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How to sell your house by owner in Maine

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

Attorney at closing
Customary, not required
Seller disclosure
Required
State transfer tax
0.44%

No law makes you hire an attorney in Maine, but most closings there use one. Maine sellers must give buyers the Maine Property Disclosure Statement (33 M.R.S. 173). Maine's state transfer tax is 0.44%, about $1,760 on a $400,000 sale, usually split between buyer and seller.

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

Maine transfer tax and savings calculator

State transfer tax (0.44%)
$1,760
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 0.44%. Full rule: $2.20 per $500 of value (0.44%), plus an additional $3.80 per $500 on value above $1,000,000. 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 Maine

  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 Maine Property Disclosure Statement now. Maine requires it (33 M.R.S. 173); 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 Maine usually happen at an attorney's office, even though it isn't strictly required.
  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 split between buyer and seller.

Maine seller disclosure

Maine requires sellers to disclose the home's known condition in writing on the Maine Property Disclosure Statement (33 M.R.S. 173). Give it to the buyer before they sign the purchase agreement: a late or missing disclosure can let the buyer cancel or sue.

Unless exempt under section 172, the seller of residential real property must give the buyer a property disclosure statement covering items such as water supply and waste disposal. It is not a warranty, and the seller may say an item is unknown.

Maine Property 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.

Maine transfer tax

Maine charges a real estate transfer tax when the deed is recorded: a base rate of 0.44% of the price, $1,760 on a $400,000 sale. The full rule: $2.20 per $500 of value (0.44%), plus an additional $3.80 per $500 on value above $1,000,000. By custom it's usually split between buyer and seller, but the purchase contract can split it differently.

Local taxes: Split equally by statute: grantor pays half and grantee pays half. The high-value surcharge comes from PL 2025 c.388; confirm the effective date.

Official transfer tax source

Paperwork for selling a house without a realtor in Maine

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

Also expect:

  • Disclosure of water supply and waste disposal systems on the statement

Attorneys or title companies commonly handle closings; Maine does not require an attorney. The transfer tax is shared equally by statute, so the buyer owes half.

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 Maine?

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

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

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

Are seller's disclosures required in Maine?

Yes. Maine sellers must give buyers the Maine Property Disclosure Statement (33 M.R.S. 173). Unless exempt under section 172, the seller of residential real property must give the buyer a property disclosure statement covering items such as water supply and waste disposal. It is not a warranty, and the seller may say an item is unknown. Official form or statute. Homes built before 1978 also need the federal lead-based paint disclosure.

How much is the transfer tax in Maine?

Maine's state transfer tax is 0.44%, about $1,760 on a $400,000 sale, usually split between buyer and seller. Split equally by statute: grantor pays half and grantee pays half. The high-value surcharge comes from PL 2025 c.388; confirm the effective date. Official source.

Who pays the transfer tax in Maine?

In Maine it's usually split between buyer and 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 Maine?

Usually the Maine Property Disclosure Statement; a written purchase agreement; a warranty deed; the lead-based paint disclosure if the home was built before 1978; Disclosure of water supply and waste disposal systems on the statement. 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 Maine?

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 $1,760 state transfer tax is due either way.

Sources

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

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