Seller answers · Louisiana
Do I need a Realtor to sell my house in Louisiana?
No. Louisiana’s licensing law exempts owners who sell their own property, so you can sell without an agent. You still have to deliver the state’s property disclosure document before the buyer makes an offer, follow the federal lead paint rules on homes built before 1978, and close through a notarized act of sale, usually with a title company or closing attorney.
Reviewed by Nicole Gaudet, REALTOR®
Updated October 3, 2026
The law
What Louisiana law says
Louisiana requires a license to conduct real estate activity for others. Selling your own home is exempt.
Requires a license
- Anyone conducting real estate activity in Louisiana for others
- Agents must be licensed with the Louisiana Real Estate Commission
Exempt
- An individual or entity that sells, exchanges, leases or manages its own property
- Timeshare businesses are carved out of that exemption
Sources: La. R.S. 37:1437; La. R.S. 37:1438.
With or without an agent
What a FSBO seller still has to do
These duties sit with the seller, not the agent.
| Requirement | When it applies | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Property Disclosure Document | Residential property of one to four units, unless an exemption applies (court-ordered sales, new construction never occupied, transfers between co-owners or to a spouse or relative, and others). Deliver no later than the buyer’s offer. | La. R.S. 9:3196–3200; LREC form |
| Lead-based paint disclosure | Most housing built before 1978: the EPA pamphlet, any known lead information and reports, the Lead Warning Statement in the contract, and a 10-day inspection opportunity unless waived in writing. Keep signed copies three years. | EPA |
| A written purchase agreement | Every sale. LREC publishes the 2026 Louisiana Residential Agreement to Buy or Sell. | LREC mandatory forms |
| Act of sale | Transfer by authentic act or act under private signature, filed in the parish to bind third parties. A title company or closing attorney usually handles it. | La. Civ. Code art. 1839 |
Sources: La. R.S. 9:3196; 9:3197; 9:3198; 9:3200; EPA, Real Estate Disclosures about Potential Lead Hazards; LREC mandatory forms; La. Civ. Code art. 1839. Walk through the disclosure on our property disclosure tool.
The money
Commission and buyer-broker pay
Two separate decisions, and both are yours.
Your listing agent
- If you hire one, commission is set in the listing agreement
- It is not set by law and is negotiable
The buyer’s broker
- Since August 17, 2024, MLSs no longer display offers of compensation to buyer brokers
- Buyers sign a written agreement with their own agent
- On the 2026 Louisiana purchase agreement, the seller pays $0 toward the buyer’s broker if that line is blank
- A FSBO seller can still choose to offer something; many buyers’ agents will ask
Sources: National Association of REALTORS®, the facts about the settlement; LREC mandatory forms, 2026 Louisiana Residential Agreement to Buy or Sell, lines 338–343.
Straight talk
Selling yourself vs. hiring an agent
Plenty of owners sell on their own. The question is which jobs you want to do.
You handle it yourself
- Pricing from closed sales
- Photos, listing and showings
- Screening buyers and their financing
- Negotiating price, repairs and closing date
- Tracking every contract deadline
An agent handles it
- The same list, for a commission you negotiate
- MLS entry and syndication
- Contract deadlines and the paperwork
- You still sign the disclosure yourself, from your own knowledge
Going it alone? Use our FSBO toolkit and the FSBO kit. We will send a free price opinion even if you plan to sell yourself.
Questions
Selling without an agent, answered
Can I sell my house without a realtor in Louisiana?
Yes. Louisiana’s licensing law exempts owners selling their own property. You still owe the buyer the state property disclosure, lead paint disclosures on most pre-1978 homes, and a proper act of sale.
La. R.S. 37:1438
Do I need a lawyer to sell my house in Louisiana?
The law does not require one, but the transfer must be by authentic act or act under private signature, so a notary is involved. A title company or closing attorney usually handles closing. For anything complicated, hire your own attorney.
La. Civ. Code art. 1839
Does a FSBO seller have to fill out a property disclosure in Louisiana?
Yes, for most homes of one to four units. The seller completes the LREC form and delivers it no later than when the buyer makes an offer. Some transfers are exempt, such as court-ordered sales and new construction never occupied.
La. R.S. 9:3197, 9:3198
Do I have to pay the buyer's agent commission if I sell by owner?
No, unless you agree to. On the 2026 Louisiana purchase agreement, the seller pays $0 toward the buyer’s broker if that line is blank. Some buyers will ask you to cover it.
LREC, 2026 Louisiana Residential Agreement to Buy or Sell
What changed with realtor commissions in 2024?
Under the NAR settlement, effective August 17, 2024, MLSs no longer display offers of compensation to buyer brokers, buyers sign written agreements with their agents, and commissions remain negotiable.
National Association of REALTORS®
Do I need a lead paint disclosure to sell my house?
If it was built before 1978, usually yes: give the buyer the EPA pamphlet and any known information, include the Lead Warning Statement, allow a 10-day inspection opportunity unless waived in writing, and keep copies three years.
EPA
Keep reading
Next
Next step
Selling yourself? Start with the real number
A free price opinion from recent closed sales near you, even if you plan to sell on your own. No obligation.
General information about Louisiana law, current as of October 3, 2026. Nicole Gaudet is a licensed Louisiana real estate salesperson, not an attorney. This is not legal advice; a Louisiana real estate attorney can tell you what your sale needs.