Can Real Estate Agents Represent Themselves?

In today’s competitive real estate market, who you work with matters — especially when it comes to buying and selling your own property.  

But what if you don’t want to work with another agent and instead, are looking to represent yourself in a real estate transaction? While it is often legally allowed, if you’re considering getting a real estate license so you can buy and sell a property without working with another agent, there are some things to understand first.

If You're an Agent, Can You Represent Yourself?

Can a real estate agent sell their own house? 

The simple answer is yes – as a licensed agent, you can represent yourself in buying or selling real estate for yourself, so long as you disclose that you representing yourself upfront in the deal. But it’s not as easy as just getting your real estate license! 

Just having a license is not enough to buy or sell your own property – you have to make sure you also are affiliated with a brokerage. To begin that process, you need to find a local real estate company, interview with them, and subsequently, get hired to hang your license there. Keep in mind that a brokerage will often take a percentage of the commission you receive in exchange for being affiliated with them.

If you’re planning to represent yourself, it’s important to look into each state’s legal requirements around buying and selling your own real estate as a licensed agent. Almost every state has laws that require agents to disclose their role and relationship to the property if they are planning to purchase it for themselves. Ensure that you fully understand what laws are in place so you can avoid any legal trouble during the process. 

What changed after August 17 2024?

Before we get into the dollars you might keep in your own pocket, it helps to understand the industry reset that arrived with the National Association of REALTORS® settlement on August 17 2024. The agreement forced four nationwide rule-changes that now shape every self-represented deal:

• Compensation moved off the MLS. Listing brokers can no longer post a buyer-agent fee in the MLS; any payment to the buying side must be struck in a side letter, a closing-cost credit, or simply waived.
• Signed buyer-broker agreements are required up front. Even if you are the buyer and the broker, a short written agreement spelling out services and any fee (even $0) must be in place before the first showing.
• Commissions are 100 % negotiable. With no published “going rate,” buyers, sellers, and their brokers set whatever number—or no number—they want, and that decision must be transparent to all parties.
• License disclosure got stricter. You must state clearly, in writing, that you’re a licensed professional acting for yourself in every offer, counter, and key email.

Why it matters when you represent yourself

Because the MLS won’t guarantee a payout anymore, decide early whether you’ll ask the seller for a credit, reduce your offer price, or simply forgo a commission. Draft a one-page “Buyer Representation—Self” form before touring homes, and keep that paper trail tidy; it’s now just as essential as your purchase agreement. Handle those steps, and you can still pocket the savings—while staying squarely inside the post-settlement rulebook.

Why Would They Represent Themselves?

Despite the logistics and legal requirements, there are certainly benefits to representing yourself when buying or selling real estate. 

Save on Commission Fees

Until 2024 the typical combined commission hovered around 5-6 %. According to an April 2025 survey, the national average is 5.44 % and California averages 5.18 %. Since Aug 17 2024, buyer-agent fees are fully negotiable and often fall between 0 % and 2.5 %.

More Control Over the Transaction

Another benefit of self-representation is the ability to manage every step of the deal yourself—no middle-agent delays or mixed messages.

Under the 2024–25 rules, all disclosures, buyer-broker agreements, and offer negotiations must pass through you anyway, so taking the lead ensures nothing gets lost in translation while an outside agent juggles multiple clients.

By communicating directly with the other party’s agent, scheduling showings on your own timeline, and signing paperwork the moment it’s ready, you keep decisions—and momentum—squarely in your hands. This DIY approach pays off if you’re an organized, responsive communicator who already understands the updated forms and compliance checkpoints introduced after the NAR settlement.

Is Representing Yourself in the Real Estate Transaction a Good Idea?

Potential Risks of Self-Representation:

Even if you qualify to handle your own transaction, it’s not as simple as having a real estate license. Here are key factors to keep in mind:

Experience Matters

Your real estate knowledge and familiarity with the market play a huge role in a successful transaction.

• New agents may lack experience in legal requirements, escrow process, disclosures, and necessary paperwork.
• Mistakes in contracts or compliance issues could lead to legal and financial consequences.

