Selling and buying without an agent in Louisiana

Who runs your closing

Louisiana does not run closings the way most states do, with no neutral escrow agent in the middle. Instead, a Louisiana notary, who is frequently a licensed attorney, prepares and executes the Act of Sale, the document that legally transfers your property. That notary role reflects Louisiana’s civil law tradition, which sets the state apart. In practice, most sales close through a title company or closing attorney that examines the title, issues title insurance, collects and disburses funds, and records the deed in the parish conveyance records. As a for sale by owner seller, choose a reputable title company or closing attorney early. They handle the paperwork whether or not an agent is involved, so selling on your own does not change how the closing itself works. Confirm in your purchase agreement who pays for the owner’s title policy, since that point is negotiable and often falls to the seller.

What you must disclose

Louisiana requires every seller of residential property to complete and deliver the Louisiana Real Estate Commission’s Property Disclosure Document no later than the time the buyer makes an offer. If it arrives after the offer, the buyer gets a 72-hour right to terminate the agreement without penalty. The requirement comes from the Louisiana Residential Property Disclosure Act, La. R.S. 9:3196 et seq. The form asks you to affirmatively disclose homeowners’ association and restrictive covenant information along with flood and drainage history, both of which carry real weight in Louisiana. The LREC issues an updated mandatory version each year, and the 2026 form took effect January 1, 2026, so use the current version from the LREC forms page, not an old copy. Answer honestly and completely about what you actually know.

Transfer taxes

Good news for sellers. Since a 2011 constitutional amendment, Louisiana prohibits any statewide or local tax on the sale or transfer of real property, so nearly every seller pays nothing in transfer tax. The single exception is Orleans Parish (New Orleans), which was grandfathered in. There the Documentary Transaction Tax is a flat $325 recording charge paid by the seller when the Act of Sale is recorded. Anywhere else, you owe no transfer tax at all. Budget instead for recording fees, your share of prorated property taxes, and any title costs you agree to cover.

The bottom line for doing it yourself

Selling without an agent in Louisiana is doable. Your two essentials are lining up a title company or closing attorney to handle the Act of Sale and completing the current LREC Property Disclosure Document before you accept an offer. Get those right, price your home against real comparable sales, and put every agreement in writing. Because a notary or title professional runs the closing, the legal mechanics are guided no matter what, which takes real pressure off you.

This guide is general information, not legal advice. For guidance on your specific sale, consult a licensed Louisiana attorney or closing notary.