61% of home sellers think of choosing the For Sale By Owner route. And it’s evident why! You get to save a whopping 3% on listing agent commissions with FSBO. That’s a potential saving of $24,975 on a typical $832,500 home in the Golden State.
So, whether you’re in Crescent City or Imperial Beach, you can also go FSBO and increase your profits. But how? Selecting the right FSBO website is the key! Opt for the best For Sale By Owner website in California that offers personalized support, easy scheduling, and maximum exposure—all in one place!
Rankings: 7 Best For Sale By Owner Websites in California
FSBO Website | Fee | 100% Online | MLS Access | Online Showings & Offers | 5 Star Customer Service |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. Houzeo.com | $399 | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
2. Congress Realty | $299 | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
3. Beycome | $99 | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
4. Flat Fee MLS Realty | $549 | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
5. ForSaleByOwner.com | $0 - $495 | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ |
6. Zillow For Sale By Owner | $0 | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
7. Craigslist | $0 | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
What Are the Types of FSBO Websites?
There are two types of FSBO websites you can choose from to sell a house by owner in California:
- Paid FSBO Websites: These websites list your home on the MLS for a flat fee. The MLS syndicates your listings to Zillow, Redfin, Trulia, and other websites.
- Free FSBO Websites: When you list for free, your listings are visible on the website and not on the MLS. No MLS exposure means less buyers and a lower sale price.
7 Best For Sale By Owner Websites Reviews in California
Here’s our review of the top For Sale By Owner sites for California homeowners:
Reviews: 4 Best Paid FSBO Websites
1. Houzeo
Houzeo offers 4 FSBO MLS listing packages:
- Bronze Package – $399 + $350 at Closing: This package offers a Houzeo listing only for 6 months with 24 photos.
- Silver Package – $409 + 0.5% at Closing: This offers maximum photo upload and provides you with seller disclosures.
- Gold Package – $429 + 0.5% at Closing: This is Houzeo’s signature MLS package and includes all the technology Houzeo is known for, such as Houzeo Showings, Houzeo Offers, and DigiTransact.
- Platinum Package – $499 + 1% at Closing: It includes the assistance of a licensed broker to help you with negotiations, seller disclosures, and closing.
Here the key features that make Houzeo one of the top FSBO websites:
- Max Exposure: Houzeo’s MLS packages give you access to the MLS, Zillow, Trulia, Realtor.com, Redfin, and 100s of other websites.
- 5-Star Customer Service: Houzeo has a fully staffed customer service desk available 6 days a week. Chats and emails are open 7 days a week.
- 100% Online: Houzeo is a high-tech platform with easy listing, fast changes, online showings, and online offers. Its powerful house search app makes your home visible to interested buyers on the go.
- No Hidden Fees: In most states, you’ll pay just a small flat fee to list on MLS by owner. Remember, all fees are disclosed upfront, so there are no Houzeo hidden fees. You also bypass the listing agent commission.
- Free Home Value Estimator: Now, you can get a free home value estimate within 30 seconds. It helps you set a listing price.
Houzeo’s services are limited in Wyoming, South Dakota, and West Virginia. This means your listing may take more than 12 hours to get updated.
Houzeo is rated 4.9 out of 5 stars by thousands of home sellers on Google & Trustpilot.
» Houzeo Reviews: With over 10,090+ happy customers, Houzeo is the most trusted FSBO website.
Houzeo.com is one of the best For Sale By Owner sites in California. With Houzeo’s Flat Fee MLS listing service, you can save thousands on Realtor commissions. Moreover, advanced technology, listing exposure, and 5-star customer support helps you sell your house as FSBO like a pro.
2. Congress Realty
Congress Realty is America’s most trusted real estate brokerage. It offers services in 80+ markets across the country in 12 states.
- Basic MLS Listing Package – $299: With the basic package, you can list your home on the MLS for 6 months with six photos.
- MLS Listing Plus Package – $399: The “Plus” plan includes everything from the basic packages. Additionally, you can upload maximum number of photos allowed by the MLS. manage showing request, and connect directly with buyers and agents.
- Premium Package – $499: Along with the features of Plus package, you also get unlimited open house postings. Additionally, your listing is featured on social media and CongressRealty.com.
- Full-Service Package – $399: With the features of Premium package, Congress Realty gives you unlimited listing changes, and a CMA report when upon request.
Congress Realty offers a smarter, cost-effective way to sell your home.
