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A home that’s for sale by owner opens the door for you to buy the property without a middleman — though you may choose to use your own real estate agent to facilitate the transaction. A for-sale-by-owner deal can differ from a typical real estate transaction in a few important ways, so study this guide before you start perusing listings.

Buying a House for Sale by Owner

When homeowners choose the FSBO (“fizz-bo”) route, they take on all of the responsibilities real estate agents would typically shoulder in the homebuying process, from listing the house and showing it to negotiating and closing the deal.

The main motivation for doing so is often cash. Sellers who go it alone can save money on the real estate commission fee. If neither side uses an agent, the deal sidesteps the typical 5% to 6% the seller would typically pay in commissions.

On the buyer’s side there can be a number of benefits of buying a house for sale by owner. First of all, the lack of a listing agent means you have more direct contact with the seller, which might give you more negotiating power. The seller will also likely have detailed knowledge of the house and neighborhood, which can be a bonus as you decide whether or not you want the property.

However, you may run into some pitfalls with FSBO properties. A seller may love her home and overprice it, potentially complicating matters when you get an appraisal.


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Using a Buyer’s Real Estate Agent

The home’s seller may not want to use a listing agent, but you can still engage the services of a buyer’s agent. You may already be working with an agent who can contact a FSBO seller for you. Or you may need to look for an agent who is willing to take on the job.

In some cases, buyer’s agents may be hesitant to work on a FSBO property. They may be wary of taking on extra liability, or extra work for which they will not necessarily be compensated.

That said, a buyer’s agent can negotiate the sale on your behalf and walk you through the complicated paperwork. If the seller is putting the contract together, your agent can also check the work to make sure you don’t run into any problems.

Sellers typically pay the agent commission. Just be sure the seller agrees to pay the buyer’s agent commission in the purchase agreement or be prepared to factor it into your own expenses.

Here’s what to expect in the FSBO buying process.

Shopping for a Mortgage

Before making an offer on a home, it’s a good idea to shop for a mortgage to get an idea of the terms different lenders offer and how much you are likely to pay each month.

A mortgage calculator can help you understand how down payments of various sizes will affect the numbers. And you may consider getting preapproved for a mortgage to see exactly how much you can afford to spend.

In an FSBO situation, homeowners may have no experience with the home financing process, and getting prequalified or preapproved for a home loan may remove some roadblocks on your path to making a purchase.

Viewing the Home

Your agent can contact the seller and set up an appointment to view the home. When you visit, be on the lookout for sagging floors or cracks in walls that might indicate structural issues. Test windows. Look for water damage on ceilings or walls that may be a sign of a leaky roof.

Since the seller will most likely be showing the house, take this opportunity to get as much detail about the home’s history as possible. What repairs have been made recently, and which ones haven’t been made in a while? It’s smart to ask about any warranties, and to be sure they will remain after a sale.

Recommended: What to Look for When Buying a House

Getting an Inspection

When buying a home for sale by owner, it’s not in your best interests to skip an inspection. Home inspectors go over the house with a fine-toothed comb, looking at structure, plumbing, electricity, and appliances to see whether they need repair now or in the near future. (This home inspection checklist shows you what should be covered.)

If the inspector finds any problems, you can ask the seller to fix them, credit you the cost of repairs, or reduce the sales price. If you’ve already signed a purchase agreement, severe problems found during an inspection can be a reason to pull out of the contract.

Negotiating a Sale Yourself

If you decide not to use a buyer’s agent, you and the seller will have to negotiate the sale and write up the purchase contract yourself. You may also choose to hire a transactional agent or attorney who can help you write the contract and ensure it is done legally and in a way that protects your rights. If you do decide to go it alone, below are a few things to keep in mind.

Recommended: How to Buy a House Without a Realtor

Making an Offer

Before making an offer on a house, check comparable properties in the neighborhood and see if the listing price is reasonable. Doing so can help you pin down what a reasonable offer is.

Consider offering less than the listing price. The seller may ask you to come up in the asking price, but if you start too high, it’s difficult to negotiate down again. You can use the neighborhood comps you’ve researched as a negotiating tool.

Including Contingencies

Contingencies are certain conditions that must be met in order to close the deal. Some common contingencies are a satisfactory home inspection and property valuation, also known as an appraisal. If a home is appraised at less than the agreed-upon price, a lender may be unwilling to loan the buyer the money. In that case, the appraisal contingency can be an opportunity to negotiate the sales price.

A clear title is another common contingency. The title is a document that shows who has owned and now owns the home. The title company will make sure there are no liens or disputes associated with the property. If there are unresolvable issues, the clear-title contingency gives the buyer a way out of the contract.

