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 […]
What Hurts a Home Appraisal? 11 Things Sellers Miss (2026)
If you are wondering what hurts a home appraisal, let me start with a story. A few years back, I sat with a seller in suburban Philly who had priced her home at $525,000 and lined up a buyer at asking. The appraisal came back at $487,000. Deal died. She spent the next three months […]
2% Commission Realtors: What You Actually Get (And What You Don’t)
If you’re selling a home in 2026, you’ve probably seen ads for 2% commission realtors and wondered: is this legit, or is there a catch? The short answer is yes, 2% commission realtors are real — but what you actually get for that 2% varies wildly depending on who you hire. I’ve spent the last […]
2% Commission Realtors: Are They Actually Worth It in 2026?
Are 2% commission realtors worth it? Short answer: only if a 2% agent is genuinely the cheapest full-service option you can find — and in 2026, it usually isn’t. A 2% commission realtor still costs you $10,000 on a $500,000 sale, and full service for half that already exists. Here’s how to decide in about […]
How Much Does a Realtor Make on a $500,000 Sale? (2026 Breakdown)
How much does a realtor make on a $500,000 sale? At the traditional 5-6%, the total commission runs $25,000 to $30,000 — split between the listing agent and the buyer’s agent. So each agent’s side is roughly $12,500 to $15,000 before their broker takes a cut. Here’s exactly where that money goes, and how much […]
How Much Does It Cost to Sell a House in 2026? The Real Breakdown
The Short Answer: 8% to 10% of Your Sale Price How much does it cost to sell a house in 2026? Most sellers budget for agent commissions and call it a day. But the real cost of selling a house — once you add up commissions, closing costs, repairs, and the dozen other line items […]