Recently bought my first home without an agent on either side. If you were able to take away the complexities of applying for a mortgage, then the transaction

Recently bought my first home without an agent on either side. If you were able to take away the complexities of applying for a mortgage, then the transaction would be as follows: buyer and seller sign a purchase contract(which defines what is being sold, for how much, and under what circumstances), establish escrow, have the property officially assessed for value (for tax purposes), have a title agent validate that the deed to the property is legally the seller's to sell, and finally file the deed with the local recorder's office. You can pay a lawyer to draft the purchase agreement for you or write one yourself. To me, its the closing costs and lending instruments that need an overhaul -- but yeah, get rid of the realtors too.