What Are Non-Disclosure States in Real Estate?
Key takeaways
- Non-disclosure states limit public access to real estate sales data.
- Home prices in these states are not publicly recorded, meaning buyers, sellers, and appraisers must rely on private data sources.
- The policy protects privacy, influences property taxes, and reflects state-level traditions and policy preferences.
- Home value estimates are still available through real estate professionals and platforms like Redfin, which use verified data sources.
What does ‘non-disclosure’ mean?
In most states, home sale prices become public record after closing. Anyone can look up a property’s sale history, helping buyers and sellers understand market trends.
However, in non-disclosure states, sale prices are kept private. This means the amount a home sold for is not required to be reported to the public or listed in county property records. Instead, the information is shared only with parties involved in the transaction, such as the buyer, seller, and lender.
This practice affects how market data is collected, analyzed, and used, especially for online pricing tools, appraisers, and property tax assessments.
Why do some states practice non-disclosure?
Privacy protections for property owners
One of the main reasons states adopt non-disclosure laws is to protect homeowners’ privacy. Many sellers prefer to keep the financial details of their transactions confidential. This level of discretion can be especially appealing to high-profile individuals or anyone concerned about keeping personal financial data private.
Preventing tax assessments based on sale prices
In some areas, property taxes are calculated using assessed value rather than actual sale prices. Non-disclosure laws prevent counties from automatically increasing property taxes based on the latest sales, helping to maintain stable assessments for homeowners.
Influence from real estate and business interests
Industry groups sometimes advocate for non-disclosure policies to protect clients’ financial privacy and encourage investment. Real estate professionals may also support these rules as a way to preserve negotiation flexibility for both buyers and sellers.
Tradition and state policy preferences
In certain regions, non-disclosure has deep historical roots. These states often value limited government involvement and emphasize individual privacy. Over time, this has shaped policy decisions and preserved non-disclosure laws even as most other states moved toward full transparency.
Which states are non-disclosed to this date?
As of today, several states maintain non-disclosure policies for real estate transactions. These include:
While these states do not require sale prices to be disclosed to the public, they still allow private sharing of transaction data for appraisal and mortgage purposes. Buyers and sellers can still access accurate pricing information through local real estate agents or appraisal professionals.
Full-disclosure vs. partial-disclosure vs. non-disclosure states
| State Type | Are Sale Prices Public? | What Information Is Shared? | Examples |
| Full-Disclosure States | Yes | Sale prices, transfer details, and most transaction data are recorded and accessible through county records. | California, Florida, Indiana, Alabama |
| Partial-Disclosure States | Sometimes | Some transaction details are disclosed, but sale prices may remain private; property tax and ownership data remain public. | Missouri, Montana (varies by county) |
| Non-Disclosure States | No | Sale prices are not publicly recorded; buyers and sellers must rely on agents, MLS data, and appraisers for accurate pricing. | Texas, Idaho, Wyoming, Alaska, Louisiana, New Mexico |
Full-disclosure states make sale prices easy to find, while partial-disclosure states share only select details. Non-disclosure states keep home prices private, which means buyers rely more on agents, appraisers, and MLS data to understand local market value. This variation in transparency can influence everything from pricing strategies to how confidently you compare homes in your area.
What non-disclosure means for you
If you live or plan to move to a non-disclosure state, expect less publicly available information about what homes have sold for in your neighborhood. This can make it more challenging to gauge fair market value or to compare properties on your own.
This means relying more heavily on your agent’s local market expertise. Agents in non-disclosure states often have access to private listing data through the Multiple Listing Service (MLS).
For sellers, pricing your home correctly becomes even more important. Without public comparables, setting an accurate list price depends on professional valuations and your agent’s understanding of local trends.
For appraisers and investors, these rules add complexity but not impossibility. Reliable market estimates can still be developed using private data and verified transaction reports.
Inaccurate or delayed property assessments, and how to get a reliable home value estimate
Even though public sale data is limited, there are still several ways to determine a property’s value:
- Work with a local real estate agent: Agents have access to MLS data and can provide a comparative market analysis (CMA) to help you understand true market value.
- Request a professional appraisal: Licensed appraisers use private sales data and property condition to determine fair value.
- Use online estimate tools: Platforms like Redfin Estimate combine proprietary listing data and regional trends to offer a near-accurate home value range, even in non-disclosure states.
- Review county assessment records: While sale prices may not be available, property characteristics and assessed values can still provide insight into market trends.
