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How to sell your house by owner in Florida

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

Attorney at closing
Not required
Seller disclosure
Required
State transfer tax
0.7%

Florida doesn't require an attorney: a title company or escrow agent usually handles the closing. Florida sellers must give buyers the Flood Disclosure (statutory form, F.S. 689.302); no general condition form (Johnson v. Davis (Fla. 1985); F.S. 689.302 (flood), 404.056(5) (radon text in contract)). Florida's state transfer tax is 0.7%, about $2,800 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 Florida real estate attorney or title company before you sign anything. Last checked October 20, 2026.

Florida transfer tax and savings calculator

State transfer tax (0.7%)
$2,800
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 0.7%. Full rule: Documentary stamp tax of $0.70 per $100 on deeds (0.7%). 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 Florida

  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 Flood Disclosure (statutory form, F.S. 689.302); no general condition form now. Florida requires it (Johnson v. Davis (Fla. 1985); F.S. 689.302 (flood), 404.056(5) (radon text in contract)); 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 or attorney, not to you.
  6. Pick who closes. Depending on the part of Florida, 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 usually paid by the seller.

Florida seller disclosure

Florida requires sellers to disclose the home's known condition in writing on the Flood Disclosure (statutory form, F.S. 689.302); no general condition form (Johnson v. Davis (Fla. 1985); F.S. 689.302 (flood), 404.056(5) (radon text in contract)). Give it to the buyer before they sign the purchase agreement: a late or missing disclosure can let the buyer cancel or sue.

There is no statutory general disclosure form, but under Johnson v. Davis a seller must disclose known facts materially affecting value that the buyer cannot readily see. Since Oct 1, 2025 sellers of residential property must also give a statutory flood disclosure at or before contract.

Flood Disclosure (statutory form, F.S. 689.302); no general condition form (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.

Florida transfer tax

Florida charges a real estate transfer tax when the deed is recorded: a base rate of 0.7% of the price, $2,800 on a $400,000 sale. The full rule: Documentary stamp tax of $0.70 per $100 on deeds (0.7%). By custom it's usually paid by the seller, but the purchase contract can split it differently.

Local taxes: Miami-Dade County: $0.60 per $100 on single-family homes ($1.05 for other property, due to 45-cent surtax).

Official transfer tax source

Paperwork for selling a house without a realtor in Florida

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

Also expect:

  • Flood disclosure form at or before contract signing (F.S. 689.302)
  • Radon gas notice must appear in the contract (F.S. 404.056)
  • Homeowners' association disclosure summary if the home is in an HOA (F.S. 720.401)

A Florida-licensed attorney must prepare recorded documents such as the deed; non-attorneys can only prepare unrecorded closing forms. A licensed title agent or attorney can run the closing. Do not skip the flood form.

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 Florida?

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

No. Florida 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 Florida?

Yes. Florida sellers must give buyers the Flood Disclosure (statutory form, F.S. 689.302); no general condition form (Johnson v. Davis (Fla. 1985); F.S. 689.302 (flood), 404.056(5) (radon text in contract)). There is no statutory general disclosure form, but under Johnson v. Davis a seller must disclose known facts materially affecting value that the buyer cannot readily see. Since Oct 1, 2025 sellers of residential property must also give a statutory flood disclosure at or before contract. Official form or statute. Homes built before 1978 also need the federal lead-based paint disclosure.

How much is the transfer tax in Florida?

Florida's state transfer tax is 0.7%, about $2,800 on a $400,000 sale, usually paid by the seller. Miami-Dade County: $0.60 per $100 on single-family homes ($1.05 for other property, due to 45-cent surtax). Official source.

Who pays the transfer tax in Florida?

In Florida 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 Florida?

Usually the Flood Disclosure (statutory form, F.S. 689.302); no general condition form; a written purchase agreement; the deed; the lead-based paint disclosure if the home was built before 1978; Flood disclosure form at or before contract signing (F.S. 689.302); Radon gas notice must appear in the contract (F.S. 404.056); Homeowners' association disclosure summary if the home is in an HOA (F.S. 720.401). 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 Florida?

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 $2,800 state transfer tax is due either way.

Sources

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

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