For Sale By Owner (FSBO) Title & Closing Process
Helping FSBO sellers and buyers in Michigan successfully navigate the title insurance and closing process.
Why Partner with CSS?
Experience
We have closed thousands of FSBO transactions throughout our 30 years in business.
Dedicated FSBO Team
Your transaction will be handled by a FSBO specialist who is familiar with the nuances of the FSBO process.
Convenient Closing Options
We can close your transaction online, or by sending a notary to your home, to save you time.
Wire Fraud Protections
We ensure that money changes hands securely with our extensive cybersecurity measures.
Legal Team
Our experienced attorneys can draft legal documents such as deeds in house, ensuring timeliness and accuracy.
What our FSBO clients say
We felt special to have our name on the screen, drinks, taken care of very professionally, etc…this morning! Great job CSS, you go the extra mile and are ‘a notch above’. We would be the ones to know that!”
Mike and Pam Crick
Choosing For Sale by Owner
CSS recommends using a Realtor to sell your home. However, if you decide to pursue the for sale by owner route, here are some helpful resources:
Comprehensive guide to selling your own home
Key documents
Real Estate Closing FAQs
Title & Closing Process
Once you have a signed purchase agreement in place, you are ready to start the closing process. Simply email your fully executed purchase agreement to fsbo@visitcss.com or upload it through the form on this page. Make sure the agreement includes the parties’ names and contact information, the property address, and the sales price and terms. CSS will then handle the following important tasks on your behalf:
Title Search and Commitment:
We will search public records to identify property ownership, any encumbrances such as mortgages or other liens, and will verify whether all taxes and assessments have been paid. We will enter this information into a title commitment that details what conditions must be met for us to issue a final title insurance policy.
Closing Document Preparation:
We will coordinate with all parties, including the buyer and the lender if one is involved, to gather all necessary information for your closing. We will prepare the documents to be signed, including a closing statement outlining how much the buyer owes and how much the seller will receive at close. Explore our Title Capture Calculator, where you can estimate seller proceeds.
Closing:
We will close your transaction in the most convenient manner for all parties. We offer in person closings at the time and location of your choosing, and remote online notary closings that allow you to close electronically 24/7.
Post-Closing Activities:
After the closing, we will disburse the proceeds to the seller and pay off all existing liens. We will record the necessary documents with the local county, file required documentation with the assessor, and file the 1099 with the IRS. We will also issue a final title policy. At this point your sale is complete.