Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Coni Mackey. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Coni, appreciate you joining us today. How did you come up with the idea for your business?
The idea for Buy Without Agents (BWAs) came to me after the big lawsuit against the National Association of Realtors, which changed the game for homebuyers. With sellers no longer responsible for paying the buyer’s agent commission, I knew this shift could create a challenge—many buyers wouldn’t want, or be able, to cover that additional cost themselves.
With my 20+ years in mortgages and real estate, and real estate investing, I saw a gap and an opportunity. Buyers have always relied on agents for things like scheduling home inspections, managing timelines, researching properties, and handling paperwork. But no one was teaching them how to do these things themselves. That’s where BWAs comes in—offering training and consulting so buyers can confidently navigate the home buying process without an agent.
Most first-time homebuyer classes are run by realtors or mortgage professionals, but let’s be real—they’re usually designed to bring in clients, not to truly educate buyers on an independent path. I wanted to change that. I want to give people the knowledge and tools to buy a home on their own and keep that huge commission in THEIR pocket.
For me, the most exciting part is seeing buyers realize that they can do this. They can negotiate, they can understand contracts, and they can make one of the biggest purchases of their lives with confidence. I haven’t come across another company that provides the tools and knowledge that Buy Without Agents is offering and I’m proud to be a resource that genuinely helps people.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I’ve spent most of my career in real estate and mortgages, but I didn’t take the traditional path. It was a mix of experience, problem-solving, and recognizing gaps in the industry that I knew I could help fill.
I started out in the mortgage business, owning my own mortgage company and working closely with buyers as they navigated the home loan process. From there, I got into real estate investing, focusing on lease-option deals—helping buyers who wouldn’t normally qualify for a traditional mortgage get into a home. That was incredibly rewarding because I saw firsthand how just having the right knowledge could make homeownership possible for people who thought it was out of reach.
I also started a For Sale By Owner business, working with sellers who wanted to list their homes without an agent. I walked them through the process, teaching them how to price their homes, market them effectively, and negotiate offers—all while keeping more of their hard-earned money in their pockets. One thing became clear throughout this process: buyers and sellers were never really given the tools to handle real estate transactions on their own.
When the lawsuit against the National Association of Realtors happened and buyers started questioning whether they would now be responsible for paying their own agent’s commission, I knew they would need an alternative. Many buyers were already stretched thin covering closing costs and their down payment—adding an agent’s commission on top of that would make homeownership even less accessible. There had to be a better way.
That’s what led me to create Buy Without Agents—not to sell real estate services, but to give buyers the tools and knowledge to take control of their own home purchase.
The most rewarding part? Seeing buyers go from feeling overwhelmed to feeling empowered. Watching them realize, “I can do this!” and knowing that I had something to do with that.
My goal is simple: to provide the right tools and knowledge for those who want to take charge of buying their own home.
Any fun sales or marketing stories?
One of my favorite sales stories—and one that still makes me smile—was when I helped an 85-year-old man sell his home on his own. At the time, my For Sale By Owner business had only been open for about seven months.
He called me one day, curious about how I could help him sell his home without a realtor. After meeting with him, he felt knowledgeable enough to take the plunge. He purchased my signs and flyers, attended my seminar to learn the process, and connected with a title and escrow company, as well as an attorney, to draft his contract.
But what happened next was remarkable.
Using the marketing techniques I shared in my seminar, he sold his home in just three days. No Multiple Listing Service—just smart, strategic marketing. I had suggested he post his flyer on local grocery store and church bulletin boards, walk his neighborhood to hand out flyers, and always keep his flyer box stocked. He also advertised on my website and was featured in our For Sale By Owner magazine.
On day three, he called me, excited. While handing out flyers in his neighborhood—just like I had advised—he met a couple who lived on his street. They were looking for a home for their elderly mother and wanted her nearby. His timing couldn’t have been more perfect. They immediately toured the home, loved it, and made a cash offer on the spot.
He was thrilled. And so was I.
The sale happened so fast that I had to rush to update the magazine and mark the listing as sold on my website to stop the incoming calls. But the best part? He was so happy with his experience that he started referring other sellers to me, sharing the same techniques he used to successfully sell his home.
That moment was exactly why I started my business. It wasn’t just about giving people an alternative to using an agent—it was about empowering them with the right knowledge and tools to take control of their own real estate journey.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
In 2008, my life took a drastic turn. I owned a mortgage company and a For Sale By Owner business—everything I did revolved around real estate. Then the crash happened. Practically overnight, the industry collapsed, and with it, both of my businesses. My entire world was turned upside down.
Losing my businesses wasn’t just a financial hit; it shook my entire identity. I had spent years building something I believed in, and suddenly, I had no idea what to do or even who I was without it. My marriage didn’t survive the fallout, and I found myself alone with two dogs, scrambling to figure out how to make ends meet.
At first, I tried to piece together an income. I had a plotter from my For Sale By Owner business, so I started making signs. I also assisted with a few mortgage loans, but it wasn’t enough to sustain me. The reality of my situation hit hard—I was homeless. I tried finding shelters, but most were either full or only accepted women with children. With nowhere else to go, I slept on my son’s couch for a while as I searched for a job.
But job hunting came with its own challenges. As an entrepreneur, many employers assumed I’d leave as soon as I got back on my feet. No one wanted to take a chance on me. I eventually found a part-time job, but it wasn’t enough to afford a place of my own. I was grateful when friends offered me a space to sleep—on their dining room floor—until I could find something more stable.
During that time, foreclosures were at an all-time high, and I saw so many people struggling, just like I was. That’s when I decided to pivot in a way that made sense for me—I started working for a nonprofit organization that helped homeowners negotiate loan modifications to keep their homes. It was tough, but it was meaningful. I learned the ins and outs of the foreclosure process, and for the first time in a long while, I felt like I was making a difference.
That experience led me to another role—working with a nonprofit that provided housing for people with developmental disabilities. It was incredibly rewarding, and I realized something important: no matter what industry I was in, my purpose was always the same—helping people. My knowledge and experience weren’t wasted; they just needed to be applied in a new way.
Looking back, that time in my life was one of the hardest things I’ve ever been through. But it also shaped who I am today. It taught me resilience, adaptability, and the importance of using what you do know to keep moving forward. And ultimately, it led me back to what I do now—helping people take control of their own home-buying journey, just in a different way than before.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.buywithoutagents.com
- Instagram: buy_without_agents
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/buy-without-agents/?viewAsMember=true
- Youtube: @BuyWithoutAgents
