Selling a House As-Is in PA (Pennsylvania)

Looking to sell a house as-is in Pennsylvania? Whether you’ve got a fixer-upper or recently inherited a relative’s home, sometimes the goal is to skip repairs, get a fair offer, and move on.

“Sellers think selling as-is is easier for them; they don’t want to put out any more money,” says Josh McKnight, a top-selling Philadelphia area real estate agent who has 21 years of experience. “The other issue we have (with regular sales) is when you say you’re going to make a repair, you’re kind of locking yourself into needing to find a contractor that can do that repair, and that’s become a challenge.”

However, selling a house as-is usually means accepting a lower offer, and it doesn’t always prevent buyers from trying to negotiate savings. Let’s take a closer look at how to sell a house in Pennsylvania, your options for getting an offer, and what to expect from the process.

Fast facts about selling a house as-is in Pennsylvania

Median sales price in Pennsylvania
$280,000 according to a report from the Pennsylvania Association of Realtors® (March 2024)

Average days on market for Pennsylvania
9 days in the Philadelphia Metro Area and 26 days in the Harrisburg Metro Area in April 2024

Disclosures
Pennsylvania law requires sellers to disclose material facts about the property through the Seller’s Property Disclosure Statement.

MLS has field to mark a listing “as is”?
No

Is a real estate attorney required?
Real estate attorneys are not considered essential for closing in the state of Pennsylvania, though it may be advisable to hire one.

Real estate transfer taxes?
1% documentary stamp tax (municipalities and school districts may also impose a local realty transfer tax to a maximum of 1%)

What is as-is condition in real estate?

“As-is” is a type of home sale where it’s understood that no improvements will be made to the property. When selling a house as-is, the seller is choosing not to entertain requests from buyers to complete repairs or provide a credit for fixes.

An as-is sale may also indicate that the functionality and longevity of certain components of the home, such as a stove on its last legs or an older roof, is not guaranteed.

When selling a house as-is, the general condition of the property should already be accounted for in the purchase price of the home to the best of the seller’s knowledge.

McKnight says he’s sold many foreclosed properties as-is, and these properties are black and white; the seller will never make any repairs, so the buyer either accepts this or they don’t.