NAR's Profile of Homebuyers and Sellers in 2003, found that the amount of successful for sale by owner sold homes were 14 percent. This is a 30 percent decline over the last two years in the number of people successfully selling their home "by owner."
Many flat fee for sale by owner services have sprouted out of the natural affinity for the FSBO home seller to seek cheap marketing and representation. Many offer to sell your home for less than $500 for a no frills listings package.
It is still too early to tell if these sites offer much value to the consumer. But it definitely is helping to drive commissions down. And, it is pointed to as proof by those that believe the industry will soon dismantle commissions into "a la carte " style fees.
