Updated October 2026. For Long Beach owners who want to sell their house themselves, as is or fixed up, and buyers dealing with an owner directly.
Yes, you can sell your house in Long Beach without a realtor; it’s legal and your choice. As of October 2026 the typical Long Beach home is worth $852,400 (Zillow, September 2026). Long Beach adds no city transfer tax, so you pay only Los Angeles County’s $1.10 per $1,000, about $938 on that price. California’s 3⅓% withholding may also apply.
Jump to: 💲 Long Beach costs · 📍 Local rules · 🪜 Steps · 🏠 Selling as is · ❓ FAQ
Key takeaways
- Long Beach isn’t on Los Angeles County’s list of cities with their own transfer tax. The county rate is $0.55 per $500, or about $938 on an $852,400 sale.
- That’s very different from the City of Los Angeles, where the rate is $2.25 per $500 plus Measure ULA on sales above $5.4 million.
- California’s Franchise Tax Board asks for 3⅓% of the sale price to be withheld unless an exemption applies, such as a qualifying main home.
- Long Beach values rose about 2.4% over the year to September 2026, per Zillow, and US homes sold in a median 33 days in September, per NAR.
“Sell my house in Long Beach” can mean two things. You want the most money and you’re willing to do the work, or you want it done fast, as is. This guide covers both: what it costs, which forms apply, and how a by-owner sale runs from pricing to recording.
What does it cost to sell your house in Long Beach without an agent?
No listing agent means no listing commission. Taxes, escrow and title stay. Here’s what the public numbers look like at a few Long Beach price points.
| Sale price | LA County transfer tax ($0.55 per $500) | Long Beach city transfer tax | CA withholding if no exemption (3⅓%, figured as .0333) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $600,000 | $660 | None | $19,980 |
| $852,400 (typical home) | $938 | None | $28,385 |
| $1,200,000 | $1,320 | None | $39,960 |
The county rate comes from the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder’s transfer tax page, read October 26, 2026. It lists five cities with extra rates: Culver City, Los Angeles, Pomona, Redondo Beach and Santa Monica. Long Beach isn’t one of them. The tax is due on the price minus any loan the buyer takes over.
Withholding isn’t a fee. It’s a prepayment of state income tax that escrow sends to the Franchise Tax Board. Per FTB Publication 1016, it doesn’t apply when the total price is $100,000 or less, or when the home was your main home under the federal two-out-of-five-years rule. You certify exemptions on Form 593.
What else do sellers usually pay?
Expect escrow and title fees, any HOA transfer and document fees, your share of property tax up to closing, and repairs you agree to. Who pays which item is negotiable and goes in the purchase contract. Our guide to who pays closing costs when selling a home covers the usual split.
If a buyer comes with an agent, you choose whether to offer that agent any compensation, and how much. It isn’t set by law or NAR rules, it’s negotiable, and since August 17, 2024 offers of buyer-agent compensation can’t be shown on the MLS, per NAR.
Which Long Beach and California rules apply?
State disclosures
Most single-family sales need California’s Transfer Disclosure Statement under Civil Code 1102 and a natural hazard disclosure under Civil Code 1103. The hazard report covers flood, fire and earthquake zone items for your parcel. Homes built before 1978 also need the federal lead paint disclosure. California real estate law requirements for home sellers are summarized well by Nolo if you want a plain-English second read.
Condos and HOAs
Long Beach has a lot of condos, from Downtown towers to Belmont Shore and Bixby Knolls buildings. If yours is in an HOA, order the HOA documents early: CC&Rs, budget, recent minutes and any special assessments. Buyers and lenders will ask for them.
Near the water
Homes close to the beach or the Port can sit in flood or tsunami zones. That shows up in the hazard report. Buyers of coastal homes also ask about insurance costs, so get a quote before listing. Our guide on investing in a property near the beach lists what buyers check.
Want the statewide picture, including forms and taxes for every county? See our California guide to selling without a realtor.
How do you sell your Long Beach house by owner?
- Price it with recent Long Beach sales of similar homes nearby. Our home value calculator is a free starting point.
- Order the natural hazard report and HOA documents, and fill in the TDS.
- Fix what’s cheap and visible, or decide to sell as is (see below).
- Take bright photos and write a plain, accurate description.
- List on the MLS so buyers’ agents see it and the big portals pick it up.
- Run showings with set times and ask for pre-approval or proof of funds.
- Compare offers on price, deposit, contingencies and closing date, not price alone.
- Open escrow, sign Form 593, close and record with the county.
How do you get on the MLS in Long Beach?
Only licensed brokers can put a listing on the MLS, so owners use a flat fee MLS broker. A Beycome flat fee MLS listing for Long Beach reaches the California Regional MLS (CRMLS) through TheMLS data share. In California, a Beycome listing can appear as an open listing. Step-by-step details are in our guide to listing your Long Beach home on the MLS by owner.
