Sell Your Home As-Is vs. Realtor Listing
Disclosure: Alex Jandick, author of this blog, is a licensed real estate agent and private home buyer.
If you’re asking whether you should list your home with a realtor or sell it as-is to a private cash buyer, the simplest answer is: it depends on your goals.
Selling Your Home in Less Than 30 Days
If you want to sell your house fast—sign a purchase agreement, close, and have cash in your bank account within 30 days—selling as-is to a private buyer is your best option.
Selling Your Home in 60–90 Days
If you have time to wait 60–90 days (sometimes longer), listing your home with a realtor could work.
- You’ll sign a listing agreement.
- Wait for an offer.
- Navigate inspections and negotiations.
- Then finally close and receive your funds.
But Wait—My Realtor Said They Could Sell It in a Week?
They might, if the home is aggressively priced. But according to current market data (2025), the average Days on Market (DOM) in Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties is over 60 days.
If your home is:
✅ Clean and staged well
✅ Utilities are on
✅ Smells good
✅ Priced lower than competing listings
...then you may go under contract quickly.
However, for AS-IS home sales, it's often the third buyer who actually closes, as earlier buyers can fall out for various reasons.
Selling AS-IS to a Private Buyer: What to Expect
- A fast and streamlined process
- Quick closing in as little as 21–30 days
- Lower purchase price (you trade some equity for speed and convenience)
- Mostly email communications—about 50 emails from start to finish
- No staging, repairs, or showings necessary
What Happened to the Seller’s Market?
In 2025, the market is balanced.
- Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties have 6+ months of inventory.
- Compare that to 2021 when there were only 1.5 months of inventory—and homes sold in bidding wars.
The big shift? Interest rates:
- 2021: Mortgage rates under 3%
- 2025: Rates between 6–7%
Higher interest rates mean buyers can afford less, leading to fewer offers and longer selling times.
How Higher Interest Rates Affect Home Prices
When interest rates rise:
- Buyer purchasing power drops
- Sellers slash prices to attract buyers
- Comparable home sales drive down your home's market value
Example:
- You list at $400K.
- Your neighbor slashes their price to $350K, then sells for $340K.
- Suddenly, buyers think your $400K home is overpriced.
- You either lower your price—or sit on the market indefinitely.
This is how "phantom equity"—equity you thought you had—can quickly disappear.
Bottom Line: Should You List or Sell As-Is?
If you need to sell quickly, or want a hassle-free process without repairs, selling as-is to a private cash buyer like 131 Realty Corp is your best bet.
If you have the time and patience to navigate a traditional sale and market shifts, listing with a realtor could yield a higher price—but with more uncertainty.
📞 Thinking about selling your home? Contact 131 Realty Corp for a free, no-obligation offer today!