You can sell a St. Paul house as-is for cash without repairs, cleaning or showings. St. Paul has its own Truth in Sale of Housing (TISH) rule: a report from a city-licensed evaluator is required before a one- or two-family house is marketed, and it is valid for one year. I buy St. Paul houses in any condition, and a local title company closes the sale.
Need the house cleared out instead, or before you sell? I do whole-house cleanouts in St. Paul too.
What does St. Paul's TISH rule say?
| Who needs one | Single-family homes, duplexes, condominiums and townhomes. Any action that changes ownership of a dwelling requires a TISH. |
|---|---|
| When | Before the property is marketed for sale. The report must be available to buyers within three calendar days of listing. |
| Evaluator | A private contractor licensed by the city. The city does not recommend any, and each sets its own fee. |
| Valid for | One year (365 days) and one sale by the owner on the report. If the offer was made within 365 days, a closing after the report expires does not need a new one. |
| Required fix (single-family) | A working hard-wired smoke alarm. If it is missing or not working, the owner gets a letter from the city's Senior Electrical Inspector and must have a licensed electrician pull a permit. |
| Exempt | Sales to immediate family in a direct line (grandparents, parents, children, grandchildren, siblings), buildings of three or more units, commercial and mixed-use. A valid Certificate of Code Compliance or Certificate of Occupancy can be used in place of a report. |
Source: City of St. Paul, TISH, as of November 2026. Not following Chapter 189 is a misdemeanor under the city code, so ask the city or a title company before you list. The guide to Truth in Sale of Housing compares this with Minneapolis.
What does a St. Paul house look like after I buy it?
A St. Paul East Side duplex is one of my projects. Both units were packed with belongings when I bought it. Here is the outside and the front porch, before and after. More rooms are on the projects page.
What happens if a St. Paul house is vacant or condemned?
St. Paul keeps a registered vacant buildings list. Owners register a building within 30 days if it is unoccupied and also unsecured, condemned, dangerous or has multiple housing or building code violations. Sale review depends on the category: Category I needs a TISH report, Category II needs city approval with a code compliance report and a licensed contractor's repair estimate, and Category III needs city approval and a Certificate of Code Compliance or Occupancy (St. Paul vacant buildings). Details are on the code violations page.
What does Ramsey County handle?
- Probate. Ramsey County probate is in the Ramsey County Courthouse, 15 West Kellogg Boulevard, St. Paul (Ramsey probate court). See selling an inherited house.
- Deeds and records. The Ramsey County Recorder is at the Plato Building, 90 Plato Blvd. West, West St. Paul (Recorder's Office). For a transfer-on-death deed, the county's Examiner of Titles says its approval is not needed after the owner's death in Ramsey County if the affidavit and other documents are accurate and notarized (Ramsey County TODD page).
Which St. Paul neighborhoods do I buy in?
- Frogtown
- Payne-Phalen
- Dayton's Bluff
- East Side
- North End
- Como
- Hamline-Midway
- Summit-University
- West Side
- West Seventh
- Highland Park
- Mac-Groveland
Questions from St. Paul sellers
I'm selling to my son. Do I need a TISH?
St. Paul exempts sales to immediate family in a direct line: grandparents, parents, children, grandchildren and siblings. Aunts, uncles and cousins are not included.
Can I just fix the smoke alarm myself?
For TISH, the city says a licensed electrical contractor has to pull a permit to install the hard-wired alarm and then have the inspector finalize it.
My house is a duplex with one side empty. Does it matter?
Duplexes need a TISH report like single-family houses. Occupied units follow tenant rules; see selling with tenants.
What will you pay for?
I pay the normal closing costs and no agent commissions come out of your side. A local title company pays off your mortgage and hands you the rest.
If you own a St. Paul house you'd rather not fix up, send me the address and I'll give you an honest cash number.