FSBO - Ginn & Patrou Attorneys

Need Help with a For Sale By Owner (FSBO) Transaction in St. Augustine, FL?

Our team of real estate attorneys can guide you through your FSBO transaction from beginning to end.

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We Can Close Your Deal at Title Company Prices

As real estate attorneys in St. Augustine, FL, we regularly assist sellers and buyers in every aspect of FSBO transactions. When you decide to sell your home without a realtor in St. Augustine, we know that the process can be very stressful and a lot of questions can arise, and we’re here to help. As local real estate lawyers, we strive to do everything we can to take the stress off of you and provide a streamlined FSBO transaction.

Schedule a Free Consultation

Let’s sit down and discuss your plans for selling your home.

Get your Home Sold

Prepare, price, and sell your home with confidence.

Close with Confidence

We’ll help get your paperwork and contract in order for a smooth closing.

My wife and I contacted John Ginn to represent us on a 500K+ FSBO sale. The process could not have been easier thanks to him. He patiently explained the steps to take, assisted us in the negotiations, prepared the necessary contracts, and handled the closing. Thanks to Ginn & Patrou, there were no issues. We closed ON TIME, with happy buyers and ecstatic sellers! We will definitely use Ginn & Patrou next time!

Howard, FSBO Condo Sale

Scott was incredibly knowledgeable and accommodating. He was very prompt in all of his correspondence and made me feel very valued. I trust Scott to handle anything for me or my family.

John From St. Augustine, FL

John helped us with the title work and closing for a commercial property acquisition. He did a great job and took care of everything quickly and professionally. I would highly recommend him and his firm.

Brad From St. Augustine, FL

We are from the Chicago area and needed a lawyer to represent us for a real estate closing in St. Augustine. John Ginn was the man. He was very knowledgable and professional. He helped us negotiate the contract (no realtor involved) and walked us through the closing process. He was always there via email or phone to answer all our questions. We would highly recommend him.

Laurie & Bill From Chicago

Unbelievable drive and ambition. Scott Patrou is one person who finished what he starts, and finishes on top. I've never met a person who enjoys doing things right, thoroughly, and winning as much as Scott.

Ken From St. Augustine, FL

We’ll Draft Your Sales Contract at No Cost

The most vital piece of any real estate deal is the contract between the parties, and a well-drafted sales contract can protect you and provide a smooth closing process. On the other hand…

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… a poorly drafted contract can quickly result in a failed closing, litigation, and the loss of thousands of dollars. We’re here to serve you well, so when you use our team of real estate attorneys for your title insurance and closing, we’ll draft your sales contract for you at no cost. If the deal doesn’t work out, no worries — you won’t owe us any legal fees. When the deal does go through, you only pay us the customary closing fees and title insurance, which is charged by attorneys and non-attorney closing companies alike.

FAQs About FSBOs in St. Augustine, FL

Do I Need a Contract for a Real Estate Sale?

We absolutely recommend that you always have a written contract in place for an FSBO sale, and there are no exceptions to this rule. A written contract defines the sale terms between the buyer and seller, including the sale price, who pays closing costs, the date and place of closing, and other important factors.

A common contract we implement for clients is an “as is” contract approved by the Florida Bar and the Florida Realtors association. These contracts are written to address all of the issues that regularly come up in real estate sales and are a great resource.

However, even on standardized contracts, you should use an attorney to assist you in filling it out. The failure to fill out a standardized contract properly can result in thousands of dollars being lost for unforeseen things like closing costs or taxes and result in litigation.

What’s an Inspection Period in a Real Estate Contract?

In a real estate contract, the “inspection period” represents the period of time in which the buyer can inspect the property and decide whether to purchase it. Usually this period is 15 days or less, and during that time, the buyer can back out for any reason by giving written notice to the seller.

If the buyer properly terminates the contract during the inspection period, their deposit is returned to them. However, during the inspection process, the buyer is responsible for the costs of all inspections and for any costs involved in repairing any damage caused by the buyer during the inspection.

What Costs Are Normally Paid by the Buyer in a St. Augustine, FL Real Estate Sale?

Normally in a real estate sale, the buyer pays for the following charges:

Appraisal fees
Loan expenses
Municipal lien search
Property-related insurance
HOA/condominium association transfer fees
Recording fees on any mortgages (.0035 x the loan amount)
The cost of the loan policy to insure title for the lender (usually $250-$300)
The cost of the survey (usually $350+, and much higher for large acreage)

What Costs Are Normally Paid by the Seller in a Florida Real Estate Sale?

Normally in a real estate sale, the seller pays for the following charges:

The cost of any realtor fees.
The cost of the title search (usually $125)
Any HOA/condominium association estoppel fees
The fee for the owner’s title policy, which is set by Florida statute based on the sale price, and is $5.75 per thousand up to $100,000, and then $5.00 per thousand thereafter.
Documentary stamps on the deed (.0070 x the purchase price)