Title notes for St. Louis
The City of St. Louis is independent of St. Louis County, with its own Recorder of Deeds. Many city lots were platted generations ago, and old easements and party-wall agreements are common in the title work.
How closings work in Missouri
Missouri residential closings are commonly handled by title companies acting as escrow and settlement agents, much like Kansas.
Missouri uses beneficiary deeds to pass real estate at death outside probate; they must be recorded before the owner dies.
Missouri closing costs
Missouri has no state real estate transfer tax.
Property taxes for a year are due by December 31, so at a mid-year closing the seller usually credits the buyer from January 1 to closing.
Nearby
Common questions
Where are deeds recorded for St. Louis property?
With the St. Louis City Recorder of Deeds.
Who pays for title insurance in St. Louis?
The purchase contract decides, and local customs vary. Check the title section of your contract.
What should I look for in a title company?
Quick turnaround on the title commitment, clear answers about requirements and costs, and careful handling of your closing funds, including confirming wiring instructions by phone.