From Sioux City to Cedar Rapids, more Iowans are choosing to sell their homes FSBO than ever before. Millennials lead the way, with over 55% comfortable selling their homes themselves. FSBO home sellers want to maximize their savings while retaining full control of their sale.
With the right FSBO site, you can save over $12,500 on a median $239,300 home. But beware of cheap services with hidden fees and low buyer exposure. That’s why we’ve spent thousands of hours researching and ranking the best For Sale By Owner websites for you!
Key Takeaways:
- Save thousands in agent commissions by using one of Iowa’s best For Sale By Owner websites to sell your home.
- The top FSBO websites in Iowa are Houzeo, PROmetro Realty, Fizber, ForSaleByOwner.com, and Zillow.
- Houzeo is the best paid FSBO website in Iowa because of its MLS exposure, smart tech, and 5-star customer support.
- PROmetro Realty charges an upfront listing fee with every provided package and each package offers legal documentation, e-signing, and expert representation.
- ForSaleByOwner.com and Zillow are the best free FSBO websites. But we don’t recommend them because they lack MLS exposure.
- Remember, MLS is the most powerful tool to reach serious buyers and agents across Iowa.
Rankings: 5 Best For Sale By Owner Websites in Iowa
| FSBO Websites | Listing Fee | Mobile App | MLS Access | 100% Online | 5-star Customer Service* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Houzeo.com | $399 | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| 2. PROmetro Realty | $2,995 - $4,995 | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
| 3. Fizber | $270 - $295 | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| 4. ForSaleByOwner.com | $0 | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| 5. Zillow | $0 | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ |
* Companies rated 4.75 stars and above are considered 5-star
What Are the Types of FSBO Websites?
There are two types of FSBO websites to sell your home by owner in Iowa:
- Paid FSBO Websites: The paid websites let you list your home FSBO on Iowa MLS for a fixed fee. The MLS syndicates your listing to 100+ real estate websites like Zillow, Redfin, and Trulia.
- Free FSBO Websites: They provide a free listing on their own website, but not on the MLS. The lack of MLS exposure limits the number of buyers and can reduce the selling price.
Reviews: Best Paid FSBO Websites
1. Houzeo: Iowa’s #1 FSBO Website
MAX EXPOSURE
Listing Fee: $399Houzeo dominates the For Sale By Owner market with more active real estate listings than any competitor. You get 3 FSBO listing packages with MLS access:
- Silver Package – $399: You get to upload 24 photos and for 6 months, with visibility on Zillow, Trulia, Realtor.com, etc. You can make unlimited changes to your listing. You also get a yard sign for free, if you submit a selfie with it.
- Gold Package – $449: You get all the Silver package perks, plus unlimited photo uploads. Relevant documents, such as seller disclosures, are automatically assigned to you, and you can easily review and sign them digitally.
- Platinum Package – $499: In this package you get virtual full assistance from a licensed broker and a 12-month listing term. You can also request a listing draft or activation within 12 business hours.
Note: Based on the plan you choose, there’s an additional 0.5% to 1.25% due at closing.
Here are the key features that make Houzeo America’s #1 FSBO website:
- Max Exposure: Along with the MLS, your property is visible on Zillow, Trulia, Realtor.com, Redfin, and 100s of other websites.
- 100% Online: The Houzeo Mobile App brings home listing, offer management, and closing right at your fingertips.
- 5-Star Customer Service: Houzeo has a fully-staffed customer service desk with a 5-star rating for prompt assistance.
- Instant Social Sharing: You can share your home listing with just a tap across social platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp, LinkedIn, and X.
- No Hidden Fees: You get to skip the listing agent commission and pay a small flat fee to list your home on the MLS. Houzeo discloses all its fees upfront on its website.
- Free Home Value Estimator: With Houzeo, you can also get a free home value estimation that helps you set a listing price.
- Dual Agency Feature: You can opt to have your listing agent represent both you and an unrepresented buyer. This can help to reduce the commission fees and simplify your real estate transaction.
There are no red flags with Houzeo.
Houzeo is rated 4.9 out of 5 stars on Google & Trustpilot.
» Houzeo Reviews: With 11,000+ reviews and a 4.7 star-rated mobile app, Houzeo is the most trusted website to sell FSBO.
👉 Our Take: We recommend Houzeo’s Gold plan for most home sellers. It offers the best combination of 5-star customer service, Houzeo’s unique technology, max exposure, and broker assistance. And with the Gold plan, you’ll save between 2% and 5% of your sale price in commission.
2. PROmetro Realty
COMPREHENSIVE PACKAGES
Listing Fee: $2,995 - $4,995PROmetro Realty offers 3 different MLS listing packages:
- Starter – $2,995: This package charges a $195 upfront non-refundable fee when you list with them. You get FSBO yard sign, lockbox, and access to legal forms along with e-signing convenience.
- Pro – $4,995: This package charges a $495 upfront listing fee when you list with them. You get all Starter features plus pre-listing appraisal, open house, online ads, 3D tour, and detailed floorplan, with $4,500 due at closing.
