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How to sell your house by owner in Arkansas

For sale by owner (FSBO) in Arkansas, without a realtor · rules checked · sources

Attorney at closing
Not required
Seller disclosure
Not required (buyer beware)
State transfer tax
0.33%

Arkansas doesn't require an attorney: a title company or escrow agent usually handles the closing. Arkansas has no mandatory seller disclosure form (it follows caveat emptor, "buyer beware"), but you still can't hide or lie about known defects. Arkansas's state transfer tax is 0.33%, about $1,320 on a $400,000 sale, negotiated between buyer and seller (no fixed custom).

General information, not legal advice. Rules change and counties add their own; check with an Arkansas real estate attorney or title company before you sign anything. Last checked October 20, 2026.

Arkansas transfer tax and savings calculator

State transfer tax (0.33%)
$1,320
Commission you don't pay (5–6%)
$20,000–$24,000
Saved if you still pay the buyer's agent (2.5–3%)
$10,000–$12,000

Example for a $400,000 sale. Uses the base state rate of 0.33%. Full rule: $3.30 per $1,000 of consideration (0.33%) on deeds over $100. State tax only; county or city taxes may add to it. Commissions are negotiable and vary; these are typical ranges, not quotes.

Steps to sell a house without a realtor in Arkansas

  1. Price it from sold homes, not asking prices. Pull recent sales of similar homes nearby from the county records or the "sold" filter on the big portals, or pay a licensed appraiser for a pre-listing appraisal.
  2. Write down what you know about the house. Arkansas doesn't require a disclosure form, but a voluntary one in writing protects you if a buyer later says you hid a defect.
  3. Make a listing buyers can judge from home. Bright photos of every room, an honest description, a floor plan and a 360° virtual tour filter out people who were never going to buy, so fewer, better showings.
  4. List it where buyers look. A flat-fee MLS listing (a broker puts you on the MLS for a fixed fee) gets you onto Zillow, Realtor.com and Redfin; add FSBO sites, social media and a yard sign with a QR code to the tour.
  5. Show it, then get offers in writing. Ask for a mortgage pre-approval or proof of funds before a showing, and decide up front whether you'll pay a buyer's agent. Accept with a written purchase agreement; the earnest money goes to the title company or attorney, not to you.
  6. Pick who closes. Depending on the part of Arkansas, a title company or an attorney runs the closing; ask a local title company what's usual in your county.
  7. Close. You sign the deed, the title company or attorney pays off your mortgage and records the deed with the county. The state transfer tax is paid when the deed is recorded and is negotiated between buyer and seller (no fixed custom).

Arkansas seller disclosure

Arkansas is a "buyer beware" (caveat emptor) state: there's no mandatory form. That doesn't protect you if you actively hide a defect or answer a buyer's question falsely, so disclose what you know in writing.

The Arkansas Real Estate Commission says state law does not require sellers to give a property condition disclosure; in owner-to-owner sales it is whatever the contract says. Disclosure duties apply to licensed agents, and fraud for hiding known defects still applies.

Official form or statute

Whatever the state rule, a home built before 1978 needs the federal lead-based paint disclosure and the EPA pamphlet, and the buyer gets 10 days to test unless they waive it.

Arkansas transfer tax

Arkansas charges a real estate transfer tax when the deed is recorded: a base rate of 0.33% of the price, $1,320 on a $400,000 sale. The full rule: $3.30 per $1,000 of consideration (0.33%) on deeds over $100. By custom it's negotiated between buyer and seller (no fixed custom), but the purchase contract can split it differently.

Local taxes: Paid via stamps/proof at recording. Customarily the seller pays, but sources conflict on the statutory default, so state it in the contract.

Official transfer tax source

Paperwork for selling a house without a realtor in Arkansas

The closing agent drafts the deed. The title company, escrow officer or attorney prepares it with the other closing documents.

Also expect:

  • Proof of transfer tax payment or exemption required to record the deed (Ark. Code 26-60-110, per secondary source)

No required seller disclosure form, so put any condition promises in the contract. Attorney not required; title companies or attorneys close, and attorney title opinions are common.

The rest of the work is marketing: a clear listing, honest photos and a virtual tour. Tips in how to write a property listing and how to make a virtual tour with your phone.

Frequently asked questions

Can you sell a house without a realtor in Arkansas?

Yes. No state requires a real estate agent to sell your own home. Arkansas doesn't require an attorney: a title company or escrow agent usually handles the closing. The steps are on this page.

Do I need a lawyer to sell my house in Arkansas?

No. Arkansas doesn't require an attorney: a title company or escrow agent usually handles the closing. An attorney is still worth it if the contract or the title is unusual.

Are seller's disclosures required in Arkansas?

No statewide form. Arkansas has no mandatory seller disclosure form (it follows caveat emptor, "buyer beware"), but you still can't hide or lie about known defects. The Arkansas Real Estate Commission says state law does not require sellers to give a property condition disclosure; in owner-to-owner sales it is whatever the contract says. Disclosure duties apply to licensed agents, and fraud for hiding known defects still applies. Official form or statute. Homes built before 1978 also need the federal lead-based paint disclosure.

How much is the transfer tax in Arkansas?

Arkansas's state transfer tax is 0.33%, about $1,320 on a $400,000 sale, negotiated between buyer and seller (no fixed custom). Paid via stamps/proof at recording. Customarily the seller pays, but sources conflict on the statutory default, so state it in the contract. Official source.

Who pays the transfer tax in Arkansas?

In Arkansas it's negotiated between buyer and seller (no fixed custom). Custom isn't law: the purchase contract can say who pays.

What paperwork do I need to sell my house without a realtor in Arkansas?

Usually a written purchase agreement; the deed; the lead-based paint disclosure if the home was built before 1978; Proof of transfer tax payment or exemption required to record the deed (Ark. Code 26-60-110, per secondary source). The title company or attorney prepares the closing documents and records the deed.

How much do you save selling a house without a realtor in Arkansas?

On a $400,000 sale, a 5–6% commission is $20,000–$24,000. If you still pay the buyer's agent, you save the listing side, about $10,000–$12,000. The $1,320 state transfer tax is due either way.

Sources

General information, not legal advice. Rules change and counties add their own; check with an Arkansas real estate attorney or title company before you sign anything. Last checked October 20, 2026.

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