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

Ogemaw County maintains property records that cover more than 25,000 parcels of land. Several county and local offices manage these records, including the Register of Deeds, Equalization Department, County Treasurer, local treasurers, and township assessors.

Homes typically stay on the market for about 69 to 86 days before selling, which is slower than the state average of 42 to 50 days. Many of these homes are single-family structures concentrated in West Branch, the county seat and commercial hub.

Recent records reveal the underlying factors influencing the local real estate market, with a median home value of $120,100 and median rent of $784, alongside a median household income of $45,119 and a median real estate tax rate of 1.08 as a percentage of the property's assessed value.

How to Look Up Ogemaw County Property Records

The following offices and online tools can help you locate property records in Ogemaw County.

Who Keeps Ogemaw County Property Records?

Several county and local offices maintain Ogemaw County property records. Under the Michigan Freedom of Information Act, individuals can access these records from online portals or directly from the following local offices.

• The Ogemaw County Register of Deeds is the custodian of all land records in Ogemaw County. It indexes, records, and preserves real estate documents including deeds, mortgages, land contracts, liens, easements, plats, and releases. Under the Michigan Recording Act, the office checks land records before accepting them for recording.

• Local assessors determine a property’s taxable value in Ogemaw County. They maintain ownership records, parcel characteristics, property classifications, and exemption information for taxation purposes.

• The Equalization Department conducts annual sales and appraisal studies for all taxable property in each of the fourteen townships and two cities within the county. The department assists local assessors in discovering, listing, and appraising properties, as well as maintaining the county parcel map.

• County and local treasurers mail property tax bills and collect current property taxes from property owners within their municipalities. The Ogemaw County Treasurer’s Office is the custodian of all county funds. It also initiates foreclosure proceedings against delinquent properties.

How to Search Ogemaw County Property Records Online

Ogemaw County provides several online resources that enable individuals to research property records. Follow these steps to gather the information you need.

1. Search the BS&A Online Database. Enter the owner's name or property address to find the parcel ID and ownership details. From the database, you can also find the assessed value, ownership details, and property characteristics.

2. Check the Register of Deeds Laredo or Tapestry platform to find the ownership information by using the owner’s name.

3. Confirm the current owner recorded on the most recent deed. Check the grantor and grantee information in the current deed with previously recorded documents to trace the property's chain of title and verify past ownership transfers. Flag any gap in the recorded deed. If available, conduct additional title research.

4. From the Register of Deeds online portal, confirm the presence of mortgages, judgments, liens, and land contracts recorded on a property. When you find the transfer tax information on a recorded deed, beware that it only estimates a property's sale price.

5. Finally, verify a property’s tax status through the BS&A Online platform or contact the local treasurer to obtain additional information.

Register of Deeds: Deeds, Mortgages, and Plats

The Ogemaw County Register of Deeds is the official repository for all real property records. It records, indexes, and preserves documents that affect property ownership, and keeps them in the county's permanent public record. Under state law, individuals can contact the office to obtain recorded deeds, mortgages, land contracts, liens, easements, plats, releases, assignments, and other related instruments.

Local Assessors and Equalization: Ownership, Values, and Parcel Data

Every township and city has a local assessor that determines the assessment of taxable properties within its jurisdiction. The Equalization Department reviews local assessments to help ensure they are equitable across the entire county. A property valuation is based on a true cash value, a state equalized value, and a taxable value.

Treasurer’s Office: Taxes, Bills, and Payments

Property taxes in Ogemaw County are collected at different levels depending on the tax status. Township and city treasurers collect current property taxes. They mail summer taxes by July 1st, and the taxes are due by August 31st.

Winter taxes are billed December 1st and due on February 14th of the following year. The Ogemaw County Treasurer administers delinquent real property taxes, redemption payments, and tax foreclosure proceedings.

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

Property taxes in Ogemaw County are based on a property's taxable value (TV) rather than its market value. Each year, the local assessor estimates the property's true cash value (TCV) on December 31st. The state equalized value (SEV) is generally set at 50% of the TCV, while the taxable value is determined under Michigan's Proposal A or the inflation rate.

Proposal A and Uncapping

Under Proposal A, any annual increase in a property's taxable value is limited to the inflation rate or the statutory cap, whichever is less. This applies as long as property ownership remains the same.

However, when a property’s title changes from one party to another, the taxable value is uncapped for the following tax year. The taxable value resets to the current SEV. Not all transfers cause taxable value to uncap. Under the General Property Tax Act, these transfers include transfers between spouses and certain close family members.

Exemptions