Hard-to-find neighborhood values and comps
In non-disclosure areas, finding accurate neighborhood values and comparable sales can be challenging because sale prices aren’t publicly recorded. Without this data, creating a reliable comparative market analysis (CMA) becomes more difficult for both buyers and agents.
Instead of pulling public records, agents must rely on MLS data, private sales information, and their own local expertise to estimate a home’s value. This can make pricing less transparent and requires buyers to depend more heavily on professionals who understand the area and have access to verified data sources.
How to find sale prices and estimate value in non-disclosure states
In non-disclosure states, closed sale prices are not part of the public record, so you have to rely on the sources that do have access. Start by asking a local real estate agent for a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA), since MLS data typically includes actual sold prices and recent neighborhood comps. If you need a more formal opinion, you can hire a licensed appraiser or request a title company report because both often have access to non-public sale data and can provide a detailed valuation based on property-specific adjustments.
To tighten your estimate further, layer in publicly available clues. Use the Redfin app to review past listing details, price histories, neighborhood sales trends, and market indicators such as the sale-to-list ratio. Combine these insights with tax assessments and online home value estimates to cross-check your range. By anchoring your estimate to reliable comp data and using Redfin’s market analytics to validate it, you can build a confident low, mid, and high value range even in a state where sale prices are not publicly disclosed.
Texas is a non-disclosure state: What that means
Texas is a non-disclosure state, which means the sales price of a home is not publicly recorded or shared with the general public. Unlike in disclosure states, only the buyer, seller, and their agents have access to the exact sale amount. Because this information isn’t available through public records, real estate professionals rely on MLS data, market trends, and verified sources to estimate property values. For buyers and sellers, this can make accurate pricing even more dependent on the expertise of local agents who understand neighborhood dynamics and comparable sales.
Frequently asked questions
1. What is a non-disclosure state in real estate?
A non-disclosure state is one where home sale prices are not required to be reported to the public. This means sale amounts do not appear in county records or public databases, and only parties directly involved in the transaction, such as the buyer, seller, and lender, have access to that information.
2. Why do some states keep home sale prices private?
States maintain non-disclosure laws for reasons including homeowner privacy, stable property tax assessments, and limited government involvement in personal financial data. These policies often reflect long-standing traditions and preferences for privacy over transparency.
3. How does non-disclosure affect homebuyers and sellers?
Buyers may find it harder to research comparable sales or estimate a fair market price on their own. Sellers must rely more on local real estate professionals to price their homes accurately. Agents and appraisers with access to private MLS data play an essential role in these transactions.
4. Can you still find out what homes sold for in non-disclosure states?
While exact sale prices aren’t available to the public, agents and appraisers can access private sales data through MLS systems. Online tools like the Redfin Estimate also use verified data to provide close approximations of home values in these areas.
5. How can I determine my home’s value in a non-disclosure state?
The most accurate ways include working with a licensed real estate agent for a comparative market analysis, hiring a professional appraiser, and checking online home valuation tools that use proprietary data.
6. Do non-disclosure laws affect property taxes?
In many non-disclosure states, tax assessors use property characteristics, not sale prices, to determine assessed value. This can help stabilize property taxes but may occasionally result in assessments that differ from market value.
7. What does it mean that Texas is a non-disclosure state?
Texas is considered a non-disclosure state because the final sales price of a property is not made public in county records. Only the buyer, seller, and their real estate agents are permitted to know the exact amount.
As a result, third parties — such as listing websites, appraisers, and the general public — cannot access official sale prices unless they’re voluntarily shared. This makes accurate valuations more reliant on MLS data and the expertise of local real estate professionals.
8. How many non-disclosure states are there in the U.S.?
In the U.S., there are about 12 non-disclosure states, meaning these states do not require property sale prices to be made public. Because of this, real estate data is more limited, and market insights often rely on MLS information and local expertise. Let me know if you’d like me to list the states as well.
Understanding non-disclosure in today’s real estate market
Non-disclosure laws are designed to protect privacy and maintain local control over real estate data. While they limit public access to exact sale prices, they do not prevent buyers and sellers from making informed decisions.
Working with a knowledgeable real estate agent can help bridge the information gap, ensuring you have the most accurate understanding of property values in your area. Whether you are buying, selling, or simply tracking your home’s worth, tools like Redfin Estimate make it easier to stay informed, even when sale prices aren’t publicly listed.
The post What Are Non-Disclosure States in Real Estate? appeared first on Redfin | Real Estate Tips for Home Buying, Selling & More.
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