Buying and selling houses without a realtor

[Aaron R Pike]

There are a lot of tools for the non-realtor investors among us to market our new flip for sale or rent. I've been an investor in the Lyncbhurg, Virginia area for more than a decade and I can't remember the last time I bought a house without first finding it on Zillow. Realtors still play an important role, of course, and I'm sure most can point to statistics that show higher average sale prices and fewer days on the market with a realtor versus without. BUT... that 6% commission is a gut punch to profits and I know plenty of investors have decided to brave the world of real estate marketing themselves.

For those intrepid investors, let me ask you this: if you're buying who drafts your purchase contracts? If you're selling, who drafts your deed? How do you choose your closing company? Do you use an attorney or do it yourself?