Look out for These 12 Non-disclosure States in the USA

When you decide to buy a house for yourself, the key factor driving your decision will be paying a fair value for the property. This fair value, or Fair Market Value, as it’s known in real estate terms, is decided based on an evaluation of the property. Many factors dictate the setting of this amount, such as the area, amenities, and the value of similar properties.

This is why It’s important to know whether the state you’re buying property in is a disclosure or a non-disclosure state in the USA so you only pay what's fair. So, what are nondisclosure states? In the United States of America, there are 12 states that have been declared as non-disclosure states. Let’s get into the details of what this means for you.

What is a Non-Disclosure State in Real Estate?

A non-disclosure state is one where it’s not legal to publish the selling price of properties as a matter of public record. The main reason for this is to protect the privacy of buyers and sellers. However, this has a significant effect on the assessed market value of a property, and thus the property taxes associated with it.

Which States in the US are Non-Disclosure?

There are a total of 12 states in The United States of America that are deemed non-disclosure states as of 2024. Here are some details about them:

1. Alaska: This is one of the states that is completely non-disclosure. If you’re investing in property in Alaska, you need to pay attention to the property taxes and assessments to ensure that you are fairly taxed. However, Alaska does require sellers to disclose the condition of the property. The seller and buyer have the option of disregarding the disclosure of property conditions if they both agree.
2. Idaho: Like Alaska, the state of Idaho doesn’t require a disclosure of the sale      price of a property, but it does require the property condition to be disclosed. It’s a decision between the seller and buyer to disclose the property prices.
3. Kansas: If you want to invest in property in Kansas, you will need to contact a real estate agent with access to the Multiple Listing Service or MLS. This will help you understand the market value of properties in this state. Kansas currently has 12 local realtor boards that function within their respective jurisdictions. Alternatively, you can also access some data from the assessor’s office. Either way, this state also does not require a disclosure of the sales price of a property.
4. Louisiana: Even though this is a non-disclosure state, Louisiana has 10 local realtor boards and a number of professionals who have access to MLS. Getting in touch with a real estate agent will help you invest correctly.
5. Mississippi: The sales price in Mississippi is never disclosed. Even the realtor boards don’t publish market research online. In this state, all properties have a token $10 listed as a consideration amount for all property deeds. To invest in property in this state, you will need the help of local realtors.
6. Missouri (partial): There are some counties of Missouri that stick to a non-disclosure format. Other areas, including St. Louis City, Jackson County, St. Louis County and others require a compulsory disclosure of property sales prices. In other words, this state is only partially non-disclosure.
7. Montana: In Montana, while you can conduct your own research with the market data available, if you want to know sales prices of properties, you’ll have to contact the government assessor’s office or a real estate agent who has access to the comprehensive MLS. In short, this is another non-disclosure state.
8. New Mexico: This is a strictly non-disclosure state. The property prices and other details that have been collected can be revealed only to the individual registered as the property owner.
9. North Dakota: The sales prices of properties in North Dakota are not easily accessible. In order to conduct proper market research before buying a property, the best option is to contact a real estate agent with access to the MLS.
10. Texas: Fortunately, in Texas, the details of a property sale can be found via the MLS. Reliable real estate professionals like Bezit can help you gauge the real estate market when purchasing your house.
11. Utah: While Utah is also a strictly non-disclosure state, they go one step further to ensure that property sales prices are not available to the public. For a fee of $500, property owners can even ensure the sales price is not listed on the MLS.
12. Wyoming: In this non-disclosure state, information on property sales is available via the MLS, making market research easier.

What does this mean for homeowners?

As a prospective homeowner, to buy a property in any of these states, like Texas, you will not have ready access to any information regarding the property sales prices. This may affect the fair market price or cause issues when filing a protest against property taxes. 

If you already own a home in Texas and disagree with the property assessment, you’d typically file a protest along with the relevant proof. When filing a protest against the assessment of a property in Texas, homeowners will not have access to comparable data, such as similar property sales prices. As a result, the case they put forth could lack substance and may not go in their favor.

Tips for Gathering Proof for a Protest

Even though non-disclosure states like Texas don’t reveal sales prices as a matter of public record, there are other things you can do to create a substantial case when filing a protest. Firstly, you can start by contacting a reliable real estate professional. In many instances, these individuals have access to an MLS, which will give you a better idea of what the market rates are. In fact, with a detailed analysis of the market conditions, they can guide you with valuable advice. 

Secondly, if you have a good relationship with a real estate agent, you can ask them to help you gain access to the data you need. Lastly, if all else fails, you can try seeking help from whatever public records are available. Reaching out to your city government or local county offices may grant you access to available information that you can then use to file a protest.

Can a Property Tax Protest Company help?

It’s very important to know the valuation of similar properties when filing a protest, especially because that is one of your strongest pieces of protest evidence. Engaging with a property tax protest expert like Bezit ensures that you have access to their detailed market research when public records fall short. 

When it comes to the latest non-disclosure states of 2024, you will need to contact the relevant entities when filing a protest. With their help, you can ensure that you’re paying a fair amount of property tax, or possibly even find a reduction in the property taxes you need to pay. So yes, a property tax protest company will definitely help in the case of non-disclosure states where sales prices are not available to the public.

In conclusion, while there are certain challenges associated with living in a non-disclosure state like Texas — especially when it comes to filing property tax protests — there are multiple entities that can make the process simple. Whether it’s protesting your property tax or viewing your tax bill, companies like Bezit are present in Texas to make the journey a smooth one.