Pennsylvania Seller Disclosure: What the Law Requires, Section by Section
Pennsylvania’s Real Estate Seller Disclosure Law requires most home sellers to give the buyer a
October 20, 2026
Full service for a 1% listing fee, with no minimum commission.
Familiarize yourself with Pennsylvania’s market conditions, learn helpful tips for buying or selling a home in this area, and uncover strategies for saving money in the process.
Pennsylvania’s Real Estate Seller Disclosure Law requires most home sellers to give the buyer a
The Philadelphia realty transfer tax is 4.578% (3.578% City plus 1% PA). How to calculate it, who pays, exemptions, and worked examples.
How Pennsylvania’s statewide homestead exclusion and Philadelphia’s $100,000 Homestead Exemption work, who qualifies, deadlines, and how to apply.
A 1% listing fee means you pay Houwzer 1% of your home’s final sale price to list and sell it. There is no minimum commission. On a hypothetical $400,000 Pennsylvania sale, the fee is $4,000 ($400,000 × 1%). You still get full service: professional photography, an MLS listing, pricing strategy, negotiation, and agent support through closing.
Buyer-agent compensation is separate from the listing fee, and it is negotiable. After the 2024 NAR settlement practice changes, buyers sign a written agreement with their own agent that spells out how that agent is paid. Anything you offer toward that pay is part of your negotiation.
See how the 1% listing fee works from listing day to closing.
Hypothetical examples. The 2.5% and 3% columns are comparison rates only.
| Sale price | 1% Houwzer listing fee | At a 2.5% listing fee | At a 3% listing fee | Difference vs 3% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $250,000 | $2,500 | $6,250 | $7,500 | $5,000 |
| $400,000 | $4,000 | $10,000 | $12,000 | $8,000 |
| $600,000 | $6,000 | $15,000 | $18,000 | $12,000 |
Each listing fee is the sale price × the rate, and the difference is (sale price × 3%) − (sale price × 1%). Buyer-agent compensation, realty transfer tax and other closing costs are separate from the listing fee and are not included in this table.
Your listing fee is one line on your settlement statement. In Pennsylvania, transfer tax is often the next large one, so plan for it before you set your price.
The state charges a realty transfer tax, and most municipalities and school districts add their own. Who pays what is a term you set in the agreement of sale. Our PA closing costs guide walks through the full list of costs. Our Philadelphia transfer tax guide covers the city rate in detail.
This is general information, not tax or legal advice. Transfer tax rates vary by municipality and school district, so confirm yours with your agent and settlement company before you sign.
Your 1% listing fee includes:
Buying in Pennsylvania? Houwzer agents work with buyers too. We give half the buyer’s agent commission back to you at closing.* If the seller doesn’t offer a buyer’s agent commission, you pay 1%.
You’ll sign a written agreement with your agent that spells out how they are paid. Rebate terms are agreed in writing and disclosed to your lender.
*Some lenders cap rebates based on your down payment, so check with your lender. Some states prohibit buyer rebates.
Selling in or around Philadelphia? Visit our Philadelphia page for the local team and city details. In western Pennsylvania, our Pittsburgh page covers the Pittsburgh office.
Our dedicated team of specialists delivers personalized expertise throughout your journey. From in-depth market insights to masterful negotiation tactics, you’re partnered with industry-leading professionals every step of the way.
Multiply your sale price by 0.01. On a hypothetical $300,000 sale, the Houwzer listing fee would be $3,000 ($300,000 × 0.01). There is no minimum commission, so the fee scales with your price.
Under the state's 1% realty transfer tax, the seller and buyer are jointly and severally liable, and most local governments add their own tax. Buyers and sellers usually set the split in the agreement of sale. In Philadelphia the combined rate is 4.578%, and the City may collect from either party.
No. The 1% listing fee covers Houwzer's work for you as the seller. Buyer-agent compensation is separate and negotiable. Buyers now sign a written agreement with their agent that spells out that agent's pay.
With Houwzer, yes. Your listing includes professional photography, an MLS listing, pricing strategy, negotiation, and agent support through closing, all for a 1% listing fee.
Yes. Houwzer has offices serving the Philadelphia region and Pittsburgh, and each one has a local page linked above. Use the form on this page to connect with an agent about your sale.