How to Sell a House By Owner in Louisiana (2024 Update)

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By Michael Yessis Updated August 29, 2024
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Edited by Ashley Simon

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Selling your house by owner in Louisiana can potentially save you from paying an average of $5,489 in realtor commission to a listing agent.[4]

But selling your house for sale by owner (FSBO) doesn't guarantee savings. Selling FSBO also isn't the only way to save money when selling a home, nor is it the only good option to sell without a realtor in Louisiana.

Compare the savings you'll get with a discount broker to the potential savings of selling FSBO, or read on for more about managing your own sale and FSBO alternatives.

Should you sell FSBO? Know the risks.

Selling FSBO isn’t worth the risks for most sellers.

  • Financial risk. FSBO homes typically sell for about 23% less than those listed with agents, which may outweigh the money you save doing it all on your own.[1] While you're not required to offer a buyer's agent commission, you should consider offering a 2-3% seller concession to help buyers cover the cost of hiring a buyer's agent.
  • Legal risk. 36% of recent FSBO home sellers said they made legal mistakes because they didn't use a real estate agent.[2]

FSBO is a viable option for experienced Louisiana home sellers who are willing to put in the required time and effort to navigate the complexities of selling without a realtor.

It's a particularly viable option for Louisiana sellers who live in a hot real estate market or have a buyer lined up. While only 7% of homes sell without a realtor, 57% of those home sellers already know their buyer.[3]

» MORE: Should you sell FSBO?

Why you should trust us

We surveyed and interviewed Louisiana real estate agents, surveyed FSBO sellers, studied Louisiana real estate law, and researched alternatives. Learn more about why you can trust our advice.

💰 Sell for more than you'd get alone
For sale by owner homes sell for about 23% less than homes sold with a realtor's help. That's a difference of about $95,000 on a house with a median sale price in the U.S.  Enter your zip code to talk to a top Clever agent, who can help you maximize the profits from your home sale. It's free, and you have no obligation to commit.

How to sell a house by owner in Louisiana 

Key takeaways for Louisiana FSBO sellers

  • You aren't legally required to hire an attorney to sell FSBO in Louisiana. Many FSBO sellers hire an attorney, though, to help with the most complicated parts of the process. Attorneys cost $100-$100 per hour in Louisiana.
  • You can't use a For Sale by Owner sign in your yard to promote your sale once your home is listed on the MLS.
Louisiana sellers should follow the advice and actions laid out in these seven steps:

Step 1: Make your home presentable to buyers

Put these five tasks on your to-do list, in this order: 

🔨 When it comes to repairs, find the line between necessary and unnecessary projects for your house.

"If your kitchen is a disaster, spending more money on a remodel to get it in solid condition will pay off in the end," says Clever Real Estate co-founder and real estate investor Ben Mizes, who has experience listing homes without a real estate agent. "But spending money on high-end features to take it from good to extravagant will be a waste."

Consider how valuable specific repairs are to buyers in your part of Louisiana. Focus on upgrades that earn back the highest percentage of costs.  

Home repairs with the highest resale value in the West South Central region

Home repairAverage costAverage resale valuePercent of costs recouped
Manufactured stone veneer$10,030  $22,077220%
Entry door replacement (steel)$2,244 $3,662 163%
Garage door replacement$4,431 $6,604149% 
Grand entrance (fiberglass)$10,982 $10,31794% 
Siding replacement (vinyl)$16,879 $14,22384% 
Show more
Source: Remodeling

Home repairs that address deal-breaker issues

You should also address issues buyers consider deal breakers. Below are the top-three concerns for buyers in Louisiana, along with advice on how to fix them.

Deal breakers for Louisiana home buyersAdvice for Louisiana FSBO sellers
Unsafe neighborhoodWhat makes a neighborhood unsafe or "bad" is subjective. If you suspect your neighborhood may scare off potential buyers, improving the home's curb appeal can help. Keep up your yard, for instance. Create a privacy screen with plants or a fence. In the end, you may find it easier to sell a house in a bad neighborhood by hiring a real estate agent.
Foundation issuesYou'll likely have more success selling a house with foundation issues by repairing the foundation before selling. You should also disclose any foundation issues to avoid legal trouble.
Leaky roofReplace your roof before selling if you know it leaks. A new roof can improve your home's value, paying for itself by increasing your home's curb appeal and turning a problematic disclosure ("leaky roof") into a selling point ("new roof").
Show more
Source: Millennial Home Buyer Report: 2024 Edition[5]

Step 2: Set a price for your home

Do your own comparative market analysis​​ (CMA). A CMA report estimates a home's value by comparing the recent sale prices of similar properties located nearby.

You can ask a real estate agent to perform a CMA. Many Louisiana agents will do this for free in the hopes of gaining your business.

