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

Oakland County has one of Michigan's busiest housing markets. Its job opportunities, growing communities, well-established neighborhoods, and highly rated school districts continue to attract homebuyers. Property information is available through the Oakland County Register of Deeds, the county Equalization Division, and the local city or township assessor. These offices maintain land records dating back to 1820 and assessments for more than 468,000 parcels across the county's 907 square miles.

Home prices are generally higher than in many other parts of the state, especially in the southern and western part of the county. Single-family homes, condominiums, and townhouses are the common housing units you will find here. Listed homes typically take about 30 to 45 days to sell.

Recent records reveal the underlying factors influencing the local real estate market, with a median home value of $308,600 and a median rent of $1,299, alongside a median household income of $100,469 and a median real estate tax rate of 1.33 as a percentage of the property's assessed value.

How to Look Up Oakland County Property Records

There are three main places to search for property records in Oakland County. The County Register of Deeds provides access to recorded land documents, including deeds, mortgages, liens, and other real estate records. For property ownership and assessed values, use the Oakland County Equalization Division or contact the assessor for the city or township where the property is located. The local city or township treasurer handles property tax bills and payment services.

Anyone may request certified copies of recorded land documents from the Oakland County Register of Deeds. They may call the office at (248) 858-0597 for assistance or visit during regular business hours at 1200 North Telegraph Road, Pontiac, MI 48341.

Who Keeps Oakland County Property Records?

Oakland County property records are open to the public under Michigan law. Different county and local offices handle these records.

• The Oakland County Register of Deeds records real estate documents, such as deeds, mortgages, liens, and plats.

• Local city and township assessors handle questions about property assessments, taxable value, and exemptions.

• The Oakland County Equalization Department maintains the county's parcel maps and parcel identification number (PIN) system.

• The Oakland County Treasurer handles delinquent real property taxes and oversees foreclosure proceedings.

How to Search Oakland County Property Records Online

Take the following steps to search Oakland County property records online:

1. Start by searching the property address in the Oakland County Property Gateway. You may also search by parcel number if you have it.

2. Open the record that matches your search. Check the parcel details to confirm that you have located the correct property.

3. Use the Oakland County Register of Deeds search to pull up the deeds and other recorded documents. Search under both the grantor (seller) and grantee (buyer) names to follow the property's chain of title for ownership history.

4. Review available tax information through your local city or township treasurer. To verify your property tax status, visit the Oakland County Treasurer.

5. For certified copies of deeds, visit the office of the Register of Deeds.

Register of Deeds: Deeds, Mortgages, and Plats

The Register of Deeds serves as the official recording office for real estate and land ownership documents filed throughout the county.

Assessors and Equalization: Ownership, Values, and Parcel Data

Local assessing offices and the county manage the county's property values, but each has a distinct role. The city or township assessor determines the assessed value of each property within its jurisdiction. The Oakland County Equalization Division reviews those assessments to ensure they are applied uniformly across the county's assessing units.

Treasurer’s Office: Taxes, Bills, and Payments

Property taxes in Michigan are generally billed twice each year. One bill is issued in the summer and the other in the winter. Payment deadlines may differ from one community to another, because each city or township sets its own billing schedule. Your local treasurer can provide the dates that apply to your property.

Local city and township treasurers collect current property taxes. If real property taxes are not paid by the applicable deadline, they are typically returned as delinquent to the Oakland County Treasurer on March 1 of the following year. From that point, the county's treasurer assumes responsibility for collecting the delinquent taxes.

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

Property taxes in Oakland County are based on a property's taxable value (TV) rather than its market value (MV). The taxable value is multiplied by the local millage rate to determine the amount of tax due. Two similar properties may have different tax bills because millage rates vary by city and township.

Proposal A and Uncapping

Michigan's Proposal A limits how much a property's taxable value may increase from one year to the next while ownership remains the same. In many instances, the increase is limited to the inflation rate or 5%, whichever is lower.

When a property changes ownership, the taxable value is generally uncapped for the following tax year and reset based on the property's state equalized value (SEV). As a result, a new owner may pay more in property taxes than the previous owner, even if the property itself has not changed.

Some transfers between spouses and family members are exempt from uncapping. Michigan law requires the new owner to file a Property Transfer Affidavit (Form 2766) after the transfer.

Exemptions and Relief

Appealing Your Value

The Board reviews assessment disputes each year and may adjust a property's value when appropriate. If you believe your property's assessed or taxable value is incorrect, submit an appeal to the March Board of Review for the city or township where the property is located. If the Board's decision is not satisfactory, you have the right to appeal to the Michigan Tax Tribunal. In most cases, you must appeal to the local Board of Review before the Tribunal can consider the case.

GIS Maps and Parcel Viewer

The Oakland County Property Gateway includes an interactive map that links each parcel to its assessment and ownership records. It is a useful tool for locating property boundaries, zoning, floodplain, aerial imagery, and viewing parcel information. For data that crosses county lines, use Michigan's open GIS resources.

Foreclosure and Tax Sales

Property tax foreclosures and mortgage foreclosures follow different legal procedures in Michigan, and they both matter for property research.

Property-Tax Foreclosure

When real property taxes become delinquent, the Oakland County Treasurer administers the collection process under Michigan's General Property Tax Act. The property may move through forfeiture and eventually foreclosure. Once a foreclosure judgment becomes final, the owner's right to redeem the property ends, and the property may be sold at a public auction.

Mortgage Foreclosure

Most residential mortgages in Michigan are foreclosed through a non-judicial process which ends with a sheriff's sale. After the sale, the former owner has a statutory redemption period of 6 months to repay the debt and reclaim the property.

Costs to Access Property Records

Online Oakland County property record searches are free. However, you may be charged a fee to request copies of recorded documents or to submit a document for recording.

How to Record a Document

The Michigan Recording Act sets the requirements for recording documents that transfer an interest in real property. These are steps to take when recording a property document in Oakland County:

1. Ensure the document is properly signed and notarized. Include the names of all parties, the legal description of the property, and any other required information.

2. The recording fee for most real estate documents in Oakland County is $30. When real property ownership is transferred, you will need to add a transfer tax of $8.60 per $1,000 of the property's value unless the transfer qualifies for an exemption.

3. File the document with the Oakland County Register of Deeds in person, by mail, or through an approved electronic recording vendor.

4. Once the document has been recorded, the original is mailed back to the person who submitted it. You may look up the recorded document in the online index or request a copy from the Oakland County Register of Deeds.

FAQs

Quick Reference: Your Oakland County Property Records Checklist

The checklist below shows where to go for common tasks, such as confirming ownership, checking property taxes, getting a copy of a deed, or recording a document.

Key Contacts and Official Portals