- Premier – 1%: This package charges an $895 upfront fee when you list with them. You get all Pro features plus aerial photos and video, with the remaining 1% of sale price due at closing.
Prometro Realty’s packages have certain advantages:
- Professional Guidance: Each package offers legal documentation, e-signing, and expert representation, so you don’t have to navigate complex paperwork alone or worry about missing crucial legal requirements.
- Market Exposure: Your property will be visible on all the top real estate websites like Zillow, Trulia, etc., which means more potential buyers will discover your home instead of it sitting unseen.
- Advanced Marketing: The Pro and Premier plans include targeted online ads, 3D tours, and floorplans, helping your listing stand out from the competition and attract serious buyers who can visualize living there.
- Appraisal Services: The Pro and Premier packages provide pre-listing or complete appraisals for accurate pricing, so you can confidently set a competitive price that attracts buyers without leaving money on the table.
In our research, we found some limitations with PROmetro Realty:
- Expensive Packages: The packages are super costly. You can list on the MLS and sell your home for much less with other Flat Fee MLS companies.
- Inadequate Information: Necessary information, such as listing terms and the number of photos allowed, is unclear.
- Limited Coverage: They operate only in the Iowa region which limits their reach to the local real estate market only.
PROmetro Realty has a rating of 5 out of 5 stars from 25+ reviews on Google.
👉 Our Take: While PROmetro Realty provides transparent, detailed service descriptions with clear pricing, their comprehensive packages come at a premium cost compared to other Flat Fee MLS services offering similar features.
3. Fizber
LOW ON TECH
Listing Fee: $270 - $295Fizber offers 3 FSBO packages, with a 0.5% MLS closing fee in CO, ND, SD, and WY:
- Free Listing – $0: Your home gets listed on Fizber and Redfin websites, but no MLS exposure. You also get a open house manager.
- MLS Boost – $270: You can list your home on the MLS and other real estate websites for 6 months with up to 6 photos, while also making unlimited listing edits and accessing seller’s disclosures and listing forms.
- Premium MLS Boost – $295: This package includes everything from MLS Boost along with features like free showing assist, open house ads, and virtual tour. You also get 12 months of listing with maximum photos allowed per MLS.
Here are some of the advantages of listing with Fizber:
- Buyer Leads Forwarded: All buyer leads are forwarded to you. So you can directly contact the buyers or agents.
- Refund Policy: You receive a full refund for Flat Fee MLS packages within 30 days, as long as you haven’t submitted any paperwork for selling a house FSBO.
- Unlimited Listing Changes: You can update your listings free of charge with the MLS Boost and Premium MLS Boost packages.
These are some drawbacks we found with Fizber:
- Closing Fee: A 0.5% closing fee is charged if you are selling your property in Colorado, North Dakota, South Dakota, or Wyoming.
- Additional Fees: Many features—such as showing assistance, virtual tour uploads, and open house ads—require additional fees ranging from $25 to $60.
- Negative Customer Reviews: Some users have complained about unauthorized listings, difficulties in securing refunds, poor communication with their representatives.
Fizber has 4.3 out of 5 stars out of 100+ reviews on Trustpilot.
»Fizber Reviews: Read the reviews to know more about this FSBO service.
👉 Our Take: We recommend Fizber to those who can manage offers and negotiations themselves. However, their technology is not at par with the industry standards and some customers have reported poor communication. Consider these issues while choosing.
Reviews: Best Free FSBO Websites
You can check the reviews of the top free FSBO sites in Iowa here.
1. ForSaleByOwner.com
FREE FSBO LISTING
Listing Fee: $0ForSaleByOwner.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. Your property is not visible on Zillow, Trulia, Redfin, etc. This limits your exposure and offers.
These are some pros to consider:
- Nationwide Coverage: ForSaleByOwner.com provides coverage throughout the United States.
- Control and Flexibility: You get a customizable listing and a personalized dashboard to manage your home sale.
- 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 Exposure: You can only list on the ForSaleByOwner.com website. It does not get syndicated to other real estate websites like Trulia, Zillow, Realtor.com.
- Lack of Technology: It can be difficult to manage showings, negotiations, and the paperwork for selling a house without a Realtor manually.
- 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 4.2 out of 5 stars on Best Company.
» ForSaleByOwner.com Reviews: Read our in-depth review to learn if you should opt for ForSaleByOwner.com
👉 Our Take: ForSaleByOwner.com offers a free listing, but without MLS exposure, your property won’t reach local buyers or agents in your area. We recommend them if you're a marketing pro, but if not, you likely won’t get any offers.
2. Zillow
REAL ESTATE MARKETPLACE
Listing Fee: $0Zillow offers only 1 FSBO listing plan to home sellers:
- FSBO Listing on Zillow – $0: You can list your home for free on Zillow’s FSBO platform and on Trulia. However, your home won’t be on the MLS. This limits your home’s exposure.
You should consider these points while choosing Zillow:
- No Listing Fee: You can list your home on Zillow’s FSBO website for free with a video and unlimited photos.
- Free Cancellation: Zillow listings can be cancelled without any additional charges or hidden fees.
- Nationwide Coverage: Zillow’s For Sale By Owner services are accessible in all 50 states.
