How To List A Wisconsin Home On Zillow As For Sale By Owner (FSBO)

This is the complete guide to listing a Wisconsin home on Zillow as a For Sale By Owner (FSBO).

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Wisconsin Real Estate Advertising Law Changes
3. Why Zillow Cannot Display FSBO Listings In Wisconsin
4. How A Wisconsin FSBO Can Get On Zillow
5. Where Can I Learn More?

Introduction

If you are reading this, you've noticed Zillow is not allowing you to list on their website as a FSBO in Wisconsin. As of writing, it is one of only two states where Zillow does not allow FSBO listings, with Montana being the other.

We'll discuss why this is and how you can still effectively list on Zillow as a FSBO.

Wisconsin Real Estate Advertising Law Changes

In December 2017, the Wisconsin governor signed what became 2017 Wisconsin Act 110. Act 110 included the following change to Wisconsin law, as it relates to listing real estate:

The above law change basically says that a real estate agent cannot advertise a property unless they are the listing agent or have permission from the listing agent. But Zillow isn't a listing agent, right?

Why Zillow Cannot Display FSBO Listings In Wisconsin

Until mid-2021, Zillow allowed FSBO listings in Wisconsin. This was allowed because Zillow was not a Wisconsin real estate licensee.

In 2021, Zillow became licensed as a real estate broker in Wisconsin and was therefore required to follow Wisconsin law which, as noted above, prohibits licensees from advertising a home unless they have a listing agreement, or permission of the brokerage that has the listing agreement.

As of July 26, 2021, Zillow no longer allows FSBO listings in Wisconsin, as required by law.

How A How A Wisconsin FSBO Can Get On Zillow

The whole point of FSBO is to not waste money on real estate agent commissions and to have greater control over the sale. By no longer being able to list on Zillow, FSBOs lost a powerful tool. However, there is another way to essentially list as a FSBO in Wisconsin on Zillow, and that is a flat fee MLS listing.

A flat fee MLS listing is when a FSBO pays a real estate agent a small fee to list a home on the local Multiple Listing Service (MLS). The only service the agent provides is listing the home on the MLS and there is no further payment due.

Once the home is on the MLS, the major real estate websites such as Zillow, Trulia, Redfin, Realtor.com, and broker sites all pull in the listing from the MLS and display it on their websites. In this way, a FSBO can get on Zillow and all the other websites (plus the MLS) for a small fee.

We are a brokerage in Wisconsin that offers these flat fee listings. We charge $95 to list a home on the local MLS is Wisconsin. IMPORTANT: Make sure you understand the differences in the flat fee MLS providers, as there are many that have hidden fees and gotchas - see our help article here. 

Why choose us?

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Where Can I Learn More?

Do you have questions? Please open a support ticket here and we will get right back to you.

You can also check out these useful links:

• Wisconsin Disclosure Requirements
• Wisconsin Realtor Association: Advertising Changes (Archive)