByOwner.com Reviews
ByOwner.com has a 4.7 out of 5-star rating on Google based on 32 reviews. Most reviews are positive. However, some ByOwner.com reviews are mixed. They describe their listing process as complicated.
ByOwner.com Reviews: Praises
✅ Joseph praised ByOwner.com’s representatives for their clear and concise instructions. They also highlighted their ability to simplify difficult problems.
Mary is a Master at what she does. Mary was clear and concise with her instructions and made difficult problems easy for me. It was a pleasure working with her. There should be more Mary’s in the world. She is the best. Joe Gormley
Source: Google
✅ Cesar commended ByOwner for their excellent service with properties in which they have ownership interest.
I am a Licensed Real Estate Sales agent in Florida, but for the properties I have ownership Interest I use this service which is excellent and I will keep using it as my main Listing Agent.
Source: Google
ByOwner.com Reviews: Complaints
❌ David had an unpleasant experience and felt a lack of guidance in the process.
This is the worse representation anyone can have.. You are selling a home not a car of craigslist. There is a lot of liability and legality involve in a sale f a property to just handle it on a online person on the other side with no idea of the market. Who is going to fight for you in a negotiation process? yourself? as a owner? who is going yo make sure you don’t get sue after the transaction is done? you?
Source: Google
❌ In one of the ByOwner.com reviews, Brent found the process intricate and lengthy.
To complicated and such a long process
Source: Google
Pros and Cons of ByOwner.com
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
- Expensive MLS Package: Their $499 MLS package is significantly costly compared to their competitors’ MLS listing plans.
- 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.
- Unclear Pricing: They don’t provide clear upfront information about whether their plans cost $99 or $499 in many areas.
Competitors of ByOwner.com
» 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 is popular for their $39/month plan. However, your listing won’t get much visibility due to the limited exposure. Additionally, their $499 MLS listing package is priced higher than industry standards.
On the other hand, with Houzeo, you have to pay $399 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 | $499 | $399 |
| Customer Rating | 4.7 stars (32 reviews) | 4.9 stars (10,107 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 and the pricing differs by state. The features and services are not included with the packages.
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 $499 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 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 $39/month listing. However, this package doesn’t include an MLS listing. If you want an MLS listing with ByOwner.com, you’ll need to pay $499, which is expensive.
Alternatively, Houzeo is the best Flat Fee MLS company with affordable 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 About ByOwner.com Reviews
Is ByOwner.com legit?
Yes, ByOwner.com is a legitimate company founded in 1996. They are also licensed in 17 states. 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. However, you will need to pay a $499 fee to get your property on the MLS. If you want to save more, you can check the competitors of ByOwner.
Is ByOwner worth the money in 2025?
Yes, you can sell with ByOwner.com. However, the lack of upfront pricing and transparent information about services is a major drawback. You can also check out these top MLS listing companies near you and choose the best option based on your needs.
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