Michigan Seller Disclosure Requirements | SaveOnYourHome
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How to Sell Your Home By Owner in Michigan: Disclosures, Closing, and Free FSBO Listing

A complete FSBO guide for Michigan homeowners: what you must disclose, how Michigan closings work, and how to list your home free on SaveOnYourHome.com.

Quick answer

Selling your home by owner in Michigan is legal and can save you $13K-$16K. Michigan requires a statutory seller disclosure and is a title/escrow state for closings. You can list your Michigan home free on SaveOnYourHome.com, a nationwide FSBO platform, with no listing fees and no commission owed to us.

Estimated FSBO Savings in Michigan

Up to $16,200
On a typical $270,000 Michigan home, eliminating the 6% agent commission keeps up to $16,200 in your pocket on this sale.
Where the 6% Comes From
Listing side, ~3% (~$8,100): No listing commission when you sell by owner on SaveOnYourHome.com.
Buyer side, ~3% (~$8,100): When your buyer finds you directly through your free listing, that 3% can be negotiated as a lower price or closing credit instead of going to a buyer's agent.
Typical Range on the Selling Side
On a $270K home, a Michigan FSBO seller keeps roughly $13K-$16K more than they would after paying a typical 5-6% agent commission, minus the state's 0.86% transfer tax.

Use the free SaveOnYourHome.com Savings Calculator to estimate the full potential savings on your specific Michigan sale.

Michigan Seller Disclosure Requirements

Disclosure Type
Statutory
Statutory Form / Legal Basis
Seller's Disclosure Statement (Mich. Comp. Laws § 565.951 et seq. (Seller Disclosure Act)).

What Michigan Sellers Must Disclose

  • Structural components, roof, foundation, basement
  • Systems: heating, cooling, electrical, plumbing
  • Environmental hazards known to seller
  • Well and septic system condition
  • Homeowners association status and fees

Federal Lead-Based Paint Rule

Federal Title X (42 U.S.C. Section 4852d) requires every seller in every state, including Michigan, to disclose known lead-based paint and lead-based paint hazards for homes built before 1978, provide the EPA pamphlet "Protect Your Family from Lead in Your Home," and give buyers a 10-day period to test for lead before becoming bound to the contract.

Michigan-Specific Considerations

Michigan gives buyers a right to terminate if disclosure was not provided before an offer was accepted: 72 hours if delivered in person, or 120 hours if delivered by mail, after actual receipt.

How Closing Works in Michigan

Closing Handled By
title state
Attorney Review Period
N/A

Michigan closings are handled by title companies, though attorneys or escrow officers may also conduct them; no attorney is legally required for a residential closing. After a purchase agreement is signed, the title company runs a title search, issues title insurance, prepares the Real Estate Transfer Valuation Affidavit, and coordinates document signing and fund disbursement, with both state and county transfer tax collected before the deed can be recorded. FSBO sellers must provide the Michigan Seller Disclosure Statement before an offer is signed, and closings typically wrap up within 30-45 days. The federal Closing Disclosure must be delivered at least 3 business days before closing.

Transfer Tax
Michigan imposes a combined state and county real estate transfer tax of $8.60 per $1,000 of sale price (about 0.86%): $7.50 per $1,000 state tax plus $1.10 per $1,000 county tax (some larger counties may charge up to $1.50 for the county portion). By custom and statute (MCL 207.505), the seller pays this tax, though it is negotiable in the purchase contract (Michigan Department of Treasury; Ottawa County; tallyclose.com).

Special FSBO Considerations for Michigan

Michigan sellers can apply for a refund/exemption from the state transfer tax if the home sold for less than its State Equalized Value under certain conditions, a detail unique to Michigan that FSBO sellers should verify with their title company (legalclarity.org). The Michigan Seller Disclosure Act requires a written Seller's Disclosure Statement before the buyer signs a binding agreement, and skipping or rushing this step creates significant post-sale liability. FSBO sellers should also confirm Principal Residence Exemption paperwork and Property Transfer Affidavit filing requirements with the title company at closing.

Why List Your Michigan Home Free on SaveOnYourHome.com

SaveOnYourHome.com is a nationwide FSBO platform built for Michigan homeowners who want to sell their home without paying a listing agent. Listing your home on SaveOnYourHome.com is completely free, with no listing fees, no commissions to us, and no strings attached. We give Michigan sellers a professional listing page, buyer inquiry tools, and free educational resources so you can market your home yourself and keep the equity you've built.

Unlike agent-based platforms, SaveOnYourHome.com is a pure FSBO marketplace. We don't take referral fees, we don't push you toward paid services you don't need, and we never charge you a commission when your home sells. The savings from selling FSBO in Michigan, often $13K-$16K, stay in your pocket.