Negotiating Fees

It can’t hurt to ask for seller concessions, closing costs that the seller agrees to pay. A seller may agree to help pay for property taxes, attorney fees, appraisal inspections, and the like. Even in a seller’s market, if the property has been sitting, possibly because the price was too high, a seller may offer a financial incentive to move the home.

Putting Earnest Money in Escrow

Your earnest money deposit is the money you submit with your offer to demonstrate your serious intent to buy.

The listing agent would usually put this money into escrow. But if you’re going it alone, it’s a good idea to engage a title company or escrow company to hold the money for you until the sale goes through.

If you give the money directly to the seller, they may refuse to give it back to you if a contingency causes the deal to fall through, which could mean suing to retrieve your cash.

Determining When You’ll Get Possession

Be sure your purchase agreement specifies when you will take possession of the new house and receive the keys. Possession may take place immediately after closing, or the contract may give the seller time to move.


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The Takeaway

Buying a house for sale by owner can come with challenges and opportunities. It may make sense to engage a professional real estate attorney to help you negotiate and deal with the documents. Another option is to engage a buyer’s real estate agent who can help safeguard your interests.

Looking for an affordable option for a home mortgage loan? SoFi can help: We offer low down payments (as little as 3% - 5%*) with our competitive and flexible home mortgage loans. Plus, applying is extra convenient: It's online, with access to one-on-one help.

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SoFi loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A., NMLS #696891 (Member FDIC). For additional product-specific legal and licensing information, see SoFi.com/legal. Equal Housing Lender.

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Who doesn’t want to save more money? But as common a goal as this may be, it’s hard to achieve. Lack of time, focus, and funds can all play a role. Which is why automating your savings — meaning the endeavor is taken off your plate and happens like clockwork — can be a very helpful tactic.

Saving money is important on so many levels, from building up a healthy emergency fund to having a retirement nest egg. And it seems as if Americans could use some help in this pursuit. The personal savings rate in the U.S. was 4.10% at the end of 2023, which is less than half what it was a couple of years prior.

Automating your savings could help change that. Read on to learn:

•   Why automating savings can be such a good idea

•   How to automate savings nine different ways

Why Automating Savings Makes Sense

When people say one thing and then do another, it’s called the value-action gap or intentional-behavior gap. Psychologists have lots of theories about why this disconnect exists.

When it comes to saving money, lots of things can get in the way: routine bills, an unexpected big night out with friends, a shopping splurge, or simply forgetting to move money into savings.

But by taking some of the human element out of saving money and using an automatic savings technique, it may be possible to overcome some of the obstacles that make it hard for people to save.

Automating your finances also reduces the amount of time you have to spend each month on tasks like paying bills and other aspects of routine cash management. And it helps you sidestep procrastination and instant gratification, which can be powerful forces to overcome — and often stand in the way of growing savings.

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9 Ways to Automate Savings

How to automate savings? Simply decide which actions to automate and set them up with a lender (if they offer automated services).

Here are some good ways to get started.

1. Set Up Direct Deposit

A good first step to automating savings is setting up direct deposit for paychecks. This means that on payday, your paycheck goes directly into the bank account. People often plunk their full paycheck into their checking account, but a smart move can be to send some of those funds into a savings vehicle.

•   Whether you fund a dedicated savings account or investment fund, this process will ensure a regular, ongoing flow of money to help you build a nest egg.

•   If your employer doesn’t have a way for you to divide your automatic deposit, there’s a simple workaround: Have your paycheck go into your checking account and then have a sum automatically transferred to savings on the next day.

2. Earmark Money for Each Goal

There are a lot of things people can choose to do with their money. Most people have more than one savings goal, from accumulating cash for a vacation, a new car, or the down payment on a home.

If all of your money goes into a single savings account, it can be difficult to determine how effectively they are tracking for each individual goal. You can gain financial clarity by setting up separate savings accounts for each goal and then making regular automated deposits into each.

How much should go into each savings account? That depends on your goals and the immediacy of each. If you’re saving for a vacation a year from now, figure out the price tag for your trip, divide by 12, and that’s how much to stash away each month.

Recommended: How to Calculate Savings Account Interest

3. Choose a High-Interest Account

Saving can be hard work. But without the right savings account, those hard-earned dollars may not go as far as they potentially could. Instead of putting money in just any account, look for a high-interest savings account to increase the returns of your automated savings.

There are different ways to earn more interest on your money.

•   Some lenders may reward automatic savers, helping them to reach their goals faster. For example, a recurring automated deposit of $100 may earn interest at a lower starting rate, but increasing that deposit to $500 each month may trigger a higher rate.

•   Or look for an online bank which, since they don’t have to pay for brick-and-mortar locations and in-person staff, typically pay higher rates than traditional banks.

