The Best Way to Sell a House Depends on What You're Optimizing For
Published by Cash Flow Deals · Last updated 2026-08-04 · Published and reviewed for compliance by Camilo Palacio, a Florida Licensed Realtor
There's no single best way, only a best way for your situation. A traditional sale has the highest median price; FSBO sellers typically get less, and most miss their target. With Cash Flow Deals, you choose between the Fast Cash Offer, where we buy your house as-is and close, and the Premium Cash Offer, where a pre-approved FHA or conventional buyer we already have, ready to go, pays more and buys directly from you.
| Factor | Traditional Route | Cash Flow Deals |
|---|---|---|
| Who's involved | A listing agent (91% of sellers) or going it alone as FSBO (5%, an all-time low) | Cash Flow Deals connects the seller directly with a real, financed buyer |
| Typical price outcome | Agent-assisted median price runs well above the FSBO median price | Compare your net proceeds: Fast Cash Offer means we buy as-is and close; Premium Cash Offer means a pre-approved FHA or conventional buyer we already have, ready to go, pays more and buys directly from you. You choose. |
| Typical timeline | Prep, showings, and negotiation, then 30 to 45 days from pending to closing | Streamlined once matched, no listing or showing cycle |
Option One: List With a Real Estate Agent
Listing with a licensed agent is what the overwhelming majority of sellers do: 91% according to the National Association of Realtors' 2025 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, a record high. It also produces the strongest price, with agent-assisted homes selling for a median of $425,000 compared to $360,000 for homes sold without an agent. It comes with the most moving pieces too: pricing strategy, staging, showings, negotiating repairs, and a commission that now gets negotiated directly since the Sitzer/Burnett settlement took effect on August 17, 2024, instead of being posted on the MLS.
Option Two: Sell It Yourself (FSBO)
For Sale By Owner sales have dropped to about 5% of the market, an all-time low, as sellers find it harder to compete without agent tools and reach. FSBO sellers report a lower median sale price in NAR's 2025 data, and about 64% say they didn't get the price they wanted, with nearly 30% naming pricing the home correctly as their biggest struggle. It saves the listing side of commission, but that saving often gets eaten by a lower final price.
Option Three: Sell Direct to a Buyer Network
With Cash Flow Deals, you choose between the Fast Cash Offer, where we buy your house as-is and close, and the Premium Cash Offer, where a pre-approved FHA or conventional buyer we already have, ready to go, pays more and buys directly from you. On Premium, you sign with us at an agreed number and give us permission to bring in a buyer in our place. That buyer signs a new contract directly with you, their lender funds the purchase, and title transfers directly from you to them. Cash Flow Deals is paid as a separate line item on the closing statement. For either offer, the number is agreed before any work starts, and it changes only if you agree. The one exception: if something structural surfaces that was not visible or disclosed before we signed — foundation issues, hidden moisture, old wiring, cast-iron drain failure — we re-cost it and bring the number back to you. You decide. You can walk away. We disclose what we know at offer time so this almost never happens. We cover repair costs, and we figure out a way, so nothing comes out of your pocket. On Premium, only what the buyer's lender requires gets fixed, with costs settled from the sale proceeds out of our share, not your number. With Fast Cash, we buy as-is, with no repairs for you to make. If the Premium buyer's loan falls through, that is our problem, not yours, and you can still take the Fast Cash Offer at its own number; you choose between the Fast Cash Offer and the Premium Cash Offer.
How to Actually Decide
Your choice comes down to what you're solving for. If maximizing price is your priority and you have time for marketing and negotiation, a traditional sale is worth considering. If you want to control the process and are comfortable handling contracts and marketing, FSBO is an option, though the data shows it's a shrinking one with a lower typical payout. With us, you can compare the Fast Cash Offer, where we buy your house as-is and close, with the Premium Cash Offer, where a pre-approved FHA or conventional buyer we already have, ready to go, pays more and buys directly from you. Compare what you would receive and which process fits your situation. You choose.
Common questions
Is FSBO cheaper than using an agent?
It saves the listing-side commission, but NAR's 2025 data shows FSBO homes sell for a lower median price than agent-assisted homes ($360,000 versus $425,000), and most FSBO sellers report missing their target price. The commission savings don't always offset the lower sale price.
How did the 2024 commission settlement change how houses get sold?
The Sitzer/Burnett settlement, effective August 17, 2024, stopped buyer agent compensation offers from being posted on the MLS and requires a signed written agreement disclosing buyer agent pay upfront. Commission is negotiated directly now instead of set by convention.
What's the fastest way to sell a house?
Selling direct through an investor or buyer network is generally the fastest path since it skips listing prep, showings, and open-ended negotiation. A traditional agent-listed sale usually takes longer: time on market plus roughly 30 to 45 days from pending to closing.
Do I need a real estate agent to sell to a network like Cash Flow Deals?
No. With Cash Flow Deals, you choose between the Fast Cash Offer, where we buy your house as-is and close, and the Premium Cash Offer, where a pre-approved FHA or conventional buyer we already have, ready to go, pays more and buys directly from you. On Premium, the buyer signs a contract directly with you, and title passes directly from you to that buyer.
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What this means for your options
Every path to selling a house has real tradeoffs.
Wait and see
Keep the property as-is and hope conditions improve. The mortgage, insurance, and upkeep keep costing money while you wait, with no set date for things to turn around.
List with a traditional agent
Standard MLS listing, typically 5-6% in commission, and a financed buyer whose deal depends on appraisal, inspection, and lender approval — any of which can fall through after weeks on market.
Sell to Cash Flow Deals
Two offers for your house, Fast Cash or Premium Cash, and you choose. Cash: Cash Flow Deals buys the house as-is and closes. Premium: More money. A pre-approved FHA or conventional buyer we already have buys directly from you.
See your selling options before you decide anything.