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How to sell your house by owner in Connecticut

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

Attorney at closing
Required
Seller disclosure
Required
State transfer tax
1%

Connecticut requires a licensed attorney at closing, so you'll pay for one even without an agent. Connecticut sellers must give buyers the Residential Property Condition Report (CGS 20-327b, 20-327c). Connecticut's state transfer tax is 1%, about $4,000 on a $400,000 sale, usually paid by the seller.

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

Connecticut transfer tax and savings calculator

State transfer tax (1%)
$4,000
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 1%. Full rule: State 0.75% on price up to $800,000 (1.25% on $800k to $2.5M, 2.25% above) plus municipal 0.25%. 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 Connecticut

  1. Hire a Connecticut real estate attorney first. The state requires one at closing, and it's cheaper to have them draft or review the purchase contract than to fix it later. Ask for a flat fee for an FSBO sale.
  2. 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.
  3. Fill in the Residential Property Condition Report now. Connecticut requires it (CGS 20-327b, 20-327c); buyers should get it before they sign. Get the official form.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. 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 your attorney, not to you.
  7. Close. You sign a warranty deed, your 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 usually paid by the seller.

Connecticut seller disclosure

Connecticut requires sellers to disclose the home's known condition in writing on the Residential Property Condition Report (CGS 20-327b, 20-327c). Give it to the buyer before they sign the purchase agreement: a late or missing disclosure can let the buyer cancel or sue.

Sellers of 1-4 unit residential property, with or without a broker, must give the buyer a written condition report before the buyer signs a contract. If not delivered, the buyer gets a $500 credit at closing, but the seller must still disclose known material defects.

Residential Property Condition Report (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.

Connecticut transfer tax

Connecticut charges a real estate transfer tax when the deed is recorded: a base rate of 1% of the price, $4,000 on a $400,000 sale. The full rule: State 0.75% on price up to $800,000 (1.25% on $800k to $2.5M, 2.25% above) plus municipal 0.25%. By custom it's usually paid by the seller, but the purchase contract can split it differently.

Local taxes: Some municipalities (targeted investment communities) may add up to another 0.25%. Total is 1.00% for a home under $800,000.

Official transfer tax source

Paperwork for selling a house without a realtor in Connecticut

Sellers in Connecticut usually convey with a warranty deed. Your attorney prepares it and the other closing documents.

Also expect:

  • $500 credit to buyer at closing if condition report not delivered (CGS 20-327c)
  • Closings must be conducted by a Connecticut-admitted attorney (Public Act 19-88)

Plan on hiring a Connecticut attorney: state law now requires an attorney to conduct the closing. Deliver the condition report before the buyer signs. The seller pays the conveyance tax.

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 Connecticut?

Yes. No state requires a real estate agent to sell your own home. Connecticut requires a licensed attorney at closing, so you'll pay for one even without an agent. The steps are on this page.

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

Yes. Connecticut requires a licensed attorney at closing, so you'll pay for one even without an agent. Many attorneys offer a flat fee for FSBO sales that covers the contract and the closing.

Are seller's disclosures required in Connecticut?

Yes. Connecticut sellers must give buyers the Residential Property Condition Report (CGS 20-327b, 20-327c). Sellers of 1-4 unit residential property, with or without a broker, must give the buyer a written condition report before the buyer signs a contract. If not delivered, the buyer gets a $500 credit at closing, but the seller must still disclose known material defects. Official form or statute. Homes built before 1978 also need the federal lead-based paint disclosure.

How much is the transfer tax in Connecticut?

Connecticut's state transfer tax is 1%, about $4,000 on a $400,000 sale, usually paid by the seller. Some municipalities (targeted investment communities) may add up to another 0.25%. Total is 1.00% for a home under $800,000. Official source.

Who pays the transfer tax in Connecticut?

In Connecticut it's usually paid by the seller. Custom isn't law: the purchase contract can say who pays.

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

Usually the Residential Property Condition Report; a written purchase agreement; a warranty deed; the lead-based paint disclosure if the home was built before 1978; $500 credit to buyer at closing if condition report not delivered (CGS 20-327c); Closings must be conducted by a Connecticut-admitted attorney (Public Act 19-88). Your attorney prepares the closing documents and records the deed.

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

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 $4,000 state transfer tax is due either way.

Sources

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

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