Real Estate Blog | Central Coast, CA

Lisa Bognuda Realtor operates under eXp Realty of CA, Inc.

specializing in listings, rightsizers and move-up buyers all along the California Central Coast

Over 88% of buyers and sellers work with a real estate agent

Most Sellers/Buyers use a Realtor

February 11, 20262 min read

Did You Know? Over 88% of Buyers & Sellers Worked

With a Real Estate Agent : Here’s Why That Matters

“Did you know over 88% of buyers & sellers worked with a real estate agent?” If you’ve ever wondered whether hiring a Realtor® really makes a difference, the data from the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) speaks for itself.

In the most recent NAR Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers survey, 88% of home buyers reported working with a licensed real estate agent when purchasing their home and a record 91% of sellers worked with an agent to sell theirs.

Why Working With an Agent Is Still the Standard

Here’s what the latest industry data tells us:

🔹 Buyers trust agents for expertise Buying a home is one of the biggest financial decisions most people make in their lifetime. Agents help navigate pricing, contracts, financing, inspections, and negotiations.

🔹 Sellers overwhelmingly choose agent support Nearly 91% of sellers enlisted an agent’s help in 2025 the highest level ever recorded because agents bring marketing, pricing strategy, buyer screening, and negotiation skills to the table.

🔹 FSBO sales are shrinking Only about 5% of sellers sold their homes without an agent. That tells us that most homeowners still see value in representation vs. going it alone.

Over 88% of buyers and sellers choose a real estate agent.

What These Numbers Mean for You

Whether you’re buying, selling, or just planning ahead, here’s what to take away:

Agents are trusted advisors — The fact that nearly 9 out of 10 buyers use agents shows that even in a digital age, people value professional guidance.

You’re not alone — Most homebuyers and sellers lean on real estate professionals because buying or selling without experience can cost time and money.

Recommendations matter — A large number of buyers found their agent through referrals or past relationships — meaning good agents get repeat business and positive word-of-mouth.

Real estate agent statisticsReal estate agent benefitswhy most home buyers use a real estate agentpercentage of home buyers who use a realtorshould I use a real estate agent to buy a homebenefits of using a buyer’s agent in real estatereal estate agent statistics for home buyersfirst time home buyers using real estate agentspercentage of home sellers who use a real estate agentwhy sellers choose real estate agents instead of fsboow real estate agents help sellers get higher priceswhy fsbo homes sell for lessreal estate agent marketing advantages for sellers
blog author image

Lisa Bognuda Realtor

Lisa Bognuda Realtor operating under eXp Realty of Ca., specializing in listings, rightsizers and move-up buyers along the California Central Coast. Contract: 805-868-6126 | [email protected]

Back to Blog

Lisa Bognuda Realtor | Exp Realty of CA.

2025 © Copyright

All information is provided by licensed REALTORS®, brokers, or agents and is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. This website does not verify the accuracy or authenticity of the information and assumes no responsibility or liability for any content posted on or in connection with our services. All information should be independently verified by the end user.

PHONE: 805-868-6126

EMAIL: [email protected]

Serving: N. Santa Barbara County

& San Luis Obispo County

Location: 1501 Highway 1 Suite F,

Santa Maria CA 93455