You will find properties for sale by owners (without an agent) and properties for sale that are listed with a real estate broker and belong to the local multiple listing service (MLS).

Not all properties in the search feature are represented by a real estate broker. Owners have an option to utilize the advertising feature of our website to sell by owner, meaning the buyer will have direct contact with the seller with no real estate agent involved. You can tell which properties are listed with a real estate broker and those that are for sale by owner (fsbo) from information at the top of each property details page or thumbnail view.

For Sale Choice is a division of Crowne Realty, LLC dedicated to offering a competitive advertising platform for “for sale by owners”. Crowne Realty, LLC does not represent those sellers or offer any real estate advice in selling their homes. It is truly a for sale by owner advertising option. The advantage to choosing this option is that a seller can upgrade anytime to a Flat Fee listing or Full Service listing (a legal Crowne Realty, LLC agency relationship would then exist) and receive discounts or refunds of previous fees.  Another advantage is the fsbo properties are included in a database that includes the largets comprehensive database in town and attracts more buyers.

Not necessarily. If it is a Selling by Owner (fsbo), then you can contact the seller directly to view the property. The seller’s contact information will be on the property details page. However, if it’s a property that is listed with Crowne Realty, LLC or another real estate company, you will need to contact an agent to make an appointment to view the property. Remember, as a buyer, you have options whether to have an agent represent you in your real estate transaction or not.  However, unless you are an expert in buying and selling real estate, you are better off seeking the advice of a licensed real estate agent before entering into any contract for sale.

While there is no law or policy that requires you to use a real estate agent, there are many reasons for seeking the advice of a real estate professional. The key is to find a Realtor® that is knowledgeable and familiar with local real estate, property rights and trends. If you are a seasoned buyer, meaning you have bought and sold several properties, are skilled in property valuation, and familiar with local procedures, then you may not need a real estate agent to guide you through all the steps.

In today’s market, most sellers offer some kind of compensation to real estate brokers for selling their home. In those cases, you may not have to pay anything to have a real estate professional represent you since the seller is paying the fee. Make sure you discuss compensation with the real estate agent before you enter into an agency relationship. Also, be familiar with “dual agency”. Click on “Real Estate Agency in Illinois” for what constitutes a legal agency relationship in the state of Illinois.

Not necessarily. What determines how much a seller pays is the type of listing contract the seller has entered into. This information is not usually published anywhere that is easily accessible.

The most common type of contract is the Exclusive Right to Sell. With this contract, it doesn’t matter whether you make an offer without representation or use the listing agent (dual agency), the seller is obligated to pay the same amount of commission as stated in the listing contract.

Another listing contract that is not as common but used mainly with Flat Fee listings is the Exclusive Agency listing. An Exclusive Agency listing means if the seller sells the property on their own, they may not have to pay any commission. In this case, if you made an offer with no real estate representation, then the seller will save on commission by not having to pay it.  However, this does not mean that the seller will pass this savings on to you.

We understand that sellers want options when it comes to selling their homes and we’ve provided a website that gives the ultimate choice to the seller while maximizing the exposure of their properties to the most buyers. We also understand and embrace the technologies available which make it easier to sell your home on your own. Our company is about opening new opportunities to consumers and taking the real estate process to the next generation.

Yes.  You can save your search criteria and activate automatic emails to be sent directly to you.  You'll be notified when a property with your criteria comes on the market.  Go to the "My Account" page and login.  It's as easy as 1,2,3!

We have an Internet Privacy Policy that you can read at the bottom of our web pages so your information is secured and private.  However, when properties are sent to you that match your criteria, it may come from one of our agents or there may real estate newsletter information sent on occassion from the company.