What do I legally have to disclose when I sell my house in Minnesota?
Answered by Chris Deutsch, Founder & Editor
Licensed Minnesota Realtor #20382264 ·
The short answer
All material facts you actually know about that could significantly and adversely affect the buyer's use and enjoyment of the property — in writing, before the purchase agreement is signed. That's Minnesota's seller disclosure law (Minn. Stat. §§ 513.52–513.60) in one sentence. The water intrusion you fixed, the roof's real age, the basement's spring habits: if you know it, it goes on paper.
On stage The 60-second answer
Captions on · Transcript below
The stage is set.
Chris's video answer is on its way. Until then, the short answer above says the same thing.
The transcript posts with the video.
The longer answer
The standard is what you know, not what you should have discovered. And the law allows alternatives — buyer and seller can agree in writing to waive the disclosure, or substitute a qualified third-party inspection report. Certain sales, estate sales among them, are exempt. Your attorney confirms which rules fit your sale; I'm not a lawyer, and this isn't legal advice.
My rule of thumb: lawsuits come from silence, not honesty. When in doubt, disclose. Questions about how disclosure affects your sale price? That's a coffee conversation.
The next department over
What people in this spot usually ask next.
- Divorce & separationDo we have to tell buyers we're selling because of divorce?Read the answer
- The banned-term explainersCan I sell my Minneapolis house without putting it on the MLS?Read the answer
- Costs & taxes, Minnesota-specificWhat does it actually cost to sell a house in Minnesota?Read the answer
- Inheritance & probateHow do we fill out seller disclosures for a house we never lived in?Read the answer
- Pricing & equityHow much money do we actually walk away with when we sell?Read the answer
- Rules & representationIs dual agency legal in Minnesota, and should I agree to it?Read the answer
From the editor's desk
“As Founder and Editor, I review, correct, and stand behind every answer.”
Is your situation more specific than the market? That's the one worth talking through.