Zillow FSBO Fees - Does Zillow Take a Percentage & Is It Free to Post?

Selling your house without an agent seems to save money, right? No commission, no middleman, only you and buyers. That’s the dream behind For Sale by Owner (FSBO) listings. And if you’ve done even a little research, you’ve probably seen Zillow pop up as one of the top platforms for FSBO sellers.

But before you jump in, it’s smart to ask: What are the real costs? Does Zillow take a percentage? Is it actually free to post a house for sale on Zillow? And is Zillow’s FSBO program worth the fees at all?

Let’s break it down step by step.

What Is Zillow’s FSBO Program?

Zillow is one of the biggest real estate platforms in the U.S., pulling in millions of buyers every month. Naturally, it’s an attractive place to showcase your home.

Their FSBO (For Sale by Owner) option lets you list a property without an agent. Buyers browsing in your area can see your house alongside professionally listed ones. On paper, it sounds perfect: tons of exposure and no commission costs.

But like most “free” things, there’s more to the story.

Zillow FSBO Fees: What You’ll Actually Pay

Here’s where things get interesting.

Listing Cost: It’s true — posting your FSBO home on Zillow is free. You can upload photos, write a description, and publish your property at no cost.
Visibility Catch: Zillow tends to give priority to agent-listed homes in its search results. So while your listing is free, it may not get the same attention without extra effort.
Buyer’s Agent Commission: Here’s the part sellers often forget. Most buyers work with agents, and those agents expect a commission. Even if you’re selling FSBO, you’ll likely need to cover 2–3% of the sale price for the buyer’s agent.
Optional Promotion Costs: Zillow also offers paid upgrades like premium placement to boost your listing’s visibility. These aren’t mandatory, but many sellers use them to stand out.

So while Zillow doesn’t directly charge you a sale by owner fee, you could still spend money — either on buyer’s agent commission or on Zillow’s paid promotions.

Does Zillow Take a Percentage?

This is a big one.

No, Zillow does not take a percentage of your sale price. Unlike real estate agents, Zillow doesn’t earn commission from your transaction. Instead, Zillow makes money by selling advertising and leads to agents.

That said, your total selling costs might not be “zero.” If your buyer comes with an agent, you’ll still be writing that commission check.

Is It Free to Post a House for Sale on Zillow?

Yes — posting is completely free. But free doesn’t guarantee results.

Here’s why:

FSBO listings often get less visibility than agent-listed homes.
Zillow’s algorithm naturally favors professional listings.
You’ll need to handle marketing, staging, photography, and communication yourself.

In other words, while you save on listing costs, you pay in effort and possibly exposure.

Zillow Cash Offer: The Other Option

You may have also heard of the Zillow cash offer.

A few years back, Zillow ran an “iBuyer” program called Zillow Offers, where the company itself would buy homes directly with cash. It promised speed and convenience, though sellers usually got less than market value.

But here’s the update: Zillow shut down its cash offer program in 2021.

Now, Zillow doesn’t buy homes directly. Instead, if you look for a cash offer through Zillow today, you’ll likely be connected to a third-party investor or partner company.

So is it legitimate? Yes — but the offers come from outside investors, and you’ll typically net less than you would on the open market.

Is Zillow’s FSBO Program Worth Fees?

Let us consider Pros and opposition.

Pros:

Free to post.
Exposure to Zillow’s massive audience.
Full control of the process.

Cons:

Lower visibility compared to agent listings.
You’ll likely pay a buyer’s agent commission anyway.
More time, stress, and effort on your part.
Potential pricing mistakes without professional help.

Verdict: If you are in a warm market and are comfortable managing the process themselves then the FSBO program of Zillow's works best. But if your priority is maximum performance, competitive offer and less trouble, then "savings" may not be worth it.

Alternatives to Zillow FSBO

If you’re not sold on Zillow FSBO, consider these options:

Flat-Fee MLS Services
They allow you to pay a lump sum fee to lie your home on MLS, which then sends your list to Zillow, Realtor.com and other platforms. You’ll get much more visibility than a regular FSBO listing.
Local Cash Buyers
If speed matters most, you may want to sell directly to a local investor. Unlike Zillow’s partners, local buyers often close faster and may offer more flexible terms.
Discount Real Estate Agents
Some agents charge reduced commissions (like 1–2%) while still giving you professional marketing and exposure.

FAQ: Zillow FSBO and Cash Offers

1. Does Zillow take a percentage?

Nope. Zillow doesn’t take a cut of your sale. But you’ll probably still pay the buyer’s agent commission.

2. Is the Zillow cash offer legitimate?

It used to be, when Zillow bought homes directly. Now, cash offers come from investors Zillow connects you with. They’re legit, but often lower than market value.

3. Is it free to post a house for sale on Zillow?

Yes, it’s free. Just remember your listing may not get as much visibility as agent-posted properties.

4. Is Zillow’s FSBO program worth the fees?

It can be, if you’re experienced and in a hot market. But many sellers find the limited exposure and extra work outweigh the savings.

Final Take

Selling FSBO on Zillow is attractive - after all, it is difficult for millions of buyers to ignore free access. Although the Zillow FSBO fees are minimal, the real cost often comes from hidden factors: low visibility, commission of buyer agent, and the time you will spend to handle everything yourself.

For some landlords, it is beneficial. For others, finding options such as a flat-faced MLS listing, discount agent, or local cash buyer will make sales easy and more profitable.

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