The national picture
The National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) reported that 5% of sellers sold without an agent and 91% used one in its 2025 survey. The reported median sale price was $360,000 for for-sale-by-owner (FSBO) homes and $425,000 for agent-assisted homes. Those are medians of two different groups of homes, not a controlled comparison of the same properties.
Source: NAR 2025 Profile summary, transactions from July 2024 through June 2025. These are national figures, not Broward County estimates.
What the price gap does not prove
The median gap does not mean an agent would have added $65,000 to a particular FSBO sale. The homes and circumstances differ. NAR notes that FSBO sales may include more lower-priced properties, and its summary says many FSBO sellers already know their buyer. The survey does not isolate what the same home would have sold for by each route.
It also does not establish that agents always sell faster or for less total expense. NAR reports that some FSBO sellers had difficulty selling within their preferred timeframe, but that is not a like-for-like speed comparison. A commission is a real cost, and compensation is negotiable.
Further context: NAR discussion of FSBO sales and property mix.
When time can erase the fee savings
If selling on your own takes longer than an agent-assisted sale would have, each extra month can mean more mortgage interest, property taxes, insurance, HOA dues, utilities, and maintenance. The break-even question is: How many extra months would use up the fees saved?
An illustration, not a market statistic
Suppose selling by owner would save $9,000 in fees compared with a proposed listing agreement, and the home’s ongoing costs are $2,250 a month. Four extra months would total $9,000 and use up that fee difference. The calculation is $9,000 ÷ $2,250 = 4 months.
The full mortgage payment affects cash flow, but principal payments generally build equity rather than becoming a selling expense. Use the interest portion when estimating the economic cost. Sale price, concessions, and other differences can move the break-even point in either direction.
This is a what-if calculation. The national FSBO data does not show that a particular owner will need four extra months, or that hiring an agent will sell that home faster.
Compare what you keep
The useful question is what each realistic path could leave you after costs. For your property, compare:
- Expected sale price supported by recent, similar Broward County sales.
- Agent compensation and any marketing or service fees under the proposed agreement.
- Buyer concessions, preparation, repairs, and closing costs for each route.
- Carrying costs and time if one route takes longer.
- Offer terms such as financing, inspections, proof of funds, and certainty of closing.
Want an apples-to-apples review?
Paul can discuss a listing plan alongside a realistic FSBO or cash-offer scenario for your home. The goal is to compare likely net proceeds and timing, not promise one result.
Request a property reviewNational survey results are descriptive and cannot predict the sale price, time on market, or net proceeds for an individual home.