- 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 websites offer.
Zillow has a rating of 1.6 out of 5 stars from 400+ reviews on Trustpilot.
» Zillow’s For Sale By Owner Reviews: Read our in-depth review on Zillow and see what other sellers have to say.
👉 Our Take: We don't recommend selling FSBO on Zillow. It's like throwing a party and forgetting to send the invites. Your listing is buried in the ‘Other Listings’ tab, like being stuck in the VIP line with no bottle service. You avoid commissions, but you miss the exposure.
🚩 Beware of FSBO Companies With Hidden Fees
Some FSBO companies come with hidden fees that they don’t mention in their pricing section. They provide free or affordable listings, but charge extra for yard signs, lockbox, etc. This increases your overall cost of selling a house in Iowa and reduces your savings.
For Sale By Owner Websites Iowa: How Much Can You Save?
Thousands! Maybe even almost $12,500 on a $239,300 home in the Hawkeye State.
With best FSBO sites like Houzeo, you can list your home on the MLS for just $399—that’s less than a steakhouse dinner in Des Moines! You can save a whopping $12,763 and put it toward a fishing boat, a new ATV, or a relaxing getaway to the Iowa Great Lakes.
| Service Provider | Fee in Iowa | Savings |
| Traditional Agent | 3% Listing Fee + 3% Buyer’s Agent Commission – $14,358 | $0 |
| Houzeo | Fixed Fee – $399 + $1,197 | $12,763 |
How to Choose the Best FSBO Website in Iowa?
To choose one from the top For Sale By Owner websites in Iowa, you need to consider these 4 factors.
- Do they list on MLS? You should opt for a platform that offers Flat Fee MLS service in Iowa for better exposure. It will lead to more buyers and a higher selling price while maximizing on savings.
- How is their user experience? Look for easy to navigate FSBO websites. They should have features like a mobile app, virtual tours, and offer-management.
- What are their prices? Evaluate the packages with the services they offer. Some provide free listing-only services. Whereas, others charge a flat fee or a percentage of the sale price for comprehensive assistance.
- Is their customer support good? Look for platforms that offer cutting-edge customer service and provide guidance to the sellers. Choose a service with 5-star customer support like Houzeo.
👉 Ready to Sell FSBO? List your home here for max exposure!
How to Sell Your Home With Iowa’s #1 FSBO Website?
Here’s how to list your home on For Sale By Owner listing sites in Iowa:
- Find the Best FSBO Website With MLS Access: Choose a FSBO platform that offers MLS listing when selling a house by owner in Iowa. Your property will be visible on every major real estate website from Des Moines to Davenport.
- Create Your Account: Most FSBO sites with MLS access require an account, and Houzeo makes it easier. Manage your MLS listing, showings, and offers from your phone—whether you’re at Lake Macbride, in Ames, or cruising along the scenic Loess Hills.
- Choose a Listing Plan: Select a package that fits your needs to make your home-selling smooth and effortless. But don’t break the bank—choose the plan that’ll get your home sold under the Iowa sky.
- Enter Property Details & Add Photos: Time to show off your property. Add details like the number of beds, baths, etc. Hire a real estate photographer in Iowa to highlight that inviting fireplace in your Davenport home. Good photos = Faster sale!
- Sign the Agreement: Review and sign the listing agreement. Complete seller disclosure forms carefully. If it’s not a minor fix, disclose it—Iowa’s got rules, and you want to stay on the right side of them.
6 Mistakes to Avoid With an Iowa FSBO Website
Here are some rookie mistakes home you must avoid when they list a home FSBO:
- Ignore the MLS: If you don’t list on the MLS, it’s like hosting a barn dance in the middle of a snowstorm. Use Houzeo if you’re wondering how to list your home on Iowa MLS and gain visibility on 100+ sites like Zillow, Trulia, and Realtor.com.
- Price Your Home Inaccurately: To sell your home quickly in the current Iowa housing market, you need an estimate of your property’s value. Without it, you may price your house inaccurately. An asking price that’s too high will scare buyers away. Too low, and you’re leaving money on the table. Use a home worth calculator to get the right price.
- Market Ineffectively: To add poor quality photos is like trying to sell a tractor with the engine missing. Add professional photos, write a compelling description, and install a yard sign – then watch the offers roll in faster than tractors at the Iowa State Fair.
- Overlook Seller Disclosures: Legal forms and Iowa seller disclosures are mandatory. Miss something, and you’ll be sued faster than a cow getting out of a broken fence. Hire an Iowa real estate attorney to handle the legalities.
- Fail to Negotiate Smartly: If a buyer lowballs you like a discounted cabin in the off-season, don’t roll over. Stay firm on your price, closing dates, and repairs. Buyers will test you—hold your ground like a sturdy silo in a windstorm.
- Choose the Wrong FSBO Service: Choosing a FSBO service that provides limited exposure will mean more days on the market. Get your house on the MLS and watch thousands of buyers looking for Iowa homes for sale check out your listing on Houzeo.
» Houzeo Reviews: Find out what customers have to say about Houzeo – Iowa’s best home selling website.
