Your options to buy
A bank loan isn’t the only way in. Compare buying with your own bank loan, taking over a seller’s lower-rate loan, and seller financing: the cash you’d need, the monthly payment and what each costs over time.
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Educational information, not legal, tax or financial advice.
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Your options
$0
buyer’s agent commission you don’t pay (typical)
| Compared | Bank loan | Assumable mortgage | Seller financing |
|---|
If you’d otherwise have used agents. If you hire your own agent, you’d pay them.
How we estimate
How the comparison works
- Cash needed. Your down payment (or, for an assumable loan, the equity gap) plus typical closing costs for that kind of deal, plus Clavesta’s flat fees.
- Monthly payment. Principal and interest on each loan: your bank loan, the seller’s loan you take over at its rate, or the seller-financed note. Taxes and insurance come on top.
- Over time. What you’d pay over the years you choose, the interest in that time and the loan balance left, so a lower payment and a longer loan don’t hide the real cost.
Every figure is a typical estimate for planning, not a quote or a loan offer. The math comes from the same engine Clavesta uses in its app.
Frequently asked questions
What are my options to buy a home without an agent?
On Clavesta, you can buy directly with cash or your own bank loan. Some homes also let you take over the seller’s FHA, VA or USDA loan (an assumable mortgage), or buy with seller financing, where the seller acts as the bank. You can turn on any mix of these in your buyer profile.
Is taking over a seller’s mortgage cheaper?
It can lower your monthly payment when the seller’s rate is below today’s rates. You still need the servicer’s approval, which checks your credit and income, and you pay the equity gap, the price minus the loan balance, in cash or with a second loan.
Is seller financing cheaper than a bank loan?
Usually not. Sellers tend to charge rates close to or above bank rates, and many notes include a balloon payment. Its value is access and flexibility if a bank loan doesn’t fit your situation.
How much cash do I need to buy a house?
Your down payment plus closing costs. Buyers using a mortgage typically pay about 2%–5% of the price in closing costs, not counting the down payment (Freddie Mac, CFPB); cash buyers skip lender fees. With an assumable loan, the equity gap replaces the down payment.
Do I save the buyer’s agent commission?
Buying directly, there’s no buyer’s agent commission to pay unless you choose to hire an agent. A buyer’s agent commission typically runs about 2.42%–2.70% of the price (Redfin Q3 2025, Clever Aug 2026): about $10,028–$11,189 on a $414,400 home.
For buyers
Get matched with verified homes, directly
Create a free account, tell us how you’ll buy (cash, a bank loan, taking over a seller’s loan or seller financing) and where you want to live. We’ll show you verified homes that fit.
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