- Maximum Exposure: Congress Realty gets your home listed on top real estate websites like Zillow, Redfin, and Trulia, ensuring broad visibility.
- Essential Documents: Congress Realty provides all necessary state forms & seller disclosures for a compliant transaction.
- Enhanced Marketing: Congress Realty features your home on all of their social media channels for attracting more buyers.
- Direct Contact with Buyers: Congress Realty allows you to communicate directly with buyers to negotiate offers and finalize terms.
- Smooth Deal Closings: Congress Realty agents provide assistance with contract review, negotiations, and transaction coordination, ensuring an easy deal closing.
Congress Realty has a few drawbacks:
- Unresponsive Customer Service: Customers have reported that their calls and messages often go unanswered.
- Lack of Professional Tone: Customers have complained that agents often respond with a dismissive or unprofessional tone.
- Expensive Marketing Tools: Congress Realty charges an additional $150 for a yard sign and $350 for a virtual tour. These additional costs can increase your overall expense.
- Extra $500 for Doc Assistance: Congress Realty charges an additional fee for assistance with paperwork and transaction documentation.
Congress Realty has received a stellar 4.9-star rating based on more than 100 customer reviews on Google.
» Congress Realty Reviews: Should you choose it? Read our in-depth analysis before you make a decision.
Congress Realty is headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona. Jared Andrew English founded the company in 2002. You can contact your buyers directly through the platform and have control over the sale. Nevertheless, you must manually complete all the paperwork for selling a house without a Realtor.
3. Beycome
Beycome Brokerage Realty LLC offers three Flat Fee MLS listing packages for homeowners:
- Basic Package – $99: This package offers you unlimited changes to your listings.
- Enhanced Package – $399: You get a yard sign, a featured listing on Beycome’s website, flyers, brochures, and one key lockbox. You can also add a virtual tour video to your listing. This package is available only in 8 states.
- Concierge Service – $599 + 1% Commission: This is essentially a virtual full-service package that includes assistance till closing. They charge 1% of the sale price at closing. It is available only in 6 states.
👉 Our Take: Beycome’s prices are reasonable. However, their à la carte services comes with a hefty price tag. Also, the website is suitable only for experienced sellers.
Beycome offers good service in the selected states they are available in:
- Unrestricted Revisions and Edits: You can make unlimited changes to the description, photos, or price of your listing.
- Expert Assistance, if Needed: You can get expert assistance on all 7 days of the week in English and Spanish.
In our research, we came across these deal breakers with Beycome:
- Upselling Title Service: Beycome also owns a title company, which will be pitched to you repeatedly.
- Limited Coverage: It is only available in 10 states.
- Lack of Assistance: Most sellers had to manage price negotiation, showings, and closing by themselves. Sellers also complained about the delay in resolving issues.
- Average Technology: Leads, inspections, appraisals, etc., are managed offline so the process can be cumbersome.
- Only for Experienced Sellers: First-time sellers may not have experience in closing costs and seller disclosures. Beycome does not provide that much assistance in this area.
Beycome has 4.5 out of 5 stars from 600+ reviews on Google.
» Beycome Reviews: Know why Beycome is not the best choice to sell your home.
Beycome is a Flat Fee MLS company in California. They are known for their affordable packages and provide unlimited changes to your listing. They also own a title company. However, Beycome is available only in 10 states. The sellers complain about the limited in-person support for closing and paperwork.
4. Flat Fee MLS Realty
Flat Fee MLS Realty offers 3 listing packages:
- Silver Package – $129: You get a 3-month listing term and can make 10 listing updates. You can upload up to 15 photos.
- Gold Package – $299: You can make unlimited updates to your listing. You get open house scheduling, comparative market analysis and a digital flyer.
- Platinum Package – $599: You can add 25+ professional HD photos and get access to lockbox, and aerial drone photos.
🚩 $775 in Hidden Fees: Flat Fee MLS Realty charges $400 to buyer agents and an additional $375 to you, if you don’t use their recommended title agent. They do not disclose this fee upfront. It’s buried in their FAQs.
Listing with Flat Fee MLS Realty has some advantages:
- Local Exposure: Flat Fee MLS Realty gets your home on the local MLS which makes it visible to nearby buyers and agents.
- Seller Disclosure: Flat Fee MLS Realty provides you a seller disclosure form that reveals known property defects and important information about the property’s condition.
- Free Listing Cancellation: Flat Fee MLS Realty does not charge you for cancelling your listing. Also, you get a full refund before your home is listed on the MLS.
