Do I Need a Real Estate Agent? The Honest Answer From a Brokerage That Will Tell You the Truth

The answer to "do I need a real estate agent?" is not yes or no. It depends on your experience, your transaction type, your market, and your willingness to manage a process that most people encounter fewer than five times in their lives. This silo gives you the honest framework — from a brokerage with every incentive to tell you that you always need one, and enough integrity to tell you the truth instead.

Is it required to use a real estate agent?

No. There is no legal requirement to use a real estate agent to buy or sell property in any US state. The transaction requires a licensed agent only on the side that has one. Buyers can purchase unrepresented. Sellers can list FSBO. Whether you should is a different question from whether you must.

What changed after the NAR settlement in 2024?

Before August 2024, buyer agent commissions were typically bundled into the seller’s side and largely invisible to buyers. After the settlement: buyers must sign a written representation agreement before touring homes, clearly stating the buyer agent’s compensation. Sellers are no longer required to offer buyer agent compensation through the MLS. Commission rates are now fully transparent and negotiated separately.

What is the FSBO vs agent price gap?

NAR’s 2025 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers found that FSBO homes sold for a median of $360,000 compared to $425,000 for agent-assisted sales — an 18% gap. The gap is partly due to selection effects (FSBO homes tend to be smaller and in lower-cost markets), but significant price differential remains even after controlling for those factors.