How to buy a house without a realtor
Buy directly from the owner. Hire only the help you need.
A buyer's agent commission is baked into almost every listing price in America — you pay it whether or not you use one. On LiNK you deal with the owner directly, and hire an inspector, a lender, and a closing attorney individually, for what each one actually costs.
Browse Richmond homesWhat buying without an agent actually involves
- 1
Get your financing sorted first
A pre-approval letter is what makes a seller take your bid seriously, and without an agent vouching for you it matters more, not less. Compare lenders on LiNK and get pre-approved before you tour anything.
- 2
Search and shortlist
Filter by price, beds, neighborhood, and school zone, then save the homes worth a second look. Set an alert and you will hear about a price drop or a new listing before it reaches a portal.
- 3
Request a showing directly
Pick a time from the owner's calendar. No agent relay, no waiting two days for a callback. Bring a list of questions about the roof, the HVAC, the water heater, and the last time each was replaced.
- 4
Bid, with your terms in writing
Your bid names a price, a closing date, and the contingencies you want — inspection, financing, appraisal. LiNK records the whole history, so a counter-offer never turns into an argument about who said what.
- 5
Inspect before you commit
This is the step people skip to save a few hundred dollars and regret for years. An inspection is the cheapest insurance in the whole transaction, and its findings are legitimate grounds to renegotiate.
- 6
Close with a real estate attorney
In Virginia a closing attorney or title company runs settlement, orders the title search, and disburses funds. This is the one part of the process you should not do yourself — and it is also the easiest part to hire.
Questions buyers ask before their first direct purchase
How do I buy a house without a realtor?
You find the home, arrange your own showing, make an offer directly to the seller, and hire the professionals who handle the transaction — an inspector, a lender, and a closing attorney or title company. LiNK puts all four steps in one place: browse listings, request a showing from the owner, place a bid, and hire vetted providers for the rest.
Who represents me if I don't have a buyer's agent?
You represent yourself on price and terms, and you hire specialists for the parts that need a licensed professional. A real estate attorney can review your contract for a flat fee — typically far less than a buyer's agent commission, which is built into the price you pay whether you use one or not.
Can I still get a mortgage buying directly from an owner?
Yes. Lenders underwrite the buyer and the property, not the presence of an agent. You will need an appraisal and a title search, both of which happen the same way in an agent-led sale.