Your options in the brave new real estate world

How would you sell your house today if it was on the market? Would you use a real estate agent or go it alone? It's no small issue given the typical commission paid by the seller in this country is about $15,000 based on the latest average sale price of an existing home. When you consider most home sales are for principal residences -- and profits are not subject to capital gains taxes--that $15,000 looms larger because it is after-tax money.