Michigan FSBO Purchase Agreement and Closing Guide
Selling or buying a Michigan home without a Realtor can work, but the purchase agreement, earnest money, title work, settlement, closing, and recording still need to be handled carefully. Lime Title helps FSBO buyers and sellers coordinate the title and closing side of the transaction.
How Lime helps
Use this page to understand the closing side of a Michigan for sale by owner transaction.
- Title search and title commitment coordination
- Escrow, settlement, and closing support
- Payoff, tax, and recording coordination
- Communication with buyers, sellers, lenders, and attorneys
- Clear next steps once the FSBO terms are agreed to
What is a Michigan FSBO purchase agreement?
A Michigan FSBO purchase agreement is the written agreement between a buyer and seller when a home is sold without a traditional listing agent involved in the transaction.
The agreement usually outlines the basic terms of the sale, including the purchase price, property address, earnest money, closing date, financing terms, inspection rights, seller concessions, possession timing, and title requirements. It is the document that tells the title company, lender, buyer, and seller how the transaction is expected to move toward closing.
Lime Title does not provide legal advice or draft legal contracts. Once the parties have an agreement or are ready to move forward, Lime can help coordinate the title, escrow, settlement, closing, and recording process.
FSBO does not mean skipping the closing process. It means the buyer and seller need a clear path from agreement to recorded deed.
What should be included in a FSBO offer?
Every transaction is different, but most Michigan for sale by owner purchase agreement discussions involve the same core details.
Parties and property
- Buyer name
- Seller name
- Property address
- Legal description, if available
- Included or excluded items
Money terms
- Purchase price
- Earnest money amount
- Who holds earnest money
- Loan type or cash terms
- Seller concessions, if any
Closing terms
- Target closing date
- Financing timeline
- Inspection period
- Title requirements
- Possession timing
Buyer, seller, property, price, earnest money, and closing date
These are the terms that usually drive the title and closing process after a Michigan FSBO offer is accepted.
The buyer and seller names should match the parties to the transaction. The property address should be clear, and the legal description may also matter for title and recording. The purchase price, earnest money amount, and closing date should give the parties enough time to complete inspections, financing, title review, payoffs, closing documents, signing, and recording.
Once the buyer and seller have agreed to terms, Lime Title can open the file, begin the title search, coordinate payoff and lender information, and help move the transaction toward closing.
Inspection, financing, appraisal, and title contingencies
FSBO buyers and sellers should understand that contract contingencies can affect whether a transaction moves forward, changes, or stops before closing.
Common contingencies
- Inspection contingency
- Financing contingency
- Appraisal contingency
- Title contingency
- Sale-of-home contingency, when applicable
Why they matter
Contingencies can have legal consequences. Lime Title can help identify title and closing requirements, but buyers and sellers should consult a licensed Michigan attorney for legal questions about contract language, rights, deadlines, or cancellation terms.
Seller disclosures and lead-based paint
Selling without a Realtor does not automatically remove disclosure responsibilities.
Michigan FSBO sellers should make sure they understand which disclosures may apply to their property and transaction. Common items may include a seller disclosure statement, known property condition information, and lead-based paint disclosure for homes built before 1978.
Lime Title can help with the title and closing process, but disclosure and contract questions should be reviewed with a licensed Michigan attorney.
Who holds earnest money in a FSBO sale?
This is one of the most common questions in a Michigan FSBO closing.
In many FSBO transactions, the buyer and seller agree on who will hold the earnest money deposit. Depending on the transaction and company policy, earnest money may be held by a title company, real estate brokerage, attorney, or another agreed escrow holder.
If Lime Title is handling the closing, we can review the transaction details and explain available escrow and closing coordination options for the file.
How title and closing work without Realtors
A FSBO sale still needs a clean closing process. Lime helps organize the title and settlement steps so the transaction can move from agreement to closing.
Title review
Lime opens the title order, runs the title search, reviews ownership, identifies liens or title issues, and coordinates title commitment requirements.
Closing coordination
Lime coordinates buyer, seller, lender, payoff, tax, and closing information so the settlement process is organized and clear.
Signing and recording
Lime helps prepare for closing, coordinates signing, handles settlement and disbursement, and records the deed after closing.
FSBO closing checklist
Before opening a Michigan FSBO title order, gather the basic information that helps the closing process start cleanly.
- Signed purchase agreement, if available
- Buyer and seller contact information
- Property address
- Existing deed, if available
- Mortgage payoff information
- HOA information, if applicable
- Property tax information
- Buyer lender contact, if financing
- Seller disclosure documents
- Lead-based paint disclosure, if applicable
- Earnest money details
- Target closing date
Common FSBO closing steps
The exact process can vary, but most Michigan FSBO closings follow a similar path once buyer and seller are ready.
Buyer and seller agree to terms
The parties agree on price, closing date, contingencies, earnest money, and other deal terms.
Title order is opened
Lime receives the basic property and transaction details and begins the title process.
Title search and payoff coordination begin
Lime reviews title, liens, taxes, payoffs, and other items needed for settlement.
Closing documents are prepared
Once title and lender items are ready, closing documents and settlement figures are coordinated.
Signing, funding, recording, and disbursement
The parties sign, funds are handled through settlement, and the deed is recorded after closing.
Michigan FSBO purchase agreement FAQ
Practical answers for buyers and sellers trying to move a for sale by owner transaction toward closing.
What is a Michigan FSBO purchase agreement?
A Michigan FSBO purchase agreement is the written agreement between a buyer and seller when a property is sold without a Realtor. It usually outlines the price, parties, property, earnest money, closing date, contingencies, financing terms, title requirements, and other sale terms.
Can I sell a house without a Realtor in Michigan?
Many Michigan sellers choose to sell a home without a Realtor. The buyer and seller still need to handle the purchase agreement, disclosures, title work, closing coordination, deed recording, and settlement properly.
Who holds earnest money in a Michigan FSBO sale?
The buyer and seller typically agree on who will hold the earnest money. Depending on the transaction and company policy, that may be a title company, attorney, brokerage, or another agreed escrow holder.
Does Lime Title provide FSBO purchase agreements?
Lime Title helps with title search, escrow, settlement, closing coordination, and recording. Lime does not provide legal advice or determine whether specific contract terms are appropriate. FSBO buyers and sellers should consult a licensed Michigan attorney for contract drafting or legal review.
What does a title company do in a FSBO closing?
A title company can open the title order, run the title search, review title issues, coordinate payoffs, prepare settlement statements, coordinate closing, handle disbursement, and record the deed after closing.
How much are Michigan FSBO closing costs?
Michigan FSBO closing costs vary based on the sale price, loan type, title fees, recording fees, transfer taxes, tax prorations, payoff amounts, escrow terms, and the buyer and seller agreement.
Can Lime Title help if there are no Realtors involved?
Yes. Lime Title can help coordinate the title and closing process for Michigan FSBO buyers and sellers once the parties are ready to move forward with the transaction.
Ready to move the file forward?
If you are buying or selling a Michigan property without a Realtor, send Lime Title the basic property and transaction details. We will help identify what is needed for the title and closing process.
Questions before ordering? Call 810-588-9689 or email [email protected].
Related Michigan title resources
More Lime Title resources for Michigan buyers, sellers, investors, and inherited property transactions.
COMPANY
SERVICES
HELP
LEGAL
Lime Title Agency LLC
4435 Old US 23
Brighton, MI 48114
(810) 588-9689
© Copyright 2026. Lime Title Agency LLC. All Rights Reserved.