We don't recommend asking for a CMA if you're planning to mislead an agent into thinking you need their services. If you're open to using an agent, though, asking for a CMA will allow you to weigh the costs and benefits of hiring an agent, and to give you the peace of mind to know you’ve evaluated all the options.

Get a free professional pricing consultation!

Interview top local agents, get free advice, no obligation to sign.

Other FSBO pricing help options

Get a broker price opinion (BPO). A BPO is a home valuation report provided by a licensed real estate professional who will determine your home's estimated value based mainly on its condition and the recent sales prices of similar homes in the area. BPOs cost $150–250.

Get a pre-listing appraisal, which can provide an accurate starting point for pricing your home, too. In Louisiana, appraisals cost $314–$350.

Search ​​Zillow or a similar real estate website for active local listings priced within a range of what you think your house is worth. Then compare your home’s features to the competition.

For example, if you live in New Orleans and think your house is worth about $238,493, search Zillow for active listings about $50,000 more and less than that. Analyze details about the houses and how they compare to yours. Ask yourself:

  • Does the house have the same number of bedrooms and bathrooms?
  • Has the house been renovated more recently than yours?
  • How do the neighborhoods and nearby amenities compare?
  • Is the school district better or worse?

Answering these questions honestly will help you see if your price is in the right ballpark.

🔑 You should know: People who sell their home without a realtor are prone to underpricing. A 2023 study found that FSBO homes can sell for about 23% less than those listed with licensed real estate agents — meaning these sellers lost out on money even after saving on agent fees.[6]  
Show more

Pricing data for Louisiana and its major markets

These statewide and local pricing metrics can help you hone the listing price for your Louisiana home.

Median Louisiana home value[7]Median listing price in Louisiana[8]Listing price per sqft[9]% of homes where seller reduced the price [10]
$199,605$275,000$15221%
Show more
Louisiana cityMedian home value[11]
New Orleans$238,493
Baton Rouge$236,348
Lafayette$186,502
Shreveport$166,114
Lake Charles$181,059
Show more

Step 3: Create a listing for your home

​​The listing for your home should feature: 

  • Photos of your Louisiana home's best visual qualities
  • Text that speaks to local buyers

If your listing focuses on these things you're more likely to attract motivated buyers who are qualified to buy your home.

📷 How to showcase your Louisiana home's best visual qualities

Take professional-level photographs of your staged home to showcase its best features. Consider hiring a professional real estate photographer, which costs an average of $165 per session in Louisiana.

Often, a listing agent will organize staging and professional photography as part of their services.

✍️ How to write a listing that connects with Louisiana buyers

Focus on information buyers can only get from the homeowner or a neighborhood local. Consider addressing these questions in your listing: 

  • What notable views do you have from your house? 
  • Is the neighborhood friendly? 
  • Is the street safe for kids? 
  • Do you live in an area with great schools? How about restaurants?

💰 Should I offer a buyer's agent commission?

Buyer’s agent commission adds a major incentive for agents who can help maximize your audience of potential buyers. In Louisiana, the average fee is 2.55%. For a home that sells at $250,000, that translates to a fee of $6,375. It’s an investment — but it could make the difference between a quick sale and watching your home sit on the market for months at a time.

Step 4: List your home for sale

The best place to list your Louisiana home is on your local Multiple Listing Service (MLS), a private database created and maintained by real estate brokers to facilitate home buying and selling. 

However, only real estate agents can list homes for sale on the MLS. You'll need to work with a local agent or use a Louisiana flat fee MLS company that charges a one-time payment to list your home on the MLS.

MLS listings populate onto real estate websites like Realtor.com and Zillow, increasing your home's online presence. That's important because 51% of buyers found the homes they purchased via the internet.[12] 

Options for listing in Louisiana beyond the MLS

As a FSBO seller in Louisiana, you have several other free or low-cost options.

  • For sale by owner websites in Louisiana: Several well-established and recognized for sale by owner sites cater to people selling and buying FSBO homes.
  • Trulia and Zillow. Both real estate sites allow FSBO sellers to post listings free of charge in the FSBO section of their sites.
  • Social media: Post your listing to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Nextdoor. Sharing is free, and you can reach a lot of people where they’re already spending time. 
Important note: Louisiana doesn't allow you to advertise your property with a "For Sale By Owner" yard sign once your home is listed on the MLS. Instead, use a generic sign or one from the flat fee MLS company that lists your house.

Step 5: Show your home to potential buyers

Focus on four key strategies when you show your Louisiana house to potential buyers.

