Selling a home without an agent is not new. For decades, “for sale by owner” meant a yard sign, a listing on a classifieds site, and then a seller left alone to handle showings, offers, inspections, and a stack of paperwork. Plenty of sellers who tried it ended up hiring an agent halfway through. That first generation of FSBO saved commission on paper but gave sellers very little support in practice.

RealtyBase, a Brilliant Equity company, is built on a different premise: if the entire transaction can be guided and completed inside one platform, sellers can keep their equity without giving up structure and support. Call it FSBO 2.0.

The cost problem RealtyBase is solving

Traditional real estate commissions are calculated as a percentage of the sale price, so the cost grows with the value of the home rather than with the amount of work involved. As a simple illustration, a 5% total commission on a $400,000 home is $20,000, and that money comes straight out of the seller’s equity.

The rules around commissions have also shifted. Under the 2024 National Association of Realtors settlement, offers of buyer-agent compensation can no longer be made through the MLS, and buyers working with an agent now sign a written agreement with that agent. The result is more attention on what agents charge and more openness to alternatives. RealtyBase is a commission-free platform: sellers list for 0% commission.

How the platform works

RealtyBase calls its approach BASE, short for Buying and Selling Experience. Buyers and sellers interact directly, peer to peer, inside a mobile app, and the platform is designed to carry the transaction from listing to closing.

For sellers

• List a home at 0% commission using simple, mobile-friendly forms
• Coordinate listing photos
• Schedule the home inspection
• Manage showing times and property access
• Receive, counter, and accept offers
• Chat directly with verified buyers
• Get alerts for showings, offers, and third-party appointments
• Close remotely

For buyers

• Search listings by map or list view
• Save favorite listings
• Request showings
• Submit offers with simple forms
• Get alerts for price drops, showings, and action items

What makes this different from FSBO 1.0

Guidance at every step. RealtyBase’s Journey feature shows users what comes next in the transaction, and specialists are available to assist along the way. The biggest weakness of old-school FSBO was never the listing. It was everything after the listing, and that is the part RealtyBase is built to handle.

Verified participants. Users on the platform are verified, which cuts down on unqualified inquiries and gives both sides more confidence about who they are dealing with.

Manageable paperwork. Simple forms and e-signature replace much of the back-and-forth that slows down a private sale.

Secure transactions. The platform is designed to keep the transaction secure from end to end.

What sellers should still plan for

Commission-free does not mean effort-free. Sellers using any FSBO approach still need to price the home realistically, negotiate in good faith, and make sure contracts and disclosures meet their state’s requirements. Many sellers bring in a title company or real estate attorney for closing. RealtyBase’s structure and specialist support are designed to make those steps easier, not to pretend they don’t exist.

Why RealtyBase fits the Brilliant Equity portfolio

Brilliant Equity began in real estate, where transaction costs take a meaningful bite out of every sale. RealtyBase applies the firm’s core thesis, using technology to make a real-world service simpler and less expensive, to one of the largest financial decisions most people make.

Learn more at realtybase.com.