Closing on a home in Missouri
The taxes, the closing rules, and the programs Missouri buyers and sellers are entitled to — whether anyone at the table mentions them or not.
The Missouri basics
NO transfer tax — Missouri's constitution (amended by voters in 2010) PROHIBITS any tax on the sale or transfer of homes. Recording fees only.
Title companies close most Missouri transactions; no attorney requirement. You may choose your provider.
Missouri Housing Development Commission's First Place program offers statewide down payment assistance for eligible first-time buyers.
What to watch for in Missouri
Missouri voters constitutionally banned transfer taxes — so any 'transfer tax' line on a Missouri settlement statement is an error or worse. Recording fees are flat and modest; question anything above that.
Missouri property taxes are paid in arrears with proration at closing; in fast-growing counties, confirm the proration uses the current assessed value.
Questions Missouri buyers ask
Is there a transfer tax when buying a home in Missouri?
NO transfer tax — Missouri's constitution (amended by voters in 2010) PROHIBITS any tax on the sale or transfer of homes. Recording fees only.
Do I need an attorney to close on a house in Missouri?
Title companies close most Missouri transactions; no attorney requirement. You may choose your provider.
What down payment assistance is available in Missouri?
Missouri Housing Development Commission's First Place program offers statewide down payment assistance for eligible first-time buyers.
Worth reading before any closing
- The American Home at 250 Years: A Fourth of July for Buyers and Sellers Alike
Two and a half centuries in, owning a home is the closest thing the Republic has to a birthright. The history is worth celebrating. So is understanding a transaction most Americans go through only a handful of times, inside an industry that has quietly changed the rules between visits.
- Wire Fraud Stole $275 Million From Home Buyers Last Year. Here's the Step-by-Step That Could Save Yours.
The FBI's recovery team can freeze stolen funds, but only if you act within hours. Here's what to do before, during, and after your closing.
- The $275 Million Warning: AI Scams Targeting Home Buyers and Sellers Right Now
Five specific fraud patterns are draining closing accounts across the country, here is what each one looks like and exactly how to stop it before you lose a dollar
- The Mortgage Points Trap: Why Paying Thousands Upfront to Lower Your Rate Often Backfires
Before you hand your lender $9,000 to buy down your rate, do this one calculation or you could lose thousands
- Why Builder 'Preferred' Lenders and Title Companies Often Cost You More Than They Save
That 3% rate buydown or $15,000 closing credit looks like a bonus. Here's what's actually inside it, and what the builder doesn't want you to compare.
- Wire Fraud Is Stealing Six Figures From Home Buyers. Here's Your Defense.
In 2023, criminals stole more than $145 million from real estate transactions. The FTC and FBI can help, but only if you act within hours of discovering the theft. Here's exactly what to do.