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How to sell your house by owner in Michigan

For sale by owner (FSBO) in Michigan, without a realtor · rules checked · sources

Attorney at closing
Not required
Seller disclosure
Required
State transfer tax
0.86%

Michigan doesn't require an attorney: a title company or escrow agent usually handles the closing. Michigan sellers must give buyers the Seller's Disclosure Statement (MCL 565.951 et seq. (Seller Disclosure Act); form at MCL 565.957). Michigan's state transfer tax is 0.86%, about $3,440 on a $400,000 sale, usually paid by the seller.

General information, not legal advice. Rules change and counties add their own; check with a Michigan real estate attorney or title company before you sign anything. Last checked October 20, 2026.

Michigan transfer tax and savings calculator

State transfer tax (0.86%)
$3,440
Commission you don't pay (5–6%)
$20,000–$24,000
Saved if you still pay the buyer's agent (2.5–3%)
$10,000–$12,000

Example for a $400,000 sale. Uses the base state rate of 0.86%. Full rule: State $3.75 per $500 (0.75%) plus county $0.55 per $500 (0.11%), about 0.86% combined. State tax only; county or city taxes may add to it. Commissions are negotiable and vary; these are typical ranges, not quotes.

Steps to sell a house without a realtor in Michigan

  1. Price it from sold homes, not asking prices. Pull recent sales of similar homes nearby from the county records or the "sold" filter on the big portals, or pay a licensed appraiser for a pre-listing appraisal.
  2. Fill in the Seller's Disclosure Statement now. Michigan requires it (MCL 565.951 et seq. (Seller Disclosure Act); form at MCL 565.957); buyers should get it before they sign. Get the official form.
  3. Make a listing buyers can judge from home. Bright photos of every room, an honest description, a floor plan and a 360° virtual tour filter out people who were never going to buy, so fewer, better showings.
  4. List it where buyers look. A flat-fee MLS listing (a broker puts you on the MLS for a fixed fee) gets you onto Zillow, Realtor.com and Redfin; add FSBO sites, social media and a yard sign with a QR code to the tour.
  5. Show it, then get offers in writing. Ask for a mortgage pre-approval or proof of funds before a showing, and decide up front whether you'll pay a buyer's agent. Accept with a written purchase agreement; the earnest money goes to the title company, not to you.
  6. Open the file with a title company. In Michigan the title company runs the title search, sells the title insurance and conducts the closing.
  7. Close. You sign a warranty deed, the title company pays off your mortgage and records the deed with the county. The state transfer tax is paid when the deed is recorded and is usually paid by the seller.

Michigan seller disclosure

Michigan requires sellers to disclose the home's known condition in writing on the Seller's Disclosure Statement (MCL 565.951 et seq. (Seller Disclosure Act); form at MCL 565.957). Give it to the buyer before they sign the purchase agreement: a late or missing disclosure can let the buyer cancel or sue.

Sellers of 1-4 unit residential property must deliver the statutory Seller's Disclosure Statement to the buyer before a binding agreement. The seller may mark items unknown, and the statement is not a warranty.

Seller's Disclosure Statement (official source)

Whatever the state rule, a home built before 1978 needs the federal lead-based paint disclosure and the EPA pamphlet, and the buyer gets 10 days to test unless they waive it.

Michigan transfer tax

Michigan charges a real estate transfer tax when the deed is recorded: a base rate of 0.86% of the price, $3,440 on a $400,000 sale. The full rule: State $3.75 per $500 (0.75%) plus county $0.55 per $500 (0.11%), about 0.86% combined. By custom it's usually paid by the seller, but the purchase contract can split it differently.

Local taxes: County rate is $0.55 per $500 in most counties; counties over 2 million population (Wayne) charge a higher rate.

Official transfer tax source

Paperwork for selling a house without a realtor in Michigan

Sellers in Michigan usually convey with a warranty deed. The title company, escrow officer or attorney prepares it with the other closing documents.

Also expect:

  • Property Transfer Affidavit filed with the local assessor within 45 days of transfer (buyer files)

Title companies close most sales and attorneys are optional. Transfer tax stamps are bought in the county where the property sits.

The rest of the work is marketing: a clear listing, honest photos and a virtual tour. Tips in how to write a property listing and how to make a virtual tour with your phone.

Frequently asked questions

Can you sell a house without a realtor in Michigan?

Yes. No state requires a real estate agent to sell your own home. Michigan doesn't require an attorney: a title company or escrow agent usually handles the closing. The steps are on this page.

Do I need a lawyer to sell my house in Michigan?

No. Michigan doesn't require an attorney: a title company or escrow agent usually handles the closing. An attorney is still worth it if the contract or the title is unusual.

Are seller's disclosures required in Michigan?

Yes. Michigan sellers must give buyers the Seller's Disclosure Statement (MCL 565.951 et seq. (Seller Disclosure Act); form at MCL 565.957). Sellers of 1-4 unit residential property must deliver the statutory Seller's Disclosure Statement to the buyer before a binding agreement. The seller may mark items unknown, and the statement is not a warranty. Official form or statute. Homes built before 1978 also need the federal lead-based paint disclosure.

How much is the transfer tax in Michigan?

Michigan's state transfer tax is 0.86%, about $3,440 on a $400,000 sale, usually paid by the seller. County rate is $0.55 per $500 in most counties; counties over 2 million population (Wayne) charge a higher rate. Official source.

Who pays the transfer tax in Michigan?

In Michigan it's usually paid by the seller. Custom isn't law: the purchase contract can say who pays.

What paperwork do I need to sell my house without a realtor in Michigan?

Usually the Seller's Disclosure Statement; a written purchase agreement; a warranty deed; the lead-based paint disclosure if the home was built before 1978; Property Transfer Affidavit filed with the local assessor within 45 days of transfer (buyer files). The title company or attorney prepares the closing documents and records the deed.

How much do you save selling a house without a realtor in Michigan?

On a $400,000 sale, a 5–6% commission is $20,000–$24,000. If you still pay the buyer's agent, you save the listing side, about $10,000–$12,000. The $3,440 state transfer tax is due either way.

Sources

General information, not legal advice. Rules change and counties add their own; check with a Michigan real estate attorney or title company before you sign anything. Last checked October 20, 2026.

Compare all states: attorney rules, disclosure and transfer tax →