Updated 2 months ago on .
Do experienced investors really need an agent anymore?
Hey BiggerPockets community — long-time reader, first-time poster.
I’m Blake. I’ve spent ~12 years in real estate (brokerage + development) and have personally watched a growing segment of buyers — especially investors — realize they don’t actually need a traditional buyer’s agent to get deals done.
After seeing this repeatedly, I helped build Ownli — an AI-driven, commission-free platform designed for buyers and sellers who want to self-direct the process while still having guardrails around contracts, diligence, and closing. www.myownli.com
What Ownli is (and isn’t):
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- A structured, guided buying platform for experienced or savvy buyers and sellers
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- Flat-fee instead of percentage-based commissions
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- AI tools to help interpret pricing, contracts, inspections, and next steps
- Lender/Title and Prop Insurance marketplace
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- Not a brokerage trying to upsell you agents
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- Not “DIY with zero support”
Why investors specifically asked for this:
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1) They already know how to analyze deals
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2) They’re tired of paying buyer-side commissions that don’t correlate to value
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3) They want control, speed, and transparency — not hand-holding
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4) Many already source deals themselves (MLS, off-market, wholesalers, direct)
We’re currently live in 43 states, started with the buy-side, and are continuing to expand features around diligence, closing coordination, and investor-specific workflows.
I’m not here to pitch — genuinely curious:
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- Would you personally use a platform like this?
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- Where do you still see value in a buyer’s agent vs. tech + flat-fee support?
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- What would have to exist for you to feel comfortable buying without an agent?
If it’s helpful, happy to share how we’ve seen early users structure offers, handle inspections, and close deals using the platform.
Looking forward to the discussion — this forum has shaped how a lot of us think about real estate, and I’d love honest feedback (good or bad).
- Blake