Selling your house without a real estate agent in Pennsylvania is possible, but it can be a challenging process. While the state does not require you to have a real estate attorney, it's smart to hire one for a for-sale-by-owner transaction anyway.
Let us start with the legal requirements for selling real estate in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. In both states, you must have a real estate license to represent a buyer or seller in a real estate transaction. However, you are allowed to sell your own home without a real estate license.
Federal Exclusion of Long-Term Capital Gains Ownership test: You have owned the home for at least two years before the sale. Use test: You must show proof of occupancy, meaning you have lived in the home and used it as your primary residence for at least two years before the sale.
Meseck, the most common complaints involve: Septic systems. Solar leases. Failure to disclose and Seller's Property Disclosures. Water rights. Miscommunication. Agent-owned property and additional supervision. Multiple offers. Unpermitted work.
This means that anyone who wants to do a wholesale transaction for themselves or represents a wholesaler who is selling a property must have a real estate license. Act 52 of 2024 was signed into law in July 2024 and modifies RELRA to provide uniformity in real estate licensing and protect vulnerable consumers.
To become a real estate agent in Pennsylvania, you must be at least 18, have a high school diploma, complete 75 hours of pre-licensing courses, pass a background check and state licensing exam, join a brokerage for supervised training, update your resume and apply for your license.
The first is that agents are required to get a signed Buyers Agency Agreement before showing a property to any prospective buyer. This has been the policy in Pennsylvania but not all states.
You must successfully complete 75 hours of approved real estate education and be at least 18 years old with a high school diploma or an equivalent. The education requirements must be completed within five years of passing the real estate exams.
With less than half of test takers passing the state section on the first try, the Pennsylvania real estate exam is considered moderately difficult and requires thorough preparation in advance.