Looking to sell our personal home in California in 2 years in HCOL, probably around $2.5M+. Should I get my real estate license or can I just sell by owner? My concern about getting my real estate license is that I would have to pay a portion back to the brokerage shop. Advice welcomed!

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Have you bought and sold multiple homes before? If not, don’t be cheap on such a large sale. One mistake can cost you a lot more than any brokerage fee (plus an insane amount of frustration and aggravation). Unless you know 100% what you are doing, hire an experienced realtor that you trust.

I am an attorney who has represented clients who thought they could do it on their own and learned this lesson the hard way. Don’t be penny wise and pound foolish.

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I sell all of my properties on my own and I’m 25F. I have my license but I don’t sell through my broker. I am an investor too, so I know a thing or two. It’s not hard but then again I’m not in CA and I know CA is one hell of a state lol

I’m with A1. I’ve bought and sold a half dozen homes in CA. My real estate agent did a hell of a lot more than marketing my properties and providing connections to the various professionals needed. CA has a complex set of transaction terms, each with options and requirements for both the seller and buyer. Yes, you can hire an attorney, but an experienced agent is often more informed with the outcomes of transactions and upcoming changes to transaction regulations. As others have mentioned, you will have to pay the buyers’ agent commission regardless. That agent will be advising the buyer on the their leverage. Why not do the same for yourself? It is not just about price. My agent is on top of the title company, escrow, inspections, the lender…you name it. Considering the value of your home, you can negotiate your seller agent’s commission, but don’t go below 2%. Btw, I would jump at the chance to buy from FSBO, just because I would be better armed with representation. I would also expect a lower price since they don’t have to pay as much commission. To be honest, I don’t really think people buying $2.5M homes are buying them off Zillow or from FSBO front yard signs. There is a lot of inventory at your home value in many areas. Use an agent.

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You could buy a sign at the hardware store for $3 and the buyer can write an offer on a napkin with a magic marker. I can take that napkin down to a title company and close the deal if all the terms are there. Sure it can be as complicated and as expensive as you wanna make it. I’ve done the deal above and everything in between. I’ve had success with the full blown seller agent or the sign method/FSBO. I wouldn’t say there is a wrong way.

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