Selling in Minnesota: what’s required

Minneapolis

Truth in Sale of Housing (TISH)

Sellers must have a full Truth in Sale of Housing report from a licensed evaluator before the home can be shown.

• Applies to single-family houses, duplexes, townhouses and first-time condominium conversions.
• Covers sales by owner or agent, contracts for deed and other title transfers.
• The evaluation can lead to required repairs, which are then reinspected.
• Not needed if the city has issued a Certificate of Code Compliance (good for a year) or a Certificate of Occupancy for a new home.

Minneapolis TISH, 612-673-5840 · City of Minneapolis

Saint Paul

Truth-in-Sale of Housing (TISH)

A licensed evaluator’s TISH report is required within three days of listing or advertising a home for sale.

• Applies to single-family homes, duplexes, condominiums and townhomes; buildings with three or more units are exempt.
• The report is for disclosure only. For single-family homes, the one required repair is a working hard-wired smoke alarm.
• A report is valid for 365 days and for one sale.

City of Saint Paul

Bloomington

Time-of-Sale Housing Inspection

A Time-of-Sale evaluation must be completed and filed before the home is listed.

• Applies to single- and two-family homes, condominiums, townhouses and mobile homes; buildings with four or more units are excluded.
• The report goes to the city within 7 days of the evaluation.
• Hazards must be corrected, or assumed by the buyer, and city-inspected. The program includes an energy disclosure (since April 2022).

City of Bloomington

Richfield

Point of Sale Inspection

A city housing inspector must inspect the home before closing.

• Applies to single-family and two-family homes, including condominiums.
• The inspection can be done any time during the sale, but must be finished before title transfers. Apply online, then schedule.
• If the buyer takes on repairs, closing proceeds only under the conditions in the city’s brochure.

Richfield Inspections, 612-861-9882 · City of Richfield

St. Louis Park

Point-of-sale (property maintenance) inspection

Before listing, sellers apply for a property maintenance inspection permit and have the city inspect the home.

• Applies to residential, commercial and industrial property.
• Code corrections found in the inspection are usually made by the seller.

Building and Energy, 952-924-2588 · City of St. Louis Park

Maplewood

Truth in Housing

A Truth in Housing evaluation by a city-licensed evaluator is required before listing or showing the home.

• The evaluation is for disclosure; the sale doesn’t depend on fixing what it lists.

City of Maplewood, 651-249-2300 · City of Maplewood

New Hope

Point of Sale Inspection

A city inspector inspects the home and any required repairs are made before the sale.

• Applies to all residential sales: single-family homes, condos, townhomes and apartment buildings.
• The fee covers the inspection and one reinspection.

New Hope Inspections, 763-531-5127 · City of New Hope

Columbia Heights

Time of Sale Program

Sellers need a Certificate of Property Maintenance before selling, gifting or transferring the home.

• Applies to single-, two- and three-family homes, condominiums, townhouses and mobile homes.

Community Development, 763-706-3670 · City of Columbia Heights

South St. Paul

Time-of-Sale Housing Inspection

A Time-of-Sale evaluation report from a city-licensed evaluator must be available when the home is shown.

• Applies to single-family, two-family and multiple-family dwellings.
• Evaluators set their own prices.

City of South St. Paul

Seller’s disclosure

Sellers must disclose material facts they know about that could significantly affect the buyer’s use or enjoyment of the property, using a written disclosure or an inspection report, or both sides can agree in writing to waive it.

Minn. Stat. 513.52–513.60

Wells

Before signing a purchase agreement, the seller must disclose in writing whether there are any wells on the property and their status; a well disclosure certificate is filed with the deed.

Minn. Stat. 103I.235

Septic systems

Sellers must disclose whether the home has a septic (subsurface sewage treatment) system and where it is. Many counties also require a compliance inspection before the sale, for example Dakota County.

Minn. Stat. 115.55, subd. 6

Radon

Before the purchase agreement, sellers must disclose what they know about radon testing, levels and any mitigation system, include the state’s radon warning statement and give the buyer the Minnesota Department of Health publication “Radon in Real Estate Transactions.”

Minn. Stat. 144.496

Lead-based paint

For homes built before 1978, federal law requires a lead-based paint disclosure and pamphlet, and gives buyers a chance to test.

42 U.S.C. 4852d

Methamphetamine production

Sellers must disclose in writing if they know methamphetamine was produced on the property.

Minn. Stat. 152.0275

Condos and townhomes

In most common-interest communities, the seller provides the association’s resale disclosure information. Unless the buyer had it more than 10 days before signing, the buyer can cancel within 10 days of receiving it.

Minn. Stat. 515B.4-107 and 515B.4-108

Deed tax

A state deed tax of 0.33% of the sale price (plus 0.01% in Hennepin and Ramsey counties) is due when the deed is recorded; sellers usually pay it.

Minnesota Department of Revenue