The Relative Performance of Real Estate Marketing Platforms: MLS versus FSBOMadison.com

A good real estate agent might make up some of the commision he or she is paid by helping the seller get a more favorable outcome. We match several data sets to compare the outcomes obtained by sellers who listed their home on a For-Sale-By-Owner (FSBO) web site versus those who used an agent and the Multiple Listing Service (MLS). We do not find that listing on the MLS helps sellers obtain a significantly higher sale price. Listing on the MLS does shorten the time it takes to sell a house.