RoomTour

How to sell your house by owner in Colorado

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

Attorney at closing
Not required
Seller disclosure
Not required
State transfer tax
0.01%

Colorado doesn't require an attorney: a title company or escrow agent usually handles the closing. Colorado has no mandatory seller disclosure form, but you still can't hide or lie about known defects. Colorado's state transfer tax is 0.01%, about $40 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 a Colorado real estate attorney or title company before you sign anything. Last checked October 20, 2026.

Colorado transfer tax and savings calculator

State transfer tax (0.01%)
$40
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 0.01%. Full rule: State documentary fee of 1 cent per $100 of consideration (0.01%). 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 Colorado

  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. Colorado 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, not to you.
  6. Open the file with a title company. In Colorado the title company runs the title search, sells the title insurance and conducts the closing.
  7. Close. You sign a general warranty deed (residential sales), the title company 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).

Colorado seller disclosure

Colorado has no statewide seller disclosure requirement: there's no mandatory form, though a Seller's Property Disclosure (Colorado Real Estate Commission form, used by brokers) exists and many buyers ask for it. 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.

Colorado has no general statutory disclosure form for FSBO sellers, but a seller must disclose known latent material defects. Statute also requires specific notices in the contract, such as special taxing districts and common interest community obligations.

Seller's Property Disclosure (Colorado Real Estate Commission form, used by brokers) (official source)

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.

Colorado transfer tax

Colorado charges a real estate transfer tax when the deed is recorded: a base rate of 0.01% of the price, $40 on a $400,000 sale. The full rule: State documentary fee of 1 cent per $100 of consideration (0.01%). By custom it's negotiated between buyer and seller (no fixed custom), but the purchase contract can split it differently.

Local taxes: No other state transfer tax; county recording fees apply.

Official transfer tax source

Paperwork for selling a house without a realtor in Colorado

Sellers in Colorado usually convey with a general warranty deed (residential sales). The title company, escrow officer or attorney prepares it with the other closing documents.

Also expect:

  • Special taxing district disclosure in the purchase contract (C.R.S. 38-35.7-101)
  • Common interest community (HOA) disclosure in the contract (C.R.S. 38-35.7-102)

Use the state-approved contract forms or have the title company confirm statutory notices are in your contract. Title companies, not attorneys, normally close.

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 Colorado?

Yes. No state requires a real estate agent to sell your own home. Colorado 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 Colorado?

No. Colorado 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 Colorado?

No statewide form. Colorado has no mandatory seller disclosure form, but you still can't hide or lie about known defects. Colorado has no general statutory disclosure form for FSBO sellers, but a seller must disclose known latent material defects. Statute also requires specific notices in the contract, such as special taxing districts and common interest community obligations. Official form or statute. Homes built before 1978 also need the federal lead-based paint disclosure.

How much is the transfer tax in Colorado?

Colorado's state transfer tax is 0.01%, about $40 on a $400,000 sale, negotiated between buyer and seller (no fixed custom). No other state transfer tax; county recording fees apply. Official source.

Who pays the transfer tax in Colorado?

In Colorado 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 Colorado?

Usually a written purchase agreement; a general warranty deed (residential sales); the lead-based paint disclosure if the home was built before 1978; Special taxing district disclosure in the purchase contract (C.R.S. 38-35.7-101); Common interest community (HOA) disclosure in the contract (C.R.S. 38-35.7-102). 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 Colorado?

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 $40 state transfer tax is due either way.

Sources

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

Compare all states: attorney rules, disclosure and transfer tax →