"By Owner" Sellers Win Big This Home-Buying Season With ForSaleByOwner.com

CHICAGO, May 20, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- According to a national survey conducted by Tribune Company-owned ForSaleByOwner.com, more than half of Americans would consider selling their home without the help of a real estate agent.¹ This home-buying season, ForSaleByOwner.com is giving those on the fence a reason to go for it – rewarding people who have sold their homes by themselves the chance to cash in twice.

The Home Seller Sweepstakes will award three winners the equivalent of the six percent commission that they would have paid to sell with an agent, up to $25,000.² Anyone who has sold their home without the aid of an agent from January – May 14, 2014 is eligible for entry. Entries can be submitted through July 30, 2014 on the ForSaleByOwner website. One winner will be randomly selected the first week of June, July and August, respectively. 

"As one of the nation's leading sources of information and support for people who are looking to sell their homes, we're thrilled to be giving sellers the chance to cash in twice," said Eddie Tyner, General Manager at ForSaleByOwner.com. "With the re-launch of our website now complete, it's the perfect time to kick off the Home Seller Sweepstakes to celebrate with those who have already sold by owner and inspire those who are looking to sell throughout the summer months – a peak time for home sales."

Since the site launch in 1999, ForSaleByOwner.com has grown into a trusted resource for "by owner" home sellers and buyers. The recently redesigned website is home to a more modern and intuitive online experience that makes the process of selling by owner easier and more accessible through new tools, content and design.

The site contains easy-to-use marketing tools that advertise listings across a network of top real estate websites and on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), along with how-to guides and live customer support. This makes it especially simple for the 80-percent of Americans who would consider buying a home being sold by owner to find their dream property.³

Backed by the Tribune Company, ForSaleByOwner.com has empowered its users to the tune of more than $2.3 billion in home sales in 2013 alone, all thanks to the information, tools and services that put the power to sell and buy a home directly in the hands of homeowners.⁴

For more information about by owner home selling or buying, visit ForSaleByOwner.com.

About ForSaleByOwner.com

ForSaleByOwner.com is the nation's leading "by owner" real estate website, connecting home sellers with home buyers since 1999. The company offers a wide range of listing packages ranging from $80 to $699 plus advertising, information, tools and resources to empower people to sell their homes themselves.

In 2013 alone, ForSaleByOwner.com facilitated the sale of $2.3 billion of residential real estate, accounting for upwards of $70 million in commission fees on home sales.

By selling a home without a real estate agent, sellers can save thousands of dollars by eliminating the commissions and fees a full service agent would command. A homeowner selling a $300,000 house through a full service real estate agent would forfeit up to $18,000 of their hard-earned home equity, based on the traditional six percent commission rate that has become the industry norm. ForSaleByOwner.com was acquired in 2006 by Tribune Digital, a division of Tribune Company, based in Chicago, IL.

1, 3 – According to the 2014 Survey of Home Buyers and Sellers, a national survey conducted on behalf of ForSaleByOwner.com.
2 – The Home Seller Sweepstakes is open to the current ForSaleByOwner.com customer base as well as the general public who have legal proof of selling their home without the aid of an agent.
4 – According to ForSaleByOwner.com sales data.

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SOURCE ForSaleByOwner.com