How to Sell a House Without a Realtor: Proven 2026 Guide That Saves You Thousands
I’ve helped thousands of homeowners figure out how to sell a house without a realtor, and I’ll be honest with you — it’s not as scary as the real estate industry wants you to believe. I run HomeRise, along with Houwzer and Trelora, and our entire business model exists because traditional 5-6% commissions are highway […]
How to Negotiate Realtor Fees (7 Proven Tips to Save Big)
Why Most Homeowners Never Even Try to Negotiate Realtor Fees If you’re wondering how to negotiate realtor fees, here’s the first thing you need to know: most people don’t. They accept the commission percentage their agent quotes, sign the listing agreement, and move on. I’ve watched thousands of home sellers do exactly this across my […]
The Shocking Truth About Real Estate Agent Fees (And How to Pay Less)
What Are Real Estate Agent Fees, Really? Real estate agent fees are the single biggest expense most sellers never budget for correctly. I’ve watched hundreds of homeowners list their properties through HomeRise, Houwzer, and Trelora, and the number one moment of sticker shock always hits when they see the commission line on the closing disclosure. […]
Closing Costs for Seller: The Proven Guide to Avoiding Brutal Hidden Fees
What Are Closing Costs for Seller — And Why Are They So High? Closing costs for seller hit harder than most people expect. I’ve watched hundreds of home sellers at HomeRise open their settlement statement for the first time and genuinely flinch. On a $400,000 sale, you could be staring down $24,000 to $32,000 in […]
Should I Sell My House in 2026? What This Spring’s Numbers Actually Say
The 30-second answer If you’ve been sitting on the “should I sell my house?” question for a year, here’s the short read for spring 2026: The 30-year fixed closed at 6.50% today, up 0.12%. That’s noise inside a 6.20–6.55% band rates have held all April. The trend is sideways, not catastrophic. Mortgage applications jumped 7.9% […]
The Shocking Truth About Who Pays Realtor Fees in 2026 (And How to Save Thousands)
So, Who Actually Pays Realtor Fees When You Sell a Home? Who pays realtor fees is one of the first questions I get from homeowners thinking about selling — and honestly, the answer changed pretty dramatically in 2024. I’m David Speers, and I run HomeRise, Houwzer, and Trelora — three real estate companies built around […]
How to Sell My House Without a Realtor: The Proven, Stress-Free Guide for 2026
Why I Tell People: Yes, You Can Sell Without an Agent If you’re wondering how to sell my house without a realtor, I get it. I’ve spent the last decade running real estate companies â HomeRise, Houwzer, and Trelora â and the single biggest question I hear from homeowners is whether they actually need to […]
Pre Listing Home Inspection: Why I Tell Every Seller to Get One (2026)
I’ve watched sellers lose $10,000, $15,000, even $20,000 in last-minute negotiations because a buyer’s inspector found something nobody expected. A cracked heat exchanger. Knob-and-tube wiring hidden behind finished walls. A failing septic system that looked fine from the surface. Every single one of those deals could have gone differently if the seller had ordered a […]
Seller Closing Costs: What You’ll Actually Pay When You Sell Your Home (2026)
Most sellers I talk to have a rough idea what their house is worth. They’ve checked Zillow, maybe pulled a few comps. But almost nobody has a clear picture of what walks out the door at closing. And that number? It’s usually bigger than they expect. Seller closing costs typically run 8% to 10% of […]
13 Home Staging Tips That Actually Move the Needle (2026)
I’ve walked through more staged homes than I can count at this point. Some looked like they belonged in a magazine. Others looked like someone watched one too many HGTV episodes and panic-bought throw pillows. Here’s what I’ve learned about home staging tips after years in the real estate business: the stuff that actually sells […]