Sell smarter
List your home on the MLS from $99
A flat fee instead of a percentage, and $0 to Beycome at closing. You stay in control of your sale.
Sell your home →Buy smarter
Get up to 2% back at closing
On homes listed by other agents, Beycome credits you up to 2% of the price at closing (1% kept, $1,499 minimum; not on FSBO homes or homes listed by Beycome sellers).
Buy a home →Basic is $99 through October 31, 2026 ($129 in California from November 1), with $0 due to Beycome at closing, the maximum photos the MLS allows and the longest term the state and MLS allow. Every plan includes e-signature, unlimited updates, ShowingTime where available and the Artur AI assistant. Concierge is $999 through October 31, 2026 (list price $1,399): experts negotiate and handle the paperwork, and you stay in control. Compare options in our Long Beach flat fee MLS comparison, or see local tools for selling a home without a realtor in Long Beach, California.
Can you sell your house as is in Long Beach?
Yes. “As is” means you won’t make repairs. It doesn’t remove your disclosure duties. You still fill in the TDS and hazard report and tell buyers what you know.
You have two main routes. List it as is on the MLS and let buyers price in the work. Or take a cash offer from an investor, which is often faster but usually lower. Get the cash offer in writing, then compare it with what similar homes sold for. Our guide to selling a home as-is covers inspection contingencies and how to price for condition.
Buying in Long Beach without an agent?
A buyer can deal directly with an owner and close through escrow. If you’d rather have help on a home listed by another agent, the Beycome buyer program in Long Beach has no upfront fee: Beycome keeps 1% of the price (minimum $1,499) and credits the rest of the buyer-agent commission at closing, with lender approval. It’s open to every buyer on homes listed by other agents; the credit can’t apply where no buyer-agent commission is offered, like most FSBO homes, or on homes listed by Beycome sellers.
Frequently asked questions
Is it legal to sell my home without a realtor in Long Beach, CA?
Yes. California owners, including in Long Beach, can sell their own home. It’s your choice. You handle the disclosures, the contract and escrow yourself, or hire help for parts of it.
Do I still need to pay a buyer’s agent commission if I sell without a realtor?
No, it’s your choice. Buyer-agent compensation isn’t set by law or NAR rules and is negotiable. Since August 17, 2024, such offers can’t be shown on the MLS.
How do I get my home on the MLS without a realtor in Long Beach?
Use a flat fee MLS broker. Beycome Basic is $99 through October 31, 2026 ($129 in California from November 1), with $0 due to Beycome at closing, and reaches CRMLS through TheMLS data share.
What disclosures are required when selling a home in California without an agent?
The Transfer Disclosure Statement, the natural hazard disclosure, lead paint disclosure for pre-1978 homes, and HOA documents if any. Selling as is doesn’t remove them.
How do I price my home accurately without a realtor in Long Beach?
Compare recent sales of similar homes nearby. The typical Long Beach value was $852,400 in September 2026, per Zillow, but neighborhoods vary a lot.
How long does it typically take to sell a home without a realtor in Long Beach?
It depends on price and condition. US homes sold in a median 33 days in September 2026, per NAR. Escrow then often takes about a month.
What happens at closing when I sell without a realtor in California?
Escrow collects funds, pays off your loan, withholds state tax if required, pays the county transfer tax and records the deed. You sign the deed and Form 593.
Can I negotiate directly with a buyer’s agent if I sell without a realtor?
Yes. You negotiate price, terms and any compensation directly with the buyer’s agent. Put every agreement in writing.
Transfer tax as published by the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder, read October 26, 2026; county math rounds up to the next $500. Withholding per FTB Publication 1016; exemptions depend on your situation. Home values: Zillow Home Value Index, Long Beach, September 2026. Prices as of October 2026; from November 1, 2026, Basic is $129 in California and Concierge is $1,399.
“$0 at closing” means no Beycome fee at closing; transfer taxes, escrow, title and any agreed buyer-agent compensation still apply. * Cancel free: no cancellation fee (Georgia MLS $25); listings under contract can’t be canceled; no refund once listed. ** Listing term: the maximum the state and MLS allow. Beycome lists in 17 states and DC. Buyer credit: minimum $1,499, lender approval, not on FSBO homes or homes listed by Beycome sellers. General information, not legal or tax advice.
Sources
- Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder, documentary transfer taxes, read October 26, 2026.
- California Franchise Tax Board, Publication 1016, real estate withholding, read October 26, 2026.
- Civil Code 1102 and Civil Code 1103, read October 26, 2026.
- NAR, existing-home sales, September 2026.
- NAR, settlement FAQs, read October 26, 2026.
- Zillow Research, ZHVI, September 2026 snapshot.
- Beycome, listing package features, October 2026.
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