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How to sell your house by owner in Iowa

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

Attorney at closing
Customary, not required
Seller disclosure
Required
State transfer tax
0.16%

No law makes you hire an attorney in Iowa, but most closings there use one. Iowa sellers must give buyers the Real Estate Disclosure Statement (Iowa Code 558A.2, 558A.4). Iowa's state transfer tax is 0.16%, about $640 on a $400,000 sale, usually paid by the seller.

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

Iowa transfer tax and savings calculator

State transfer tax (0.16%)
$640
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 0.16%. Full rule: $0.80 per $500 of value over $500 (0.16%). 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 Iowa

  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 Estate Disclosure Statement now. Iowa requires it (Iowa Code 558A.2, 558A.4); 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 Iowa, a title company or an attorney runs the closing; ask a local title company what's usual in your county. Most sellers in Iowa still have an attorney review the contract.
  7. Close. You sign a warranty deed (general), 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.

Iowa seller disclosure

Iowa requires sellers to disclose the home's known condition in writing on the Real Estate Disclosure Statement (Iowa Code 558A.2, 558A.4). Give it to the buyer before they sign the purchase agreement: a late or missing disclosure can let the buyer cancel or sue.

A person transferring residential real property (including without a broker) must deliver the written disclosure statement before making or accepting a written offer. If it is late, the buyer may withdraw or revoke within 3 days of personal delivery or 5 days of mail or electronic delivery.

Real Estate Disclosure Statement (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.

Iowa transfer tax

Iowa charges a real estate transfer tax when the deed is recorded: a base rate of 0.16% of the price, $640 on a $400,000 sale. The full rule: $0.80 per $500 of value over $500 (0.16%). By custom it's usually paid by the seller, but the purchase contract can split it differently.

Local taxes: Iowa has no local transfer taxes. A declaration of value is filed with the county recorder.

Official transfer tax source

Paperwork for selling a house without a realtor in Iowa

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

Also expect:

  • Groundwater Hazard Statement (Iowa Code 558.69) filed or noted on the deed
  • Declaration of value filed with the county recorder (Iowa Code 428A.1)
  • Private septic systems and wells may require time-of-transfer inspection or testing (check with county/DNR)

The seller is legally liable for the transfer tax (Iowa Code 428A.3). Attorneys are not required but commonly examine title and prepare documents in Iowa.

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 Iowa?

Yes. No state requires a real estate agent to sell your own home. No law makes you hire an attorney in Iowa, but most closings there use one. The steps are on this page.

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

Not by law. No law makes you hire an attorney in Iowa, but most closings there use one. Paying one to review the purchase contract is cheap insurance.

Are seller's disclosures required in Iowa?

Yes. Iowa sellers must give buyers the Real Estate Disclosure Statement (Iowa Code 558A.2, 558A.4). A person transferring residential real property (including without a broker) must deliver the written disclosure statement before making or accepting a written offer. If it is late, the buyer may withdraw or revoke within 3 days of personal delivery or 5 days of mail or electronic delivery. Official form or statute. Homes built before 1978 also need the federal lead-based paint disclosure.

How much is the transfer tax in Iowa?

Iowa's state transfer tax is 0.16%, about $640 on a $400,000 sale, usually paid by the seller. Iowa has no local transfer taxes. A declaration of value is filed with the county recorder. Official source.

Who pays the transfer tax in Iowa?

In Iowa 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 Iowa?

Usually the Real Estate Disclosure Statement; a written purchase agreement; a warranty deed (general); the lead-based paint disclosure if the home was built before 1978; Groundwater Hazard Statement (Iowa Code 558.69) filed or noted on the deed; Declaration of value filed with the county recorder (Iowa Code 428A.1); Private septic systems and wells may require time-of-transfer inspection or testing (check with county/DNR). 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 Iowa?

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 $640 state transfer tax is due either way.

Sources

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

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