Did The Founder of ForSaleByOwner.Com Use A Real Estate Agent?

Ryan Fitzgerald

Mar 3, 2015 • 2 min read

Did The Founder of ForSaleByOwner.Com Use A Real Estate Agent?

Chapters

ForSaleByOwner.Com Founder Uses A Real Estate Agent To Sell Home

FSBO (For Sale By Owner) is a term used to describe a home, or real estate property that is being listed for sale by it’s owner. For Colby Sambrotto, it’s more than just selling a home, it’s a way of life.

Colby Sambrotto is the founder of ForSaleByOwner.com, one of the most popular FSBO websites that helps homeowners market their property online, albeit for a fee.

It’s easy to understand why someone would want to sell their home for sale by owner, it’s to save money. The same logic applies to why people buy things that are on sale, to save money. Could it be, that by using a real estate agent, you’d actually save more money? For Colby Sambrotto, a man who is making his living off of FSBO’s, that’s exactly what happened.

Colby tried for six months to sell his apartment in N.Y. with a list price of $2 million dollars. The home sat on the market for half a year. After New York Real Estate Agent Jesse Buckler was given the listing for a full 6% commission, he increased the listing price of Sambrotto’s apartment by 7.5%, to $2.15 million, and received multiple offers.

This isn’t luck or magic, this is an agent who knows what he is doing, reaching a pool of qualified buyers, to connect both parties in order to make the deal happen. It’s through proper pricing, marketing strategies, optimal staging, and reaching the right audience that Sambrotto’s home was sold.

Colby Sambrotto is not alone. Craig Newmark the founder of Craigslist, as well as, Al Bennati, owner of buyowner.com both used agents to sell their properties.

A lot of homeowners are under the impression that if you list your home for sale on the internet the buyers will come. Not a bad theory when you consider how many people use the internet to research homes. However, the internet doesn’t sell homes, people do.

What the Real Estate agents have, that for sale by owner’s do not, is knowledge of listing the home at the right price, marketing the home to the right segment of buyers, staging it to give it max appeal, and selling the home by asking the right questions. They also have a database of qualified buyers, and the only way to sell a home, is to have a ready, willing and able buyer.

WRITTEN BY

Ryan Fitzgerald

Realtor

Ryan Fitzgerald is a top Realtor®, founder and owner of Raleigh Realty, one of the Triangle’s fastest-growing and most innovative real estate brokerages. Driven by a mission to be the best—not the biggest—brokerage in Raleigh, Ryan has built Raleigh Realty into a firm known for its cutting-edge marketing, high-performing agents, and culture rooted in collaboration, growth, and excellence.

Raleigh Realty

Under Ryan’s leadership, Raleigh Realty has become a top boutique brokerage in Raleigh-Durham, serving clients across Wake County and the surrounding areas. Raleigh Realty stands apart for its:

Top-Tier Agents – Every Realtor on the team is hand-selected for their skill, professionalism, and client-first approach. Raleigh Realty isn’t about quantity—it’s about quality.
Award-Winning Website – RaleighRealty.com is consistently ranked among the best real estate websites with incredible user experience, cutting-edge IDX technology, and hyper-local guides that help buyers and sellers navigate the market.
Inbound Lead Generation – With a strong focus on SEO and digital marketing, the brokerage generates a steady flow of organic leads, giving agents the opportunity to grow thriving businesses.
Supportive Culture – Ryan emphasizes mentorship, accountability, and autonomy—no micromanaging, just the right systems and tools for agents to succeed.
Community Focus – From neighborhood spotlights to relocation guides, Raleigh Realty is committed to being a resource for both buyers and sellers as they make one of life’s biggest decisions.

The firm continues to expand its reach, with the goal of 100 agents and $1 billion in annual sales volume by 2030—all while staying true to its boutique, client-centered values.

Awards & Recognition

Ryan already has notable public credentials and prestige:

He has been featured in outlets such as Forbes, Wall Street Journal, U.S. News, among others (as mentioned on the site).
Realtor Magazine named him a “Top 30 Under 30” in the country (as noted on his Raleigh Realty page).
Raleigh Realty is widely acknowledged in the local real estate community for its digital prowess and thought leadership.
The company is consistently ranked among the top real estate firms in Raleigh and is known for having one of the highest-traffic real estate websites in the region.

Community Involvement & Giving Back

Ryan’s leadership extends far beyond the closing table. He has built Raleigh Realty to be a company that actively gives back to the community and invests in making Raleigh a better place to live.

The Green Chair Project – Ryan and Raleigh Realty proudly support The Green Chair Project, a local nonprofit that provides essential furnishings and household items to families transitioning out of homelessness, crisis, or disaster. By partnering with this organization, Ryan helps ensure families have the comfort and dignity of a furnished home.
Food Donations & Drives – Raleigh Realty regularly organizes and contributes to food donation efforts, partnering with local pantries and organizations to help fight food insecurity across Wake County. These efforts bring agents, clients, and neighbors together to support those in need.
Local Events & Client Appreciation – Raleigh Realty hosts family-friendly gatherings such as pumpkin patch outings, coffee + donut socials, and seasonal celebrations designed to strengthen neighborhood bonds.
Supporting Schools & Youth Programs – Ryan partners with local schools and youth organizations to provide resources, sponsorships, and mentorship opportunities, ensuring that the next generation has access to growth and guidance.
Small Business Advocacy – Raleigh Realty proudly highlights and partners with local small businesses, amplifying their visibility and reinforcing Raleigh’s reputation as a vibrant place to live and work.

For Ryan, success is measured not just in sales, but in the lasting relationships and community impact Raleigh Realty leaves behind.

AgentLoft – Powering the Next Generation of Realtors

Ryan is also the visionary behind AgentLoft, a SaaS platform designed to help Realtors nationwide build their brand and generate leads. AgentLoft websites combine IDX technology, SEO expertise, and AI integration to give agents the competitive edge they need.

Personal Mission

As a proud father to his daughter Emma, Ryan’s mission is bigger than business. He’s dedicated to building a brokerage and a platform that create opportunity and stability for families, clients, and agents alike. His approach blends entrepreneurship with empathy—ensuring that Raleigh Realty continues to grow not just in sales volume, but in reputation, trust, and impact.

👉 Whether you’re buying or selling a home, or you’re a Realtor looking for the right brokerage to grow your business, Raleigh Realty—under Ryan Fitzgerald’s leadership—offers the expertise, technology, and community-minded culture to help you succeed.