Can I Sell My Los Angeles Home If I Live Outside the U.S.?

Questions homeowners ask next

Do I need a California real estate agent if I live outside the United States?

An agent is not mandatory when you sell a Los Angeles home from abroad. Representation exists only with a written agreement. Use the Department of Real Estate public license lookup to confirm that anyone who offers to list the property holds a current California license. You can still request a property-specific value review without hiring an agent.

What is FIRPTA withholding if I am a foreign seller?

The IRS treats the sale of a U.S. real property interest by a foreign person as subject to FIRPTA withholding. The buyer is the withholding agent, and the rate is generally 15 percent of the amount realized. A foreign person includes a nonresident alien individual or a foreign corporation that has not elected treatment as a domestic corporation under IRC section 897(i). Withholding is generally not required if the buyer will use the property as a residence and the amount realized is not more than $300,000, with plans to reside there for at least 50 percent of the days it is used during each of the first two 12-month periods. A seller who is not a foreign person may give the buyer a certification under penalties of perjury. A Form 8288-B may be filed to request an IRS withholding certificate for reduced or no withholding.

How does California real estate withholding work if I am a foreign seller?

California Revenue and Taxation Code section 18662 requires withholding at source on the sale of California real estate unless an exception applies. The Franchise Tax Board states that foreign sellers follow the same real estate withholding rules as domestic sellers, and a valid taxpayer identification number is required to claim an exemption. No California withholding is required if the sales price does not exceed $100,000. The transferee generally withholds 3 1/3 percent of the sales price unless the transferor elects in writing, under penalty of perjury, to withhold based on recognized gain. Under the 2026 Instructions for Form 593, the form goes to the Franchise Tax Board by the 20th day of the month after the month escrow closes.

Can I sign listing and closing papers from another country?

The California Department of Real Estate's Summer 2026 Real Estate Bulletin notes that documents may be signed electronically and that buyers, sellers, brokers, escrow holders, and lenders may never meet face-to-face. A remote sale of a Los Angeles home can therefore proceed without a face-to-face meeting. Representation exists only with a written agreement if you hire an agent. A property-specific value review can be prepared before any listing is signed.

How do I find out what my Los Angeles home is worth while I live abroad?

A citywide figure is not the value of your address, and this note is not an appraisal. Individual value depends on the property, its condition, and how it compares with other Los Angeles homes on the market. Request a property-specific home value review so pricing can be set before you decide whether to list. An agent is not mandatory for that review.