If you're new to the industry, consider partnering with a more experienced agent. By splitting a 3% commission, you can learn from them while still earning—preparing yourself for future transactions.

Market Knowledge is Key

Even if you’re a licensed agent, buying or selling in an unfamiliar area can be risky.

• Local agents understand pricing trends, neighborhood safety, and upcoming developments.
• Misjudging market conditions could cost you money or lead to a poor investment.

If you're purchasing in a new market, working with a knowledgeable agent can help you make informed decisions and avoid costly mistakes.

Emotional Bias Can Impact Decisions

Buying a home is one of the largest financial investments you can make, and emotions often play a role in the process.

• Even experienced agents may overprice their own home, struggle with negotiations, or make rushed decisions.
• A neutral third-party agent can help navigate tough negotiations and ensure emotions don’t interfere with smart decision-making.

Even if you have real estate experience, working with another agent might still be beneficial. An outside perspective can prevent emotional attachment from influencing pricing, negotiations, or the overall transaction.

Should You Get a Real Estate License to Buy or Sell Your House?

There are certainly pros and cons to getting your real estate license with the sole purpose of buying or selling your own property. Aside from saving money, you can also grow your network and potentially discover a new career path. 

If you’re ready to make the time and money investment into getting your license, consider how this will benefit you not only right now, but also in the future. Once you’re licensed and affiliated with a brokerage, you’re able to represent yourself, but also you can assist family and friends when they’re ready to buy or sell a property.

One thing to remember is that there are fees associated with keeping your license active. Unless you’re generating a regular influx of commission annually, having your license may be costing you more than it’s worth. If you’re going to go through the process of studying and passing the licensure exam, consider whether you want to explore this as a new career path!

7-Step Checklist: How to Represent Yourself in a Real-Estate Transaction (2025)

1. Confirm Your License & Brokerage Affiliation‍

Use your state’s online license-lookup tool to verify that your salesperson or broker license is active and that you’re currently affiliated with a brokerage (required to access the MLS and hold trust funds).

2. Draft a Buyer-Broker or Listing Agreement—even if the Fee Is $0‍

Post-settlement rules demand a written agreement with every buyer or seller before the first showing or marketing action. Spell out the compensation (flat fee, hourly rate, percentage, or “zero-percent”) and the services you’ll provide.

3. Prepare Mandatory Disclosures

‍Create a one-page disclosure that states you are the property owner (or buyer) and a licensed real-estate agent. Include this language in MLS remarks, purchase contracts, emails, and flyers to avoid RESPA and state-law violations.

4. Choose How the Buyer-Agent Fee Will Be Handled‍

Decide early whether the fee will be:

1. Waived entirely (0 % buyer-agent commission)
2. Credited by the seller (seller pays a negotiated amount)
3. Paid by the buyer at closing (line item on the settlement statement)
4. Rolled into price (price adjusted upward to cover the fee)

5. Set a Realistic List or Offer Price‍

Run a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) or pull recent sales from Redfin/RPR to price accurately. Over- or under-pricing is the #1 self-representation mistake that costs more than any commission savings.

6. Line Up Transaction Support Services‍

Before you go live, choose your escrow/closing attorney, title officer, inspector, and (optionally) a transaction-coordinator. Having vendors ready keeps the deal moving and plugs the gaps that a traditional agent would normally cover.

7. Maintain a Compliance File for Five Years‍

Store signed agreements, offers, counter-offers, disclosures, email threads, inspection reports, and settlement statements—digital or hard copy—for at least five years (or whatever your state requires) in case of audits or disputes.

Final Thoughts on Real Estate Agents Representing Themselves

Representing yourself in a real estate transaction can be a great opportunity to save money and take control of the transaction. If you’re considering getting your real estate license for this purpose, understand that while there are many benefits, it’s important to invest the time and energy to ensure you are properly educated and prepared for the transaction.

With the right experience and mindset, representing yourself in the real estate process is a rewarding way to utilize a skillset and potentially discover a new career path!