  • Be organized. Develop a system for scheduling open houses and showings, and saving buyers' and agents’ contact information. Calendly, Mixmax, and Trafft are among the best-rated scheduling apps. 
  • Be flexible. Show your house at buyers’ convenience, not at your convenience.
  • Be clean. Keep your home spotless. You don't want to scramble around with a vacuum after a buyer calls for a last-minute showing.
  • Be homey. Add little touches that speak to most people, which can help make a great first impression. "Bake cookies or light scented candles before a showing," says Mizes. "Smell plays a huge part in how buyers will perceive and remember your house. Use comforting scents to your advantage so they feel at home the moment they walk through the door."

🧠 You should know: 32% of recent home sellers say getting their house ready to show is the most common challenge of selling on their own.[13]

Step 6: Negotiate with potential buyers

First, ask to see a mortgage pre-approval letter. Accepting an offer from an unqualified buyer may cause your sale to fall through.

You and the buyer's agent (or the buyer, if they don't have a real estate agent) will then negotiate the final sale price. You'll also negotiate other issues, including:  

You'll improve your negotiating position by educating yourself about these topics, your local real estate market, and what's important to buyers in your part of Louisiana. 

If a potential buyer won't negotiate, and their offer doesn't meet your expectations, decline the offer. 

Offering seller concessions

You can also offer seller concessions, contributions home sellers give to their buyers to help offset the costs of buying a Louisiana home. 

Seller concessions might cost you a little more at closing, but they also sweeten the deal for buyers and could lead to a higher final sale price and a quicker sale. 

Consider offering these common seller concessions in Louisiana: 

  • Repair credits: Credit the buyer a set amount of money to cover the cost of home repairs. Once the deal closes, the buyer can oversee the project and you don't have to worry about repairs going over budget.
  • Home warranty: Give buyers peace of mind if your home has major appliances or systems on their last leg. A warranty will cover possible issues and is typically less expensive than paying for the repairs (or accepting a lower offer from a wary buyer).
  • Attorney fees: Louisiana doesn't require a real estate attorney to take part in a home sale. However, some buyers want an attorney to review the contracts — especially if they don't have a realtor. By offering to pay the attorney’s fee, you can sweeten the deal for your buyer because a professional will be looking out for their interests. A real estate attorney in Louisiana costs $100-$100 per hour.

🧠 You should know: 22% of recent home sellers who used an agent say they made more concessions than they felt comfortable with.[14]

Step 7: Close your sale

You must use a title company or an escrow agent to facilitate closing in Louisiana, even if you're selling without a realtor.

Although Louisiana doesn't require sellers to hire a real estate attorney, you may want to hire one to draw up your sales contract and make sure you comply with local laws. Real estate attorneys usually work for an upfront flat fee or an hourly rate. In Louisiana, a real estate attorney costs $100–$100 per hour.

Find Louisiana lawyers near you by searching the Louisiana State Bar Association or FindLaw.

Closing costs in Louisiana

Expect to pay about 3.25% of your home's final sale price in closing costs. For a $199,605 home — the median sales price in Louisiana — that comes to around $6,477.

Paperwork for selling a house by owner in Louisiana

Louisiana requires those selling FSBO to fill out and file many documents and forms. Several of these documents are legally binding agreements. 

The paperwork below is generally required for all Louisiana real estate sales.

  • 2 forms of ID. In most cases, a valid passport, driver's license, or other form of Louisiana-issued ID.
  • Copy of purchase and sale agreement. Plus any addendums.
  • Closing statement. A detailed list of all the costs associated with the sale and who pays them. Your escrow agent or title company usually prepares this statement.
  • Signed deed. You'll need the deed that proves you're the rightful owner to legally transfer your property. On your closing date, you'll sign the deed over to the buyer.
  • Bill of sale. Essentially a receipt that includes your information and the buyer's. It will also list the final sales price of the home and what was included in the sale.
  • Affidavit of title. A notarized document that states you own the home, that there are no liens on the property, that you aren't simultaneously selling the home to someone else, and other information.

Louisiana disclosure forms

  • Louisiana property disclosure form. Fill out the seller's disclosure form for Louisiana to comply with state laws.
  • Lead-based-paint disclosure. Federal law requires you disclose information about the dangers of lead-based paint if your home was built before 1978.
  • City or county disclosures. Some jurisdictions also require disclosures.