- Buyer Agent Commission: Flat Fee MLS Realty allows you to set the buyer agent commission which can be between 2% to 3% of home sale price.
In our research, we have found certain drawbacks of Flat Fee MLS Realty:
- Poor Customer Reviews: Some customers have complained about their agent collecting fee from the buyer’s agent commission and the seller.
- Limited Listing Updates: Flat Fee MLS Realty allows you to make just 10 listing updates in their basic plan. Services like Houzeo allow you to make unlimited listing changes irrespective of the plan you choose.
- Short Listing Term: With Flat Fee MLS Realty’s basic plan, you can list your home for only 3 months. For a longer listing term, you’ll need to choose an advanced package, which may increase your costs.
- Limited Marketing Tools: Flat Fee MLS Realty does not provide essential marketing tools such as a yard sign, which can limit your home’s visibility in the neighborhood.
Flat Fee MLS Realty has 4.3 out of 5 stars from 91 total reviews on Google.
» Flat Fee MLS Realty Reviews: Check out our detailed review to know more about the company.
Flat Fee MLS Realty is a real estate company in California that offers by-owner services. They operate in Indiana, Colorado, California, and Illinois. However, you’ll pay an extra $375 at closing if you don’t use their affiliated title company, Excel Title. Also, the company doesn’t offer For Sale By Owner yard sign service.
Reviews: 3 Best Free FSBO Websites
5. ForSaleByOwner.com
ForSaleByOwner.com offers only 1 FSBO package:
- ‘Do It Yourself’ FSBO Package – $0: In this package, your home only gets listed on the ForSaleByOwner.com website. You don’t get an MLS listing.
These are some pros to consider:
- Nationwide Coverage: ForSaleByOwner.com caters to customers throughout the United States.
- Control and Flexibility: You can set your schedule, host showings, and manage the sale process at your convenience.
- Direct Buyer Interaction: You can directly communicate with potential buyers through their messaging system.
We have found certain cons about ForSaleByOwner.com in our research:
- No MLS Listing: This site does not list your property on MLS. You can only list on the ForSaleByOwner.com website.
- Lack of Technology: It can be time-consuming and demanding to manage the listings, showings, negotiations, and paperwork.
- Lead for Rocket Homes: Your listing information is shared with Rocket Homes agents. They may frequently contact you to solicit MLS listings.
ForSaleByOwner.com has a rating of 4.9 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot.
» ForSaleByOwner.com Reviews: Read this blog to learn more.
ForSaleByOwner.com is the oldest free FSBO website, serving since 1999. Moreover, they provide tools to help you calculate your home’s worth and legal forms. But the website doesn’t offer MLS listing service. And their paid agent support package is priced similarly in cost to a traditional Realtor.
6. Zillow For Sale By Owner
Zillow offers only 1 listing plans to FL home sellers:
- FSBO Listing on Zillow – $0: You can list your home for free on Zillow’s FSBO platform and on Trulia.
You should consider these points while choosing Zillow:
- No Fees: You can list your home on Zillow’s FSBO website free of charge.
- Free Cancellation: Zillow listings can be cancelled without any additional charges or hidden costs.
- Nationwide Coverage: Zillow For Sale By Owner services are accessible in all 50 states across America.
- User-Friendly Interface: Their website and mobile app are easy to use and navigate. Users can search for properties based on filters like location, price, features, and other criteria.
We identified several disadvantages of listing with Zillow:
- Slow Listings: Your listing can take up to 72 hours to update from the time you submit your property details.
- Inaccurate Zestimate: Zestimate, Zillow’s property valuation tool is not always accurate. This misleads buyers and sellers.
- Limited Support: Zillow’s customer support may not match the level of personalized guidance other FSBO companies offer.
Zillow has a rating of 1.6 out of 5 stars from 400+ reviews on Trustpilot.
» Zillow For Sale By Owner Reviews: Read our in-depth review on Zillow.
Zillow is one of the most popular FSBO websites. To list your home, you can simply sign up and create your free account. However, Zillow’s FSBO listings do not appear on the MLS and are hidden in the ‘Other Listings’ tab. This limits exposure when selling a house in California.
7. Craigslist
Since Craigslist is one of the biggest classified websites, it offers free listings:
- FSBO Listing on Craigslist – $0: You get an FSBO listing on Craigslist. Here you can upload your property’s description, location, and some photos.
