Buying a home without a real estate agent: FAQ

Yes. No state requires a buyer to hire a real estate agent, so you can contact listing agents, tour homes, make offers, and close on your own. Some states do require a licensed attorney to handle the closing, which is separate from having a buyer's agent. South Carolina is one of them; Florida is not.

In depth: South Carolina · Florida

Sometimes, but it is not automatic. Since the 2024 NAR changes, buyer-agent commission is negotiated case by case rather than set in the listing. If a seller is not paying a buyer-agent fee, that money can stay in the deal as a lower price or a concession. Whether you capture any of it depends on the negotiation.

In depth: South Carolina · Florida

Get a mortgage pre-approval before you shop. It tells you your real budget, shows sellers you are serious, and is expected with any financed offer. Cash buyers should line up proof of funds instead. After that, start identifying homes and reading the listings closely.

In depth: South Carolina · Florida

Public listing sites like Zillow, Redfin, and Homes.com pull from the same MLS agents use, so you see essentially the same inventory. Also watch for-sale-by-owner listings, new-construction communities, and yard signs. When a home interests you, contact the listing agent shown on the page.

In depth: South Carolina · Florida

You submit a written purchase agreement to the seller, usually through the listing agent. It states your price, financing, deposit, deadlines, and contingencies. South Carolina and Florida each have standard forms. With PocketAgent, you enter your own terms into a guided, state-specific real estate form, then review, sign, and send the offer yourself.

In depth: South Carolina · Florida

Earnest money, a good-faith deposit, is commonly about 1 to 3 percent of the price, though it is negotiable and larger deposits look stronger in a competitive market. It is held by a neutral party (an attorney or broker trust account in SC, a title or escrow agent in FL), not paid to the seller, and credited to you at closing.

In depth: South Carolina · Florida

Look at recent comparable sales, how long the home has been listed, its condition, and current demand. Your pre-approval sets your ceiling. No tool or agent can tell you the right number; it is your decision. PocketAgent shows market data to inform it but does not recommend an offer amount.

In depth: South Carolina · Florida

Usually yes. The listing agent represents the seller, and can still show you the home, give you the seller's disclosures and standard forms, pass your offer to the seller, and coordinate the transaction. Just remember their duty runs to the seller, not to you.

In depth: South Carolina · Florida

They should not advise you on how much to offer, coach your negotiation, keep your private information from the seller, or put your interests over the seller's. They represent the seller. For guidance that is on your side, use your own attorney, inspector, and lender.

In depth: South Carolina · Florida

No one represents you as an agent, which is why you make every decision yourself. You can still hire professionals whose duty runs to you for their piece: a real estate attorney (required for closing in SC), a home inspector, and your lender. PocketAgent is a self-help tool, not your representative.

In depth: South Carolina · Florida

Yes, and you should. You hire a licensed home inspector directly and pay for it. The inspection happens during your due-diligence or inspection period, while you still have the right to renegotiate or walk away based on what it finds.

In depth: South Carolina · Florida

It is a window after your offer is accepted when you investigate the home and can renegotiate or cancel. South Carolina uses a negotiated due-diligence period, often paired with a termination fee. Florida's standard AS-IS contract gives a set inspection period (commonly 15 days) to cancel for any reason.

In depth: South Carolina · Florida

In most cases yes. South Carolina sellers complete a Residential Property Condition Disclosure Statement. Florida requires sellers to disclose known material defects that are not readily observable, even on an AS-IS sale. Disclosures are a starting point, not a substitute for your own inspection.

In depth: South Carolina · Florida

For a financed purchase, effectively yes. Sellers expect a pre-approval letter with the offer, and it defines your budget. Get it from a lender before you shop. If you are paying cash, you provide proof of funds instead.

In depth: South Carolina · Florida

If you finance, your lender orders an appraisal to confirm the home is worth the loan amount. If it appraises below your price, you can renegotiate the price, pay the difference in cash, or, if your contract has an appraisal contingency, cancel. FHA and VA loans add their own appraisal protections.

In depth: South Carolina · Florida

Title is legal ownership of the property. Before closing, a title search checks for liens, unpaid taxes, or ownership disputes. Title insurance protects you and your lender against defects that surface later. In SC an attorney handles this; in FL a title company does.

In depth: South Carolina · Florida

It depends on the state. South Carolina requires a licensed attorney to conduct or supervise a residential closing. Florida does not; closings are typically handled by a title company that also acts as the escrow and closing agent, though you may hire an attorney if you want one.

In depth: South Carolina · Florida

You sign the final documents, your lender funds the loan, closing costs and credits are settled, the deed is recorded, and you get the keys. In SC this happens at an attorney's office; in FL at a title company. Always confirm wiring instructions by phone before sending funds.

In depth: South Carolina · Florida

A last visit shortly before closing to confirm the home is in the agreed condition, agreed repairs were made, and nothing changed since your inspection. It is not another inspection, but it is your last chance to raise a problem before you own the home.

In depth: South Carolina · Florida

Since August 2024, offers of buyer-agent compensation can no longer be posted in the MLS, and buyer commission is negotiated deal by deal. Sellers may still offer a concession, but it is no longer assumed. If you have no buyer's agent, there is no buyer-agent fee to pay.

In depth: South Carolina · Florida

Yes. You can ask for a seller concession toward your closing costs, or a lower price. Whether the seller agrees is up to them and the market. Taking a buyer-agent commission out of the deal can give both sides more room, but nothing is guaranteed.

In depth: South Carolina · Florida

It is a flat-fee, self-help software platform for unrepresented homebuyers. Users can search property and market information, enter their own transaction terms into guided real estate forms, follow educational checklists for each stage of the purchase process, store and electronically sign documents, access directories of independent professionals, and use an AI assistant for general educational information.

In depth: South Carolina · Florida

It is not a brokerage or a law firm and does not represent you. It does not show homes or schedule showings, negotiate or talk to sellers on your behalf, recommend a price, give legal or financial advice, or hold your money. You make the decisions and hire the licensed professionals.

In depth: South Carolina · Florida

PocketAgent operates in South Carolina statewide and in seven Florida counties (Charlotte, Hillsborough, Lee, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, and Sarasota). It is sold per purchase for a flat $500, which covers unlimited searches and one offer letter with nine months of workflow access.