Selling without an agent
For sale by owner closings in Ocala, FL
You found the buyer and agreed on a price. We handle everything between the signed contract and the recorded deed.
What we handle
Everything an agent's title company would do, without the agent
Skipping the listing agent doesn't mean skipping the closing. Someone still has to prove the title is clean, hold the buyer's money, pay off your loan, and get the deed on record. On a FSBO sale, that's all on us, and it's the same work we do on every closing in our Ocala office.
Title search & examination
We search the public records for the liens, judgments, open permits, and recording gaps that would stop a sale — the week the file opens, while there's still time to fix them. How a Florida title search works.
Buyer's deposit in escrow
The buyer's earnest money comes to us, not to the seller. We hold it in our escrow account as a neutral third party and release it only as the contract directs.
Mortgage payoff & liens
If you still owe on the house, we order the payoff from your lender and pay it at closing. Liens and judgments that turn up in the search get cleared before anyone signs.
Closing documents & the deed
We prepare the closing documents, including the deed, and a settlement statement that shows every dollar each side pays and receives — the same numbers you'll sign.
Owner's title insurance
The buyer gets an owner's policy protecting them against title defects. Florida premiums are set by state rule — estimate yours in seconds.
Recording & disbursement
After signing we record the deed with the county clerk and disburse the money: your payoff, the doc stamps, and your proceeds to you.
What's still on you as the seller
- A signed written contract. We can't draft it for you or give legal advice. Use a standard Florida residential contract or have a real estate attorney prepare one.
- Disclosures. Florida sellers must disclose known defects that materially affect the home's value. Homes built before 1978 also need the federal lead-based paint disclosure.
- Access. Let the buyer's inspector and appraiser in on the contract's timeline.
- Your payoff details. Tell us who holds your mortgage or any home equity line so we can order the payoff on day one.
How a FSBO closing works with us
- Send us the signed contract. Upload it on our order form or email it in. We confirm who the buyer is, how they're paying, and the closing date.
- We open the file. The buyer wires the deposit to us, and we start the title search and order your payoff.
- Title cleared, numbers set. We resolve anything the search turns up and send both sides a settlement statement to review before closing day.
- Sign at our Ocala office. Bring a valid photo ID. The buyer's funds arrive by verified wire.
- Recorded & paid. We record the deed, pay off your loan, and send your proceeds. The house is officially theirs.
Want the long version? Read the Florida closing process from contract to keys.
FAQ
For sale by owner questions
Do I need a real estate agent to sell my house in Florida?
No. Florida doesn't require an agent on either side of a sale. What you do need is a written contract signed by both parties, and a closing agent to handle title, escrow, documents, and recording. That's us.
Who picks the title company on a FSBO sale?
Whoever the contract says. In Marion County and most of Central Florida, the seller customarily pays for the owner's policy and chooses the title company, but the buyer and seller can agree to anything. If you're the seller, write Next Chapter Title into the contract.
What does a title company charge on a for sale by owner closing?
The owner's title insurance premium is set by Florida rule based on the sale price, and our calculator gives you the exact figure. Add a title search, settlement fee, and recording. The seller also customarily pays documentary stamp tax on the deed, $0.70 per $100 of the price in most counties. Our guide to who pays closing costs in Florida walks through a full example.
Can you write the purchase contract for us?
No. Title agents can't give legal advice or draft your contract. Most FSBO buyers and sellers use a standard Florida residential contract form or have a Florida real estate attorney prepare one. Once it's signed, send it to us and we take it from there.
What if the buyer is getting a mortgage?
That works the same as any financed closing. The buyer's lender sends us their documents and the loan funds, and we coordinate the appraisal timing, the lender's title policy, and the Closing Disclosure date with them.
How long does a FSBO closing take?
A cash sale can close in one to two weeks, mostly the time it takes to search and clear title. A financed sale usually takes 30 to 45 days, set by the buyer's lender.
General information, not legal advice. Title agents can't give legal advice — for legal questions about your transaction, talk to a Florida real estate attorney.
Selling your home yourself?
Send us the signed contract and we'll open your file today, or call and talk it through with a real person in our Ocala office.