👉 Our Take: With Craigslist you can post your house for sale for free. However, you don’t have MLS exposure.
These are some key pros to consider:
- User-Friendly Website: Craigslist’s website is easy to navigate. This helps you to easily create your listing and add property information.
- Free FSBO Listing: Most of the FSBO sellers who opt to advertise on Craigslist do it to save up on the agent’s commission.
- Good for Distressed Property: Craigslist is a great platform for distressed properties. This is mainly because many cash buyers, house flippers, and investors keep track of listings on Craigslist.
- Huge Traffic: According to Similarweb, Craigslist is the most visited classified website in the USA.
Here are a few cons to keep in mind:
- Lowball Offer: Customers have reported that buyers on Craigslist make lowball offers.
- Scammers and Pranksters: Craigslist is infamous for being a playground for scammers. Many people who list their homes on Craigslist get unsolicited calls from scammers posing as buyers.
- Short Lifespan of Ads: Craigslist ads are listed in reverse chronological order, the newest ones always have the most prominence.
Craigslist has a poor rating of 1.4 out of 5 stars from 300+ reviews on Trustpilot.
» How to Sell a House on Craigslist: Learn the step-by-step process of selling your home on Craigslist.
Craigslist is one of the biggest free For Sale By Owner companies. They can provide decent exposure to your FSBO listing. But they lack security features and can also attract scammers and fraudulent cash home buyers. So, you must be careful with sharing your property information and verify buyer identity.
How Much Can You Save With a FSBO Website in California?
If you plan to sell your home in California, using a FSBO website can save you thousands of dollars in Realtor commissions. Imagine you own a $832,500 home in the Golden State. Traditionally, you’ll have to pay around $24,975 in commission.
But with a FSBO website like Houzeo, your house gets listed on the MLS for a flat fee of just $399 + $350 at closing. This helps you save a whopping $24,226.
Service Provider | Fee | Commission Due | Savings |
Traditional Agent | 3% | $24,975 | $0 |
Houzeo | $399 | $749* | $24,226 |
What to Look Out for in the Best FSBO Websites?
Consider these 4 factors when selecting the best FSBO home selling sites in the Golden State:
- User Experience: The top For Sale By Owner websites should be easy to navigate. Look for features like mobile app, virtual tours and offers.
- MLS Listing: Opt for a platform that offers MLS listing. This can significantly increase your property’s exposure to buyers and agents.
- Pricing: Evaluate the packages of FSBO websites. Some offer free listings, while others charge a flat fee or a percentage of the sale price.
- Customer Support: Look for platforms that offer top notch customer service and provide guidance to the sellers.
Tips to List Your House as For Sale By Owner in California
Here are some home selling tips and strategies you must follow with For Sale By Owner websites in California.
How to List on California’s #1 FSBO Website?
Here’s how you can get your home in front of local buyers and agents with the help of For Sale By Owner listing sites in California:
- Find the Best FSBO Website With MLS Access: Choose a FSBO platform that offers MLS listing to maximize your property exposure.
- Create Your Account: Almost all best FSBO sites with MLS access will let you create an account. High-tech listing sites like Houzeo allow you to manage your MLS listing online!
- Choose a Listing Plan: The plan should meet needs and include all the services that would make your home selling journey smooth and effortless.
- Enter Property Details & Add Photos: Include property details like the number of beds, baths, etc. and add high quality photos. Consider hiring a real estate photographer in California.
- Sign the Agreement: Carefully review and sign the listing agreement and seller disclosure forms. If everything is in order, your home will be listed on the MLS within 24 to 48 hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I list my home For Sale By Owner in California for free?
You can list your California home for free on websites like Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, and Zillow For Sale By Owner. However, these platforms offer limited exposure compared to Houzeo's MLS listing service.
What is the best For Sale By Owner MLS listing service in California?
Houzeo is the best FSBO MLS listing service in California. It offers a user-friendly platform, professional tools, and a Flat Fee MLS California listing service that can save you thousands of dollars in real estate agent commissions.
Do buyers look for California house for sale on FSBO websites?
Yes, buyers do look for California houses for sale on For Sale By Owner platforms. This gives sellers an opportunity to save on real estate agent commissions in California.
Is selling a house yourself in California worth it?
Yes, selling a house in California can be worth it if you opt for top FSBO websites like Houzeo. You get to save on hefty Realtor commissions. Also with Houzeo Mobile App, you can manage listings, schedule showings, review offers- all at your fingertips!