4. Take Advantage of Employer Programs

For those who have savings for retirement among their financial goals, employers can be a great savings partner. Those with a 401(k) may want to arrange automatic paycheck deductions, so the contribution comes out of your pay before it even lands in their bank account.

Some companies will also match 401(k) contributions up to a certain level each year. Aim to earmark at least enough to get that match; otherwise, it’s akin to leaving money on the table. It’s an easy way to increase retirement savings.

Recommended: 15 Creative Ways to Save Money

5. Pay Bills Automatically

The late fees associated with missing a bill payment needlessly take a bite out of savings. So if you’re trying to save money, ensuring that all payments go out on time is an easy way to reduce losses that can derail a savings plan. A few pointers:

•   Organizing your bills is important, but you don’t need a great memory to stay on top of rent, car, and utility payments — these can usually be done automatically. It makes sense to automate predictable billings that don’t fluctuate each month. Set them up in the payment system, and rest assured they’ll be paid by the due date as long as adequate funds are available.

•   For credit card bills, it’s good to ensure that spending habits don’t exceed the amount flowing into the account from paychecks and other sources.

•   If you spend more in a particular month, it’s wise to check in advance of the payment date that there are sufficient funds to cover the automatic payment.

•   Setting up a calendar alert each month several days before the credit card payment date is a good reminder to make sure there’s enough money to cover the amount owed, particularly if your credit card spending habits are irregular.

6. Monitor Financial Insights

Setting — and sticking to — a budget is an important part of successful financial management. But it can be a lot of work to monitor spending in each category and to stay on the right side of all targets.

Here’s where technology can definitely give you a boost. Instead of crunching the numbers week after week and month after month, apps and other digital tools can improve the ease of fulfilling this important, but arguably boring, mathematical task.

Your bank may well offer an automated tool or dashboard that shows in real-time your spending and saving. This means you can see account balances and itemized spending category breakdowns to have a clear picture of where your money goes and where you might cut back.

Some banks also allow account holders to set up personal financial goals — such as monthly savings targets — and then automatically track their transactions against them. This can be helpful when you are trying to boost savings and your sense of financial security.

7. Increase Deposits Over Time

While learning how to automate savings can take the headache out of managing finances, it’s wise to revisit the amounts periodically. Cash flows change from time to time (you get a raise, you pay off a car loan, you have a baby), and there may be new opportunities to save.

Even if nothing of note has changed, some individuals may find that they have more room to contribute to savings than they estimated at the outset. Even increasing automated savings by 1% per paycheck can help savings grow faster.

Setting a periodic automatic calendar reminder to closely review finances (perhaps every quarter) can be a wise move.

8. Use a Cash-Back Card

If you have a cash-back credit card, you may typically use that 1% to 5% back on purchases to… purchase more. Instead, direct your cash-back rewards into a savings account. Whether you get $10, $100, or more in cash back per month, it will help your savings account grow.

9. Funnel Your Windfalls Wisely

If you get a tax refund or a bonus at work, send that money into savings (or at least some of it) versus checking. Sure, it’s fun to get an infusion of cash and go shopping or dining out, but you can hit those financial goals more quickly if you send the money straight to savings, where it can earn compound interest and grow.

The Takeaway

Automating your savings can help ease your path to reaching your financial goals, from saving for a wedding to nurturing a retirement nest egg. This process is quick and convenient, and doesn’t require you to remember regular money transfers nor break out the calculator to see where you stand financially. Finding a savings account with a competitive interest rate and low or no fees can help your savings grow even faster.

Interested in opening an online bank account? When you sign up for a SoFi Checking and Savings account with direct deposit, you’ll get a competitive annual percentage yield (APY), pay zero account fees, and enjoy an array of rewards, such as access to the Allpoint Network of 55,000+ fee-free ATMs globally. Qualifying accounts can even access their paycheck up to two days early.

SoFi® Checking and Savings is offered through SoFi Bank, N.A. ©2025 SoFi Bank, N.A. All rights reserved. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender.
The SoFi Bank Debit Mastercard® is issued by SoFi Bank, N.A., pursuant to license by Mastercard International Incorporated and can be used everywhere Mastercard is accepted. Mastercard is a registered trademark, and the circles design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated.

SoFi members with Eligible Direct Deposit activity can earn 3.80% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Eligible Direct Deposit means a recurring deposit of regular income to an account holder’s SoFi Checking or Savings account, including payroll, pension, or government benefit payments (e.g., Social Security), made by the account holder’s employer, payroll or benefits provider or government agency (“Eligible Direct Deposit”) via the Automated Clearing House (“ACH”) Network during a 30-day Evaluation Period (as defined below).

