Alcona County, MI Property Records: Search Deeds, Owners, Tax Records, and Maps

Alcona County property records are maintained by several offices, including municipal assessors, local treasurers, the Equalization Department, the Alcona County Treasurer’s Office, and the Register of Deeds. The county has approximately 19,000 parcels of land spread over a total land area of 675 square miles. Recreational homes, resort communities, and affordable houses drive Alcona County’s real estate market.

Single-family detached homes make up about 89% of the county’s housing stock and are popular in municipalities such as Harrisville, Lincoln, Hubbard Lake, Lost Lake Woods, Mikado, and Greenbush. Home listings in the county typically close in 35 to 45 days, which is slightly faster than the state average.

Recent records reveal the underlying factors influencing the local real estate market, with a median home value of $139,100 and median rent of $913.5, alongside a median household income of $51,250 and a median real estate tax rate of 0.87 as a percentage of the property's assessed value.

How to Look Up Alcona County Property Records

Anyone can access Alcona County property records through the Register of Deeds, the Equalization Department, and the Alcona County Treasurer. Property assessments and tax information are available online for free through the county’s Property Search portal.

You can obtain deeds and related property records from the Register of Deeds for a fee using approved services like Tapestry and Laredo. Call the Register of Deeds at (989) 724-9450 for inquiries.

Who Keeps Alcona County Property Records?

Under the Michigan Freedom of Information Act, the public has the right to view and obtain property records from Alcona County. The following county offices are responsible for managing property records:

• Property valuations are done at the municipality level in Michigan. Local assessors value properties and set the Taxable Value for every parcel within their jurisdictions.

• The Alcona County Equalization Department equalizes local assessments to ensure fairness and accuracy. It maintains the countywide property search platform and parcel map.

• The Alcona County Register of Deeds records, indexes, and maintains property-related documents, such as deeds, land contracts, releases, liens, plats, and mortgages, in conformity with the Michigan Recording Act. It keeps and provides access to the county’s chain of titles.

• City and township treasurers collect property taxes for their respective municipalities. They typically bill and collect taxes in two installments: summer and winter. Taxes not paid by March 1 of the following year are considered delinquent and passed as debt to the Alcona County Treasurer. The county Treasurer oversees collection of delinquent taxes, property tax forfeiture, and foreclosure in the county.

How to Search Alcona County Property Records Online

You can search Alcona County property records online by following these steps:

1. Search the Alcona County Property Search portal by owner’s name, address, or parcel number. Details you can find on the portal include the owner’s name, parcel number, legal description, State Equalization Value (SEV), Taxable Value, and property legal description.
2. Use the Alcona County Beacon Public Search portal to confirm the details from the Property Search portal. Verify the listed owners and review prior transfers to establish the chain of title.
3. Contact the Register of Deeds to verify the property’s deeds. Check for mortgages and liens against the property.
4. Verify the property’s tax status from the local assessor. You can also check for delinquent taxes through the Delinquent Tax Bill platform.
5. Order certified copies of the property records from the Register of Deeds, if necessary.

Register of Deeds: Deeds, Mortgages, and Liens

The Alcona County Register of Deeds is responsible for the recording of property documents and maintaining the county’s official chain of titles. The office records and maintains the following property documents:

• Warranty deeds, covenant deeds, and quitclaim deeds

• Mortgages, assignments, land contracts, and discharges

• Federal and state tax liens, construction liens, and judgment liens

• Subdivision plats, condominium master deeds, and surveys

Assessors and Equalization: Ownership, Values, and Parcel Data

Municipal assessors value properties within their jurisdictions and prepare the local assessment roll. The Alcona County Equalization Department oversees the assessment and ensures that the values are fair across the county. It maintains the Property Search portal for providing access to the county’s property records. The Equalization Department provides access to the following:

• Apportionment reports

• Equalization reports

• Local assessors contact details

• Millage rates

Treasurer’s Office: Taxes, Bills, and Payments

Local city and township treasurers collect property taxes within their jurisdictions in two installments. Summer tax notices are sent in July and collected till September, while winter tax bills go out in December and are collected till February. Bills not paid by March 1 are sent to the Alcona County Treasurer as delinquent taxes. The treasurer collects delinquent taxes and oversees property tax foreclosure in the county.

