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For Sale By Owner (FSBO) Closing Services in Florida

Selling your home yourself saves the commission, but it also means handling contracts, deadlines and closing paperwork without an agent. A title company can’t replace your judgment on price or terms. It can make sure the closing itself is done right. Here is what we handle on for-sale-by-owner sales in Broward, Miami-Dade, Palm Beach and across Florida.

What we handle on an FSBO sale

  • Escrow of the buyer’s deposit. The earnest money is held in our escrow account, not passed between buyer and seller.
  • The title search. We check public records for mortgages, liens, judgments and anything else that has to be cleared before you can sell. Searches are often back within 24 hours.
  • Your mortgage payoff. We get the payoff from your lender and pay it at closing so the lien is released.
  • Title insurance. We issue the buyer’s owner’s policy and, if the buyer is financing, the lender’s policy.
  • The closing and recording. We prepare the closing documents, collect the doc stamps, run the closing in person, remotely or by mail, record the deed and disburse your proceeds right after closing.

Where FSBO sales usually get stuck

  • The contract. Missing dates, unclear financing terms or no inspection period cause most FSBO delays. Use a standard Florida purchase contract and have a real estate attorney review it before you sign.
  • Disclosures. Florida sellers generally have to disclose known problems that materially affect the home’s value and aren’t easy to see. Homes built before 1978 also need the federal lead-based paint disclosure. An attorney can tell you exactly what applies to your property.
  • The buyer’s lender. If the buyer is financing, the lender sets the timeline for the appraisal and loan approval. We keep the closing on that timeline.
  • Liens nobody knew about. An old judgment or an unpaid association balance can hold up closing. Running title early surfaces it while there is still time to fix it.

What it costs

Florida sets title insurance premiums by rule, so the premium is the same at every title company. As the seller, your biggest closing cost is usually the documentary stamp tax on the deed. Who pays for the owner’s title policy depends on your county and your contract: see our guides for Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach, or estimate the numbers with our Florida closing cost calculator.

FSBO questions

Can I use a title company without a real estate agent?

Yes. Buyers and sellers can open a file with us directly. We need the signed contract to get started.

Who chooses the title company in an FSBO sale?

The purchase contract decides. Local custom varies by county, so agree on it with the buyer and write it into the contract.

Can you give legal advice on my contract?

No. We’re a title company, not a law firm. We’ll tell you what the closing needs, and we recommend a real estate attorney for contract and disclosure questions.

Start your FSBO closing

Call (305) 603-8393 to talk to Luis directly, or send us your signed contract. Sellers can fill out our seller information sheet ahead of time. See all of our title services.