» MORE: Disclosure Requirements for Selling Louisiana Real Estate

Possible additional documents

  • Loan payoff information. If you have a mortgage on your home, you'll need documentation of how much you still owe and any payoff fees. If you've already paid your mortgage in full, you'll need documented proof.
  • HOA forms and guidelines. If your home is part of an HOA, you'll need to give the buyer documentation on the HOA's covenants, codes, and restrictions; financial history; required fees; approval process; and more.
  • Survey results or survey affidavits. A survey (or an affidavit verifying a previous survey) confirms the property lines.
  • Home inspection results. If you had a pre-sale inspection, you'll want the results to compare to the buyer's inspection. If having a buyer inspection was part of the sale agreement, you should receive a copy of the results before closing.
  • Home warranty information. The home warranty service agreement will explain what's covered and for how long, and the costs associated with the policy.
  • Proof of repairs or renovations. Documentation proving any major repairs or changes to the house help verify its value. These receipts tell the buyer who to contact if they discover issues with the repairs in the future.
  • Copies of relevant wills, trusts, or power of attorney letters. If you're selling an inherited property, you'll need copies of all the legal documents that passed ownership to you.
  • Relevant affidavits. You may need additional affidavits like a name affidavit (which lists all of your or the buyer's previous names) or an affidavit proving you aren't a foreign citizen and therefore exempt from certain property sales taxes.
  • Closing disclosure. If your buyer is taking out a mortgage and you agreed to certain seller's concessions, you may need a copy of their closing disclosure to verify the lender approved your concessions.
  • Correction statement and agreement. If someone loses forms or discovers errors in the future, a correction statement and agreement requires you, the buyer, or their lender to replace or fix those documents, if need be.

🚨 36% of recent FSBO home sellers say they made legal mistakes because they didn't have a real estate agent. In a typical real estate transaction, your agent would guide you through all the paperwork. To avoid an expensive mistake, consider working with a top-ranked low-commission realtor instead.[15]

Where to find paperwork for selling FSBO in Louisiana

If you're using a real estate attorney, they'll generally supply the paperwork.

State realtor associations sometimes offer blank contracts and forms for you to use. Check with the Louisiana Realtors Association .

You can also find free downloadable forms through LawDepot or eForms

Some services, such as US Legal, combine the most popular state-specific real estate forms into a package that FSBO sellers can purchase by subscription for a monthly fee of $39–59. 

For tax records, property surveys, and deeds, check the Louisiana Department of Revenue.

Pros and cons of selling a house by owner in Louisiana

Pros

  • You can potentially save an average of 2.75%, or $5,489,[16] because you won't have to pay a listing agent's real estate commission. 
  • You'll control the selling process. If you have the disposition and experience to handle details, you'll appreciate this level of involvement.
  • You're likely to have success selling FSBO in Louisiana if you live in a hot local real estate market or have a buyer lined up. While only 7% of homes sell without a realtor, 57% of those home sellers already know their buyer.[17]

Cons

  • While you no longer have to pay a buyer's agent commission, which averages 2.55% of the sale price in Louisiana, you'll still likely pay a 2-3% seller concession to help buyers cover the cost of hiring a real estate agent.
  • Your house will likely sell for less than if you had an agent handle your sale. FSBO homes typically sell for about 23% less than those listed with agents.[18]
  • You'll face legal risks. In a Clever survey, 36% of recent FSBO home sellers said they made legal mistakes because they didn't use a real estate agent.[19]
  • You'll control the selling process, which generally isn't good for inexperienced sellers. FSBO paperwork can be difficult and overwhelming.

How much can I save selling without a realtor?

Louisiana FSBO sellers typically save an average of $5,489 by not paying a listing agent realtor commission.[20] 

FSBO sellers in the state can save up to $10,579 on total realtor commission if they also don't pay the buyer's agent commission.[21] 

These realtor commission savings figures are based on a $199,605 home — the median home value in Louisiana — and an average listing agent commission of 2.75%[22]  and an average buyer’s agent commission of 2.55%.[23]

FSBO savings calculator

Insert your estimated home sale price and the average listing agent and buyer's agent commission into the calculator below to determine your potential savings.

FSBO alternatives 

Consider these alternatives to selling your home by owner in Louisiana.

Discount real estate services in Louisiana

Discount real estate companies will help you sell your Louisiana house for less than a traditional realtor. In most cases, you should still consider offering a 2–3% seller concession, but you'll save money on listing fees.

Flat fee MLS companies in Louisiana

A flat fee MLS service in Louisiana will post your listing on the local MLS, usually for a low, upfront fee. In Louisiana, this will cost you $250–500.

iBuyers in Louisiana

iBuyers purchase homes for cash at a slight discount, then resell them on the open market. By selling to an iBuyer, you'll avoid realtor fees. Most iBuyers charge sellers a service fee of 5–13%, however. They'll also deduct the cost of any required repairs after an on-site visit. 

Cash home buyers in Louisiana

Cash home buyers in Louisiana typically buy houses in poor condition or from sellers who need to sell their house fast. Often, you won't get the fair market value from cash home buyers that many sellers get using an experienced real estate agent. 

Get a free professional pricing consultation!

Interview top local agents, get free advice, no obligation to sign.

Additional resources for Louisiana home sellers 

Authors & Editorial History

Our experts continually research, evaluate, and monitor real estate companies and industry trends. We update our articles when new information becomes available.

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