MO · #19 by population

Buying a home in Missouri

In Missouri, the median owner-occupied home is valued at $271,400 (Census ACS 2025); there is no state transfer tax, and owners pay a median $1,948 a year in property tax (0.85% effective rate).

In short

Missouri has no real estate transfer tax, does not require an attorney at closing and imposes only limited seller disclosures. It allows both court and out-of-court foreclosure and is not a community property state.

Key figures for Missouri

  • Median home value: $271,400, owner-occupied homes, Census ACS 2025; $230,900 in the city of St. Louis. Compare
  • Price trend: The FHFA House Price Index shows Missouri prices up 3.8% and St. Louis metro area prices up 4.2% between the second quarters of 2025 and 2026.
  • State transfer tax: none. Compare
  • Median property tax paid: $1,948 a year, 0.85% of the median value (U.S.: 0.94%), Census ACS 2020-2024. By county
  • Cities covered by Payotte: 7 in Missouri.

Calculate for Missouri

If you buy

Missouri state transfer tax

Missouri has no real estate transfer tax. Change the price: the amount is recalculated instantly.

Price$271,400
State transfer tax$0
Share of the price—

Default price: the Missouri median value of owner-occupied homes, $271,400 (Census ACS 2025). Rule: No tax is calculated on the price. Recording fees depend on page count. Who pays: No transfer tax to assign; the statute says only that the recorder is allowed the fees, and the sales contract decides who pays them. Not included: county and city transfer taxes, recording fees, title insurance and lender charges. Missouri transfer tax guide · all 50 states.

If you sell

Capital gain and the federal tax on it

Same federal rule in every state: Section 121 of the Internal Revenue Code excludes up to $250,000 of gain on a main home ($500,000 for a married couple filing jointly).

Capital gain$350,000
Section 121 exclusion$250,000 (limit $250,000)
Taxable gain$100,000
Type of gainLong-term (owned over 1 year), 15% chosen
Federal tax on the gain$15,000

Section 121 excludes $250,000; the rest is taxable.

Gain = sale price minus your adjusted basis (purchase price, buying costs and improvements); selling expenses reduce it (IRS Publication 523). Long-term rates for sales in 2026, by taxable income including the gain (IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32, section 4.03): 0% up to $49,450 single or $98,900 married filing jointly, 15% up to $545,500 single or $613,700 jointly, 20% above. Not included: Missouri state income tax on the gain (not computed), the net investment income tax, depreciation recapture on a rental or home office, and the reduced exclusion for an early sale. Agent commissions are negotiated and never set by law. Capital gains on a home sale.

Cities in Missouri

  • St. Louis main city of Missouri on Payotte, 23rd largest U.S. metro area
  • Kansas City 31st largest U.S. metro area
  • Springfield 170,596 residents, Springfield, MO metro area (111th largest)
  • Columbia 130,900 residents, Columbia, MO metro area (219th largest)
  • Independence 121,629 residents, Kansas City, MO-KS metro area (31st largest)
  • Lee's Summit 106,419 residents, Kansas City, MO-KS metro area (31st largest)
  • O'Fallon 95,355 residents, St. Louis, MO-IL metro area (23rd largest)

Sectors of St. Louis

How St. Louis is divided: 10 most populous neighborhoods (of 79 official neighborhoods).

Buying in Missouri: frequently asked questions

What is the median home value in Missouri?

The median value of owner-occupied homes in Missouri is $271,400 (Census ACS 2025), and $230,900 in the city of St. Louis. These are owner estimates, not sale prices. The FHFA House Price Index shows Missouri prices up 3.8% and St. Louis metro area prices up 4.2% between the second quarters of 2025 and 2026.

Median home value in all 50 states

Is there a real estate transfer tax in Missouri?

Missouri does not tax the transfer of a home in any statute or fee schedule reviewed, and its Constitution (Article X, Section 25) bars any new tax on the sale or transfer of real estate since December 2, 2010. In St.

Full Missouri guide · Compare all 50 states

What closing costs does Missouri law set?

Missouri has no official typical closing-cost total. No transfer tax was found (the Constitution bars new ones since December 2, 2010) and in the City of St. Louis a standard deed costs $25 for the first page plus $5 per extra page to record.

Full Missouri guide · Compare all 50 states

How is property tax calculated in Missouri?

Missouri assesses a home at 19% of market value and local districts apply their rates per $100 of assessed value. The City of St. Louis 2025 residential rate is $8.1867 per $100, about $3,336 a year on a $214,500 home.

Full Missouri guide · Compare all 50 states

How much property tax do homeowners pay in Missouri?

Owner-occupants in Missouri pay a median $1,948 a year in property tax on a median home value of $230,300, an effective rate of 0.85% (U.S.: $3,119, 0.94%), per Census ACS 2020-2024 estimates.

Property tax by county in Missouri

What is the deadline to appeal a property tax assessment in Missouri?

In the City of St.

Full Missouri guide · Compare all 50 states

Do you need a real estate attorney to close in Missouri?

None of the Missouri statutes read requires a buyer or seller to hire a real estate attorney. A title company usually runs the closing under RSMo 381.022, and only a lawyer may give legal advice or draft custom documents (RSMo 484.010).

Full Missouri guide · Compare all 50 states

What must a home seller disclose in Missouri?

No Missouri statute reviewed requires a seller to deliver a general property-condition form. Specific duties apply to methamphetamine production (RSMo 442.606) and landfills on the property (RSMo 260.213), and concealing a material fact can still create liability.

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How does foreclosure work in Missouri?

Missouri lenders usually foreclose out of court under a deed of trust's power of sale, with at least 20 days' notice of the sale and a trustee's mailed notice at least 20 days ahead. A one-year redemption right exists only in certain cases.

Full Missouri guide · Compare all 50 states

What first-time home buyer programs does Missouri offer?

In Missouri, the Missouri Housing Development Commission (MHDC) runs First Place and Next Step, which pair a fixed-rate mortgage with a second loan equal to 4% of the mortgage for down payment and closing costs, forgiven after 10 years. In St.

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How much tax when you sell a home in Missouri?

The federal rule is the same in Missouri as in every state: if you owned and lived in the home as your main home for at least 2 of the last 5 years, the first $250,000 of gain is excluded, $500,000 for a married couple filing jointly (Section 121, IRS Publication 523). Bought $400,000, sold $750,000: a single owner has $100,000 of taxable gain, $15,000 of federal tax at the 15% long-term rate; a couple filing jointly owes nothing. Missouri income tax on the gain is not computed here.

Capital gains on a home sale

Missouri guides

Professionals in Missouri

Sources

Data as of . Figures are computed from these sources.

All states · Federal guides