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How to sell your house by owner in Texas

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

Attorney at closing
Not required
Seller disclosure
Required
State transfer tax
None

Texas doesn't require an attorney: a title company or escrow agent usually handles the closing. Texas sellers must give buyers the Seller's Disclosure Notice (TREC OP-H or substantially similar) (Tex. Prop. Code 5.008). Texas has no state real estate transfer tax.

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

Texas 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. Commissions are negotiable and vary; these are typical ranges, not quotes.

Steps to sell a house without a realtor in Texas

  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 Seller's Disclosure Notice (TREC OP-H or substantially similar) now. Texas requires it (Tex. Prop. Code 5.008); 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, not to you.
  6. Open the file with a title company. In Texas 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. Texas charges no state transfer tax.

Texas seller disclosure

Texas requires sellers to disclose the home's known condition in writing on the Seller's Disclosure Notice (TREC OP-H or substantially similar) (Tex. Prop. Code 5.008). Give it to the buyer before they sign the purchase agreement: a late or missing disclosure can let the buyer cancel or sue.

Seller of residential property with one dwelling must give the buyer a completed notice on or before the contract effective date. Unknown items are marked unknown.

Seller's Disclosure Notice (TREC OP-H or substantially similar) (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.

Texas transfer tax

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

Paperwork for selling a house without a realtor in Texas

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

Also expect:

  • MUD/special district tax-rate notice (Water Code 49.452) given to buyer at contract and closing if applicable
  • HOA/subdivision information if applicable

Texas closings run through a title company/escrow, no attorney needed. If the seller does not deliver the required notice, the buyer may be able to terminate.

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 Texas?

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

No. Texas 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 Texas?

Yes. Texas sellers must give buyers the Seller's Disclosure Notice (TREC OP-H or substantially similar) (Tex. Prop. Code 5.008). Seller of residential property with one dwelling must give the buyer a completed notice on or before the contract effective date. Unknown items are marked unknown. Official form or statute. Homes built before 1978 also need the federal lead-based paint disclosure.

How much is the transfer tax in Texas?

Texas has no state real estate transfer tax.

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

Usually the Seller's Disclosure Notice (TREC OP-H or substantially similar); a written purchase agreement; a general warranty deed; the lead-based paint disclosure if the home was built before 1978; MUD/special district tax-rate notice (Water Code 49.452) given to buyer at contract and closing if applicable; HOA/subdivision information if applicable. 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 Texas?

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 Texas real estate attorney or title company before you sign anything. Last checked October 20, 2026.

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