Selling it yourself? Georgia still requires a closing attorney — and that part is not optional.

For sale by owner works in Georgia. What does not work is treating the closing as paperwork you can handle at a bank. Georgia law requires a licensed attorney to conduct the real estate closing, and without an agent there is nobody else watching the contract, the deadlines or the title.

What you still need — agent or no agent

Losing the agent does not lose the work; it just moves it. Someone has to examine title, clear what the search finds, prepare the deed correctly, hold and disburse the funds, and record. In Georgia most of that is legally required to be an attorney.

• A closing attorney. Required by Georgia law, not a matter of preference.
• Title examination. You cannot sell what you cannot prove you own cleanly.
• A correctly drafted deed. A wrong legal description becomes the next owner's title defect — and sometimes your liability.
• An escrow holder. Earnest money should sit in an attorney trust account, not a personal account.
• Georgia's required disclosures. Including federal lead-based paint disclosure on homes built before 1978.

What we do and do not do for a FSBO seller

We conduct the closing: title examination and curative work, deed preparation, settlement statement, escrow, disbursement and recording. We will also review the contract you have and tell you what it says.

What we cannot do is represent both you and your buyer as advocates. A closing attorney in Georgia conducts the closing; that is a different role from being your lawyer in a negotiation. If a dispute develops, you will want separate counsel — and we will tell you plainly when you have reached that point.

What it costs you

The seller's side of a Georgia closing is mostly transfer tax, the owner's policy if you are paying for it, your mortgage payoff, prorated taxes and the closing fee. Run it through our seller net sheet — it is the same math we will use at the table.

The commission line is the one you are saving. Everything else is the same as it would be with an agent.

Where FSBO sellers actually get hurt

Two places, in our experience. The first is a title problem nobody looked for until the buyer's lender ordered a search — an old security deed never cancelled, an estate that never passed. Those are fixable, but not in four days.

The second is wire fraud. FSBO transactions are targeted precisely because there is no agent in the middle to notice that the instructions changed. We will never email you new or changed wiring instructions. If you get one, call us at (770) 506-7765.

Common questions

Do I really need an attorney to sell my house in Georgia?

Yes. Georgia requires that a licensed attorney conduct the real estate closing. This is not a formality you can waive by agreement between buyer and seller.

Can you write the contract for me?

We can review a contract and explain what it does. Preparing a purchase contract for a party in a transaction we are closing raises a conflict question, so for drafting we would point you to your own counsel or to the standard GAR forms.

How much does a FSBO closing cost?

The same as any other closing on our side — the closing fee does not go up because there is no agent. Call (770) 506-7765 with your price and county and we will quote it.

What if my buyer has an agent?

That is common and it is fine. Their agent represents the buyer, not you. Having a closing attorney who is watching the file matters more, not less, in that situation.