Although we do our best to recognize all Eligible Direct Deposits, a small number of employers, payroll providers, benefits providers, or government agencies do not designate payments as direct deposit. To ensure you're earning 3.80% APY, we encourage you to check your APY Details page the day after your Eligible Direct Deposit arrives. If your APY is not showing as 3.80%, contact us at 855-456-7634 with the details of your Eligible Direct Deposit. As long as SoFi Bank can validate those details, you will start earning 3.80% APY from the date you contact SoFi for the rest of the current 30-day Evaluation Period. You will also be eligible for 3.80% APY on future Eligible Direct Deposits, as long as SoFi Bank can validate them.

Deposits that are not from an employer, payroll, or benefits provider or government agency, including but not limited to check deposits, peer-to-peer transfers (e.g., transfers from PayPal, Venmo, etc.), merchant transactions (e.g., transactions from PayPal, Stripe, Square, etc.), and bank ACH funds transfers and wire transfers from external accounts, or are non-recurring in nature (e.g., IRS tax refunds), do not constitute Eligible Direct Deposit activity. There is no minimum Eligible Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the stated interest rate. SoFi members with Eligible Direct Deposit are eligible for other SoFi Plus benefits.

As an alternative to Direct Deposit, SoFi members with Qualifying Deposits can earn 3.80% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Qualifying Deposits means one or more deposits that, in the aggregate, are equal to or greater than $5,000 to an account holder’s SoFi Checking and Savings account (“Qualifying Deposits”) during a 30-day Evaluation Period (as defined below). Qualifying Deposits only include those deposits from the following eligible sources: (i) ACH transfers, (ii) inbound wire transfers, (iii) peer-to-peer transfers (i.e., external transfers from PayPal, Venmo, etc. and internal peer-to-peer transfers from a SoFi account belonging to another account holder), (iv) check deposits, (v) instant funding to your SoFi Bank Debit Card, (vi) push payments to your SoFi Bank Debit Card, and (vii) cash deposits. Qualifying Deposits do not include: (i) transfers between an account holder’s Checking account, Savings account, and/or Vaults; (ii) interest payments; (iii) bonuses issued by SoFi Bank or its affiliates; or (iv) credits, reversals, and refunds from SoFi Bank, N.A. (“SoFi Bank”) or from a merchant. SoFi members with Qualifying Deposits are not eligible for other SoFi Plus benefits.

SoFi Bank shall, in its sole discretion, assess each account holder’s Eligible Direct Deposit activity and Qualifying Deposits throughout each 30-Day Evaluation Period to determine the applicability of rates and may request additional documentation for verification of eligibility. The 30-Day Evaluation Period refers to the “Start Date” and “End Date” set forth on the APY Details page of your account, which comprises a period of 30 calendar days (the “30-Day Evaluation Period”). You can access the APY Details page at any time by logging into your SoFi account on the SoFi mobile app or SoFi website and selecting either (i) Banking > Savings > Current APY or (ii) Banking > Checking > Current APY. Upon receiving an Eligible Direct Deposit or receipt of $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits to your account, you will begin earning 3.80% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% on checking balances on or before the following calendar day. You will continue to earn these APYs for (i) the remainder of the current 30-Day Evaluation Period and through the end of the subsequent 30-Day Evaluation Period and (ii) any following 30-day Evaluation Periods during which SoFi Bank determines you to have Eligible Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits without interruption.

SoFi Bank reserves the right to grant a grace period to account holders following a change in Eligible Direct Deposit activity or Qualifying Deposits activity before adjusting rates. If SoFi Bank grants you a grace period, the dates for such grace period will be reflected on the APY Details page of your account. If SoFi Bank determines that you did not have Eligible Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits during the current 30-day Evaluation Period and, if applicable, the grace period, then you will begin earning the rates earned by account holders without either Eligible Direct Deposit or Qualifying Deposits until SoFi Bank recognizes Eligible Direct Deposit activity or receives $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits in a subsequent 30-Day Evaluation Period. For the avoidance of doubt, an account holder with both Eligible Direct Deposit activity and Qualifying Deposits will earn the rates earned by account holders with Eligible Direct Deposit.

Separately, SoFi members who enroll in SoFi Plus by paying the SoFi Plus Subscription Fee every 30 days can also earn 3.80% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. For additional details, see the SoFi Plus Terms and Conditions at https://www.sofi.com/terms-of-use/#plus.

Members without either Eligible Direct Deposit activity or Qualifying Deposits, as determined by SoFi Bank, during a 30-Day Evaluation Period and, if applicable, the grace period, or who do not enroll in SoFi Plus by paying the SoFi Plus Subscription Fee every 30 days, will earn 1.00% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances.

Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 1/24/25. There is no minimum balance requirement. Additional information can be found at http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet.
Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

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