Selling and buying without an agent in Ohio

Who runs your closing

Ohio is a title and escrow state. A title company handles the closing: it runs the title search, issues title insurance, holds the funds, prepares the settlement statement, and records the deed with the county recorder. No statute requires a lawyer to conduct or supervise a residential sale, and most Ohio closings happen without one. You are free to hire a real estate attorney to draft or review your purchase contract, and some sellers do for an unusual deal, but it is a choice rather than a requirement.

What you must disclose

Ohio takes disclosure seriously. Under Ohio Rev. Code 5302.30, a seller of one-to-four-unit residential property must complete the state-prescribed Residential Property Disclosure Form, issued by the Department of Commerce, Division of Real Estate, and deliver it to the buyer before the buyer signs the purchase agreement. The form asks about the condition of the home from your actual knowledge, and it specifically calls for flood-zone status, any past flooding of the basement or crawl space, and known radon gas. Deliver it late and the buyer gains a statutory right to rescind, so hand it over early. Answer from what you know and do not guess.

Transfer taxes

Ohio calls its transfer tax a real property conveyance fee. The mandatory statewide fee is $1 per $1,000 of the sale price under Ohio Rev. Code 319.54. On top of that, Ohio Rev. Code 322.02 lets each county add a permissive fee of up to $3 per $1,000, and nearly all 88 counties do. So your combined rate can reach $4 per $1,000, depending on the county. Confirm your county’s exact permissive rate with the county auditor before you estimate your net proceeds.

The bottom line for doing it yourself

Selling without an agent in Ohio is manageable. The title company carries the procedural load for both sides, so your real work is pricing the home, filling out the disclosure form honestly and on time, and checking your county’s conveyance fee. This is general information, not legal advice. If a term in your contract worries you, one hour with an Ohio attorney is cheap insurance.