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How to sell your house by owner in Missouri

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

Attorney at closing
Not required
Seller disclosure
Not required (buyer beware)
State transfer tax
None

Missouri doesn't require an attorney: a title company or escrow agent usually handles the closing. Missouri has no mandatory seller disclosure form (it follows caveat emptor, "buyer beware"), but you still can't hide or lie about known defects. Missouri has no state real estate transfer tax.

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

Missouri transfer tax and savings calculator

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 Missouri

  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. Write down what you know about the house. Missouri doesn't require a disclosure form, but a voluntary one in writing protects you if a buyer later says you hid a defect.
  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 Missouri the title company runs the title search, sells the title insurance and conducts the closing.
  7. Close. You sign a general warranty deed, the title company pays off your mortgage and records the deed with the county. Missouri charges no state transfer tax, but check for local fees.

Missouri seller disclosure

Missouri is a "buyer beware" (caveat emptor) state: there's no mandatory form. That doesn't protect you if you actively hide a defect or answer a buyer's question falsely, so disclose what you know in writing.

Missouri has no general seller condition disclosure statute, but sellers must disclose in writing known methamphetamine production and certain related convictions, and known radioactive or hazardous contamination. Sellers need not disclose psychologically impacted facts such as a death on the property.

Official form or statute

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.

Missouri transfer tax

Missouri 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; recording fees apply.

Paperwork for selling a house without a realtor in Missouri

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

Also expect:

  • Written disclosure of known methamphetamine production or related convictions (RSMo 442.606)
  • Written disclosure of known radioactive or hazardous contamination (RSMo 442.055)
  • Many St. Louis-area municipalities and Kansas City require an occupancy or inspection certificate before sale; check the city

Missouri sellers are not required to use a disclosure form, but fraud and the Merchandising Practices Act still apply to concealed defects. Title companies handle closings and no attorney is required.

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 Missouri?

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

No. Missouri 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 Missouri?

No statewide form. Missouri has no mandatory seller disclosure form (it follows caveat emptor, "buyer beware"), but you still can't hide or lie about known defects. Missouri has no general seller condition disclosure statute, but sellers must disclose in writing known methamphetamine production and certain related convictions, and known radioactive or hazardous contamination. Sellers need not disclose psychologically impacted facts such as a death on the property. Official form or statute. Homes built before 1978 also need the federal lead-based paint disclosure.

How much is the transfer tax in Missouri?

Missouri has no state real estate transfer tax. No known local transfer tax; recording fees apply.

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

Usually a written purchase agreement; a general warranty deed; the lead-based paint disclosure if the home was built before 1978; Written disclosure of known methamphetamine production or related convictions (RSMo 442.606); Written disclosure of known radioactive or hazardous contamination (RSMo 442.055); Many St. Louis-area municipalities and Kansas City require an occupancy or inspection certificate before sale; check the city. 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 Missouri?

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

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

Compare all states: attorney rules, disclosure and transfer tax →