How to sell your house by owner in Louisiana

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

Louisiana transfer tax and savings calculator

Sale price

State transfer tax (none)

$0

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. 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 Louisiana

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 Property Disclosure Document (Louisiana Real Estate Commission form) now. Louisiana requires it (La. R.S. 9:3196-3199); 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 your attorney, not to you.
6. Book a closing attorney. Closings in Louisiana usually happen at an attorney's office, even though it isn't strictly required.
7. Close. You sign an act of sale with warranty (cash sale deed), your attorney pays off your mortgage and records the deed with the county. Louisiana charges no state transfer tax, but check for local fees.

Louisiana seller disclosure

Louisiana requires sellers to disclose the home's known condition in writing on the Property Disclosure Document (Louisiana Real Estate Commission form) (La. R.S. 9:3196-3199). 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 residential property of 1-4 units must complete a Louisiana Real Estate Commission property disclosure document with or without a licensee. It must cover known defects, HOA and restrictive covenants, meth lab history and salt-dome cavities, with exemptions for court-ordered and fiduciary transfers.

Property Disclosure Document (Louisiana Real Estate Commission 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.

Louisiana transfer tax

Louisiana has no state real estate transfer tax, so the deed is recorded for the county's recording fee only.

Local taxes: No known local transfer tax; the parish clerk charges recording fees.

Paperwork for selling a house without a realtor in Louisiana

Sellers in Louisiana usually convey with an act of sale with warranty (cash sale deed). The title company, escrow officer or attorney prepares it with the other closing documents.

Also expect:

• Sale of immovable property must be made by authentic act (before a notary and two witnesses) or an act under private signature, and is effective against third parties only when recorded in the parish

Louisiana uses civil law: sellers warrant against hidden defects (redhibition) unless the waiver is clear in the act of sale. Sales are passed before a notary, usually an attorney, who also checks title.

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 Louisiana?

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

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

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

Are seller's disclosures required in Louisiana?

Yes. Louisiana sellers must give buyers the Property Disclosure Document (Louisiana Real Estate Commission form) (La. R.S. 9:3196-3199). Sellers of residential property of 1-4 units must complete a Louisiana Real Estate Commission property disclosure document with or without a licensee. It must cover known defects, HOA and restrictive covenants, meth lab history and salt-dome cavities, with exemptions for court-ordered and fiduciary transfers. Official form or statute. Homes built before 1978 also need the federal lead-based paint disclosure.

How much is the transfer tax in Louisiana?

Louisiana has no state real estate transfer tax. No known local transfer tax; the parish clerk charges recording fees.

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

Usually the Property Disclosure Document (Louisiana Real Estate Commission form); a written purchase agreement; an act of sale with warranty (cash sale deed); the lead-based paint disclosure if the home was built before 1978; Sale of immovable property must be made by authentic act (before a notary and two witnesses) or an act under private signature, and is effective against third parties only when recorded in the parish. 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 Louisiana?

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.

Sources

• legis.la.gov/legis/Law.aspx · checked October 20, 2026
• legis.la.gov/legis/Law.aspx · checked October 20, 2026
• legis.la.gov/legis/Law.aspx · checked October 20, 2026

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

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