Free Weekly FSBO Q&A Call for Michigan Homeowners

Selling your Michigan home by owner does not mean going it alone. Every week, SaveOnYourHome.com hosts a free live Q&A call where Michigan homeowners can ask real questions about pricing, disclosures, showings, offers, and closing, and get honest, commission-free answers before they list.

The call is 100% free, there is nothing to buy, and every seller is welcome, whether you are just researching FSBO or already have your home on the market. Bring your questions and get clear guidance from the SaveOnYourHome.com team.

Reserve your spot on the next free weekly Q&A call →

Frequently Asked Questions About Selling FSBO in Michigan

What must I disclose to buyers when selling FSBO in Michigan?

Michigan requires a statutory seller disclosure. The legal basis is: Seller's Disclosure Statement (Mich. Comp. Laws § 565.951 et seq. (Seller Disclosure Act)).

How much is transfer tax in Michigan, and who pays it?

Michigan imposes a combined state and county real estate transfer tax of $8.60 per $1,000 of sale price (about 0.86%): $7.50 per $1,000 state tax plus $1.10 per $1,000 county tax (some larger counties may charge up to $1.50 for the county portion). By custom and statute (MCL 207.505), the seller pays this tax, though it is negotiable in the purchase contract (Michigan Department of Treasury; Ottawa County; tallyclose.com).

Is there a mandatory attorney review period in Michigan?

Michigan does not have a statutory post-signing attorney review period like New Jersey's. FSBO sellers can still ask an attorney to review the contract before signing.

How much can I save by selling my home FSBO in Michigan?

On a typical Michigan sale, real estate commissions total about 5% to 6% of the sale price, roughly 3% to the listing agent and 3% to the buyer's agent. Based on a $270,000 Michigan home, eliminating that 6% keeps up to about $16,200 inside your transaction. When you sell FSBO on SaveOnYourHome.com, there is no listing fee and no listing-side commission owed to us. If your buyer also comes to you directly through your free SaveOnYourHome.com listing without a buyer's agent, the buyer-side ~3% (about $8,100) can be negotiated as a lower price or a closing credit on this same sale.

Do I need MLS access to sell FSBO in Michigan?

No. SaveOnYourHome.com is a nationwide FSBO platform that reaches Michigan buyers directly without requiring you to pay for MLS access or a listing agent.

Michigan FSBO Recommendation

Complete Michigan's official form or a comparable comprehensive form, keep copies of everything you disclose, and have a real estate attorney review your disclosure package before signing. Verify current requirements with a licensed Michigan real estate attorney.

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Important legal disclaimer

Important Legal Disclaimer. Please read carefully before relying on any information in this guide.

Not legal, tax, or financial advice. This guide is general informational content published by SaveOnYourHome.com, LLC for Michigan homeowners considering selling their home by owner (FSBO). It is not legal advice, tax advice, financial advice, investment advice, or real estate brokerage advice. Reading this page does not create an attorney-client, broker-client, or fiduciary relationship of any kind between you and SaveOnYourHome.com, LLC, its founder, its employees, or its contractors.

Not a licensed brokerage. SaveOnYourHome.com, LLC is a technology platform, not a licensed real estate brokerage in Michigan or any other state. We do not represent buyers or sellers, we do not negotiate on your behalf, and we do not receive commissions. You are acting as an unrepresented seller.

No warranty of accuracy or currentness. State disclosure laws, closing procedures, transfer taxes, and required forms change frequently, and their application depends on the specific facts of your property and transaction. While we make reasonable efforts to keep this guide accurate as of the last-updated date shown below, we make no representations or warranties, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, or timeliness of any information on this page. Statutory citations and form references may become outdated between updates.

Consult licensed professionals. Before completing your seller disclosure, signing any contract, or closing on your home, you should consult a licensed Michigan real estate attorney, and where appropriate a licensed tax professional, title company, and licensed home inspector. Every FSBO transaction has facts that a competent professional needs to review.

Third-party citations are not endorsements. Links to state statutes, government agencies, industry associations, and third-party sources are provided for reference only. We do not endorse and are not responsible for the content, accuracy, or availability of any third-party site or resource.

Your decision, your responsibility. The decision to sell your home by owner rather than through a licensed real estate agent is yours alone. You assume all risk related to that decision, including pricing, marketing, showings, negotiations, disclosures, and closing. To the fullest extent permitted by law, SaveOnYourHome.com, LLC and its affiliates, officers, employees, and contractors disclaim all liability for any loss, damage, or claim arising out of or related to your use of or reliance on this guide.

Last updated: July 23, 2026.

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