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How to sell your house by owner in Washington, DC

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

Attorney at closing
Check locally
Seller disclosure
Required
State transfer tax
1.1%

We couldn't confirm whether Washington, DC requires an attorney at closing: ask a local title company before you sign a contract. Washington, DC sellers must give buyers the Real Property Seller Disclosure Statement (form approved by the Mayor) (D.C. Code 42-1301 to 42-1311). Washington, DC's state transfer tax is 1.1%, about $4,400 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 Washington, DC real estate attorney or title company before you sign anything. Last checked October 20, 2026.

Washington, DC transfer tax and savings calculator

State transfer tax (1.1%)
$4,400
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 1.1%. Full rule: Seller pays transfer tax of 1.1% (1.45% total for residential $400,000 or more); recordation tax is the same rate and usually paid by the buyer. 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 Washington, DC

  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. Fill in the Real Property Seller Disclosure Statement (form approved by the Mayor) now. Washington, DC requires it (D.C. Code 42-1301 to 42-1311); buyers should get it before they sign. Get the official form.
  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 Washington, DC the title company runs the title search, sells the title insurance and conducts the closing.
  7. Close. You sign the deed, 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 usually paid by the seller.

Washington, DC seller disclosure

Washington, DC requires sellers to disclose the home's known condition in writing on the Real Property Seller Disclosure Statement (form approved by the Mayor) (D.C. Code 42-1301 to 42-1311). Give it to the buyer before they sign the purchase agreement: a late or missing disclosure can let the buyer cancel or sue.

For 1-4 unit homes where the buyer states in writing an intent to live there, the seller must deliver a signed disclosure statement on or before the buyer signs the contract. If given later, the buyer can terminate within 5 days. Seller is liable only for what they actually know.

Real Property Seller Disclosure Statement (form approved by the Mayor) (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.

Washington, DC transfer tax

Washington, DC charges a real estate transfer tax when the deed is recorded: a base rate of 1.1% of the price, $4,400 on a $400,000 sale. The full rule: Seller pays transfer tax of 1.1% (1.45% total for residential $400,000 or more); recordation tax is the same rate and usually paid by the buyer. By custom it's usually paid by the seller, but the purchase contract can split it differently.

Local taxes: DC recordation tax 1.1%/1.45% is imposed on the deed and both parties are jointly liable; first-time DC buyers can get a reduced recordation rate.

Official transfer tax source

Paperwork for selling a house without a realtor in Washington, DC

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

Also expect:

  • Disclosure statement must list known lead service line information (D.C. Code 42-1305)

Deliver the signed disclosure before the buyer signs the contract or the buyer gets a 5-day termination right. Whether an attorney is required at DC closings was not verified; title companies commonly handle settlement.

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 Washington, DC?

Yes. No state requires a real estate agent to sell your own home. We couldn't confirm whether Washington, DC requires an attorney at closing: ask a local title company before you sign a contract. The steps are on this page.

Do I need a lawyer to sell my house in Washington, DC?

We couldn't confirm whether Washington, DC requires an attorney at closing: ask a local title company before you sign a contract.

Are seller's disclosures required in Washington, DC?

Yes. Washington, DC sellers must give buyers the Real Property Seller Disclosure Statement (form approved by the Mayor) (D.C. Code 42-1301 to 42-1311). For 1-4 unit homes where the buyer states in writing an intent to live there, the seller must deliver a signed disclosure statement on or before the buyer signs the contract. If given later, the buyer can terminate within 5 days. Seller is liable only for what they actually know. Official form or statute. Homes built before 1978 also need the federal lead-based paint disclosure.

How much is the transfer tax in Washington, DC?

Washington, DC's state transfer tax is 1.1%, about $4,400 on a $400,000 sale, usually paid by the seller. DC recordation tax 1.1%/1.45% is imposed on the deed and both parties are jointly liable; first-time DC buyers can get a reduced recordation rate. Official source.

Who pays the transfer tax in Washington, DC?

In Washington, DC 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 Washington, DC?

Usually the Real Property Seller Disclosure Statement (form approved by the Mayor); a written purchase agreement; the deed; the lead-based paint disclosure if the home was built before 1978. 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 Washington, DC?

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 $4,400 state transfer tax is due either way.

Sources

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

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