For sale by owner not sold through brokers each year (as of 2004). MSN Money suggests that 30% of homes are sold without using a real estate agent. More than half of the homes sold in Quebec are sold without an agent. In the UK, the average commission rate is significantly lower than in Canada or the US. Properties for sale by owner are less common. By law, all sales of property have to be supervised and handled by an independent solicitor who acts as a mediator and holds the buyer's money until the purchase process is finished. In Australia, the FSBO is still
Estate agent to be 1.3%, although fees vary widely. Other than for the cheapest properties, estate agent fees are generally the second most expensive component of the Cost of moving house in the United Kingdom after stamp duty. High Street Agents rarely charge up front costs for selling nor costs for aborting a sale and withdrawing a home from the market. So whilst other options are available to sell property with Online Agents they do often charge upfront fees with no guarantee of selling or perhaps the motivation a No Sale No Fee High Street Agency will offer. Since around 2005, "online