Property Tax in Alcona County: Values, Exemptions, and Appeals

In Alcona County, a property's assessed value (State Equalized Value) equals half its market value. The SEV is multiplied by the local millage rate from all taxing authorities to obtain the tax bill. Michigan law caps the annual increment on a property's Taxable Value until it is resold.

Proposal A and Uncapping

Proposal A caps annual property tax increases to the lower of the inflation rate or a 5% increase in value. This ensures a property’s tax cannot increase by more than 5% of the previous year’s tax until the property is sold.

The cap on the tax is removed (uncapped) when the property is sold or transferred, and the Taxable Value is reset to the State Equalized Value (assessed value). However, MCL 211.27a exempts transfers between spouses and family members from uncapping.

Exemptions and Relief

Appealing Your Value

If you believe your valuation is incorrect, you can file an appeal with your local Board of Review during its March session. You must provide supporting evidence with the appeal showing why you think the valuation is wrong. The board will review your appeal and either deny it or reduce the tax.

If you are dissatisfied with the board’s decision, you can escalate to the Michigan Tax Tribunal for further review. The Michigan Tax Tribunal only accepts appeals that the local Board of Review has reviewed.

GIS Maps and Parcel Viewer

Alcona County allows registered users to access parcels graphically through the GIS Map platform. You can directly navigate to parcels on the platform. Alternatively, you can use the Acres GIS platform to access parcels in the county. In addition, you can use the Michigan GIS Open Data resource to view parcels that cross county lines.

Foreclosure and Tax Sales

Alcona County, Michigan, has two types of foreclosure with different timelines.

Property-Tax Foreclosure

Property taxes that remain unpaid as of March 1 become “Delinquent” and are turned over to the Alcona County Treasurer. The 3-year forfeiture and foreclosure clock starts immediately, and the property starts incurring administrative charges and monthly interest. If the taxes remain unpaid by March 1 of the second year, they are forfeited under MCL 211.78.

The property becomes forfeited by March 1 of the second year, and if not redeemed, it may be foreclosed by the end of March of the third year. After the Circuit Court has concluded the property’s foreclosure case, the county may then sell the property in a public auction.

Mortgage Foreclosure

A lender in Alcona County may classify a mortgage as “Delinquent” if payment has not been made for more than 120 days. The lender must file a default and publish a weekly notice of auction in a local newspaper for four consecutive weeks. Afterward, the county sheriff sells the property to the highest bidder. The law allows the owner to redeem the property within a specified period, per MCL 600.3240.

Costs to Access Property Records

Michigan laws allow the Alcona County Register of Deeds to charge specific fees for accessing and recording documents in the county.

How to Record a Document

The Michigan Recording Act governs property documents recording in Alcona County. The following steps are generally required to record an instrument in the county:

1. Prepare the document in accordance with state standards. Verify that the font sizes, margins, original signatures, and notary acknowledgment are correct.
2. Calculate the required fees. All instruments are recorded for a $30.00 flat fee. Where applicable, the seller must pay a transfer tax of $8.60 per $1,000 of consideration for sales.
3. File the complete documents with the Register of Deeds by mail, in person, or through approved e-recording vendors, including CSC, Simplifile, and Indecomm Global Services. If the document involves transfer of ownership, file a Property Transfer Affidavit (Form 2766/L-4260) with the local assessor within 45 days of the transfer.
4. After recording the document, the Register of Deeds updates the county’s property records to reflect the transaction. You can then retrieve the original instrument from their office.

FAQs

Quick Reference: Your Alcona County Property Records Checklist

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