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State guides / Michigan

Michigan property data

Michigan is a little different. Deeds are recorded by county, but property is assessed by each city and township assessor and then reviewed by county equalization. Here's what's public, what's hard to get, and what Deedplat puts on one map.

  • 83Counties
  • PublicSale prices
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What you can get in Michigan

Michigan makes most property records public, including what each property sold for. The catch is that every county keeps them differently.

Public everywhere

Every county has these, and Deedplat loads them all.

  • Owners and mailing addressesFrom the city or township assessor, with county equalization review
  • Sale pricesTransfer tax is paid on the sale price when the deed is recorded, and buyers must file a Property Transfer Affidavit with the local assessor, so sale prices are generally public.
  • Deeds and mortgagesRegister of Deeds in each county
  • Assessed valuesEvery property is assessed every year at 50% of market value, but the taxable value can only rise by inflation or 5%, whichever is less, until the property sells.
  • Tax deed salesRun county by county
  • Foreclosure filings and salesCourt filings or recorded notices, depending on the route
  • Lot linesCounty parcel maps

Depends on the town

Cities and townships keep assessing records, building permits, code violations and rental registrations, and the Michigan FOIA covers them.

  • Code violations and condemnations
  • Building permits
  • Rental registration and inspections
  • Zoning maps and ordinances
  • Water and sewer liens

Not public

What no office will hand over, so you know where the line is.

  • Owner phone numbers and emails
  • Rents and leases
  • Active listingsThose live in the MLS
  • Mortgage balancesThe original loan amount is recorded; what's left is not

How property changes hands here

Distressed property reaches the market through a few channels, and they differ by county.

Tax deeds

Unpaid taxes go to the county treasurer, the property forfeits a year later, and the county treasurer (or the state, in counties that opt out) forecloses through circuit court. The owner can redeem until March 31 after the foreclosure judgment, then the property is offered to local governments and sold at public auctions held from July through early November. The buyer gets a deed, and former owners can claim the leftover sale money under a 2020 law.

Foreclosure, two ways

Most lenders foreclose by advertisement without going to court, publishing notice for four weeks and selling at a public auction at the county courthouse. The owner can usually redeem for six months after the sale, or one year if less than two-thirds of the loan was still owed.

Land banks

Michigan's Land Bank Fast Track Act of 2003 lets counties and some cities form land banks, and the Genesee County Land Bank and the Detroit Land Bank Authority are among the best known.

Transfer tax

The state transfer tax is $3.75 per $500 of price ($7.50 per $1,000), and counties add $0.55 per $500 ($1.10 per $1,000).

Worth knowing

Under Proposal A, taxable value is capped while you own a property but resets to the full state equalized value the year after you buy it. A buyer's tax bill can jump well above what the seller paid.

Worth knowing

Michigan has no tax lien sales. Tax-foreclosed property is sold at county auctions each summer and fall, and local governments and land banks get first pick.

Every county in Michigan

Choose any county to get started.

Questions

Are property sale prices public in Michigan?

Yes, in general. Transfer tax is figured from the sale price when the deed is recorded, and buyers must file a Property Transfer Affidavit with the local assessor. Many assessors post recent sales online.

How do tax sales work in Michigan?

Michigan sells foreclosed property, not tax liens. Unpaid taxes go to the county, the property forfeits after a year, and the county forecloses the next year. Owners have until March 31 to pay, then the county sells the property at summer and fall auctions.

Where are deeds and mortgages recorded in Michigan?

With the Register of Deeds in the county where the property sits. Michigan has 83 counties.

How often are Michigan properties reassessed?

Every year. Local assessors set assessed value at 50% of market value each year, but taxable value can only rise by inflation or 5%, whichever is less, until the property sells.

Is foreclosure judicial in Michigan?

Usually not. Most lenders foreclose by advertisement and sell at a public auction at the county courthouse. The owner then usually has six months to buy the property back.

Can I get records Deedplat doesn't have?

Yes. The Michigan Freedom of Information Act lets anyone request records from counties, cities, townships and state agencies, like assessing files, permits and code violations. We file those requests for you, clean up the results and add them to your map.

Sources for this guide

Laws and fees change. We checked these sources in October 2026; confirm with the county before you act.

Every parcel, on one map

Deedplat is in beta. Pick any Michigan county to get started.

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