How to Sell a House By Owner in Idaho

Are you preparing to sell your Idaho home? Some intrepid homeowners in the Gem State are eager to take the reins of their home sale and figure out how to sell a house by owner. However, their numbers are few.

While millions of homes are sold annually, only about 6% of sellers choose the “For Sale By Owner” (FSBO) route. Interestingly, 38% of sellers who chose to sell FSBO went with this route to sell to a relative, friend, or neighbor.

In this guide to selling FSBO in Idaho, we’ll cover the steps to sell your house by owner — some of which might be harder than you think. We’ll also provide an overview of the full process to prep, market, and close on your home without the assistance of a traditional real estate agent.

Unsure About Selling FSBO in Idaho?

If you don’t have the time or expertise to list your home FSBO, partner with a trusted, top agent in your Idaho market. We analyze over 27 million transactions and thousands of reviews to find you the best agent for your unique situation.

Get Started

Editor’s note: No matter how you choose to sell your home, if you’d like to consult with a real estate agent first, HomeLight can introduce you to top-rated professionals in your Idaho market. Based on sales data, the top 5% of agents sell homes for 10% or more than average agents.

How does selling by owner (FSBO) work in Idaho?

FSBO (pronounced fizz-bow) is a method of selling your home without a listing agent. In a FSBO transaction, the seller assumes the responsibilities that would normally fall to their agent, such as pricing the home, marketing it to home shoppers, arranging showings, and negotiating the deal.

In an agent-assisted sale, the seller typically pays a commission amounting to 3%-5.8% of the sale price, depending on who pays for the buyer’s agent commission. That amount is deducted from the seller’s proceeds at closing.

Commission rules and regulations changed after the National Association of Realtors (NAR) announced a landmark lawsuit settlement on March 15, 2024. These changes started in August 2024 and have “decoupled” seller and buyer agent compensation. Buyers are now responsible for paying their own Realtor fees. By selling FSBO, a seller can eliminate the cost of the listing agent commission (around 3%). However, in some markets, sellers are still offering to pay the buyer’s agent commissions.

Even with new commission rules in place, buyer’s agents in Idaho will expect compensation for the work they do to bring a buyer to a sale, such as arranging showings and helping to tee up and qualify the buyer. Plus, when a seller isn’t working with an agent, the buyer’s agent may end up carrying more of the weight to get the deal to the finish line.

Next: Consult our guide on who pays closing costs when selling a house by owner for more details.

Finally, a FSBO home sale does not mean that a seller won’t need any professional assistance. In Idaho, sellers are not required by law to hire a real estate attorney. However, FSBO sales typically warrant legal and professional oversight to avoid an abundance of risk.

Most people who sell by owner will hire an attorney to review and prepare the transaction documents and make sure everything is filled out properly. This includes the seller’s disclosures. We’ll address what disclosures are required when selling a house in Idaho later in this post.

from HomeLight Blog https://www.homelight.com/blog/how-to-sell-a-house-by-owner-in-idaho/