Key Steps for Selling Your Land in 2026 Without a Realtor

Selling land without a realtor (often called “for sale by owner” or FSBO) can help you keep more of your proceeds—especially if you’re willing to handle the marketing, inquiries, and paperwork yourself. The tradeoff is time and effort, but for many landowners, avoiding commissions makes the DIY route worth it.

Why sell land without a realtor?

The biggest reason is cost control. Commissions aren’t fixed, but they add up quickly. Nationally, the average real estate agent commission rate is 5.57% of the property’s selling price, and total real estate commission rates can range from 2.00% to 9.00% (with that same 5.57% average) according to List with Clever (2026 Survey).

That 5.57% average is commonly split between the two sides of the transaction. Nationwide, the listing agent commission averages 2.82% and the buyer’s agent commission averages 2.75%, per List with Clever (2026 Survey). On a $357,275 median U.S. home sale, that works out to about $19,900 in total commission at 5.57%, also reported by List with Clever (2026 Survey).

Buyer-side costs can also vary by price point. In Q3 2025, the average U.S. buyer’s agent commission was 2.42% according to Redfin. Redfin also found the average buyer’s agent commission was 2.52% for homes under $500,000, 2.32% for homes priced $500,000–$999,999, and 2.22% for homes priced at $1 million or more in Q3 2025 (Redfin).

For landowners, the practical takeaway is simple: if you can market your parcel effectively and manage the transaction details, you may be able to reduce or eliminate commission expenses—while still reaching serious buyers. And because raw land can take time to sell, hiring an agent who lacks deep land-specific experience may not speed things up as much as you’d expect.

Step 1: Put up a “For Sale” sign where it matters

A clear, durable “For Sale” sign is still one of the highest-ROI moves you can make—especially for vacant land. Place it on the most visible edge of the property or along a nearby high-traffic road where drivers can safely see it and pull over if needed.

You can buy a classic post-style sign (for example, this option), or build your own using inexpensive materials. If you want a DIY approach, this YouTube tutorial walks through creating a simple sign on a tight budget.

Make response effortless: include a phone number and, ideally, a short “text for details” call-to-action. If you prefer not to share your personal number publicly, you can use a secondary number from a service such as Google Voice.

Step 2: Post your land listing online (where buyers actually search)

Most land buyers start online, and broad exposure increases your odds of finding the right match. Your goal is to publish a clean, complete listing in the places people already browse—then respond quickly to inquiries.

Craigslist

Craigslist remains a high-traffic marketplace for more than furniture and cars. Land listings can perform well here, especially when you post in the closest major metro area and choose the most relevant category. Use a clear title (acres + county + key benefit) and include strong photos, a parcel map, and a straightforward price.

Facebook Marketplace

Facebook Marketplace is a practical option for reaching local and regional buyers quickly. It’s easy to post, easy to share, and you can test multiple versions of the same ad (for example, one targeted to the nearest city and another to neighboring towns) to expand reach.

Zillow

Zillow is a go-to real estate search platform for many buyers. If your parcel qualifies for a land listing, it can be a strong visibility boost—especially when you include accurate location details, access notes, and utility information.

Tip for better results: no matter which platform you use, include the basics buyers ask about immediately—APN/parcel number, acreage, legal access, road type, utilities (or lack of), zoning, floodplain status if applicable, and a map pin or GPS coordinates.

Step 3: Consider selling directly to a land company for speed and simplicity

If your priority is a fast, low-hassle sale, a land-buying company can be a straightforward alternative to listing publicly. Land companies may make a cash offer quickly and can often manage the process end-to-end.

For example, Land Boss can provide a cash offer for your property in as fast as a week once you share basic details about the parcel.

The main downside is pricing: many land companies purchase below full retail market value to account for holding costs, risk, and the work of reselling. However, if you’d rather avoid months (or even years) of waiting, showings, and back-and-forth negotiations, a direct sale can be a practical trade.

If you want to explore this route, gather your property details and request an offer to compare against what you might net from listing it yourself.

Photo by: Yan Krukau