Issue Nº. 05 | Why Agents Fear DIY Buyers (and why that could be a good sign!)
Why Agents Fear DIY Buyers (and why that could be a good sign!)
Word count: 487
Estimated read time: 2 min 15 sec
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Agents are sweating, and it’s not just the market.
This week, I was in a New York Times piece digging into the NAR settlement’s flop. It's been a year since then and commissions have barely budged. Worse still, DIY buyers like you are still fighting the same old battles.
But here’s what's clear from the agent reactions to the article: they’re scared of us. And that’s a really good sign.
Take Mike Chambers of @realtorshateme. Guy sells his $2.7M home, dodges a $137K commission, and builds a viral anti-agent-cartel army. Then there’s me — an agent with millions in deals gone rogue, now putting my professional relationships on the line to coach DIYers.
The industry’s shaking. And agents feel it. Just look at the comments on the NYT article or any of the replies to Mike's or my short-form videos. One agent was so bold to post on one of my recent vids: “F unrepresented buyers, I won’t show them my listings — cheap asses need agents.” (He deleted it fast, but the mask slipped.)
Why the panic?
They see the writing on the wall.
For decades, buyers accepted 3% commissions — $21K on a $700K home — because “that’s how it’s done.” But now, you’re asking: “What’s this agent actually doing for me?” And you're coming to the obvious conclusion: Not enough to justify the paycheck.
NAR’s settlement was supposed to shake things up, but agents cling to their high commissions like life rafts. Meanwhile, you’re out here proving you don’t need them. And their fear? I view it as proof we’re onto something big.
Every DIY deal chips away at their grip and legitimizes the reality that buyers can successfully represent themselves. Agents hate that.
They're mad because you’re competent, and with a little education, you’re confident too. Knowledge turns their “you can’t do this” into “watch me.”
Five years from now, my bet is most buyers will go solo, just most people book their own travel today rather than use a travel agent (something that was unthinkable in the early 90s). So lean into it!
Their pushback — snarky comments, steering tricks, “you need us” lectures — are the desperate pleas of a dying model. You’re the threat they can’t ignore. Keep learning, keep negotiating, keep winning.
We’re not just buying homes — we’re rewriting the rules.
Your Home-buying Friend,
– Nick
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P.S.
We have a Happy Hour + Q&A Call scheduled for Thursday, March 21, at 4pm Pacific Time exclusively for members of the DIY Homebuyer Community on Skool.
These calls have been a ton of fun and extremely valuable to all who attend!
Consider yourself invited! If you haven't already, just join the Skool Community and find the link in the Calendar Section.
Looking forward to seeing you there!
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Want more DIY Homebuyer News or got a thought to share?
Hit me up at nick@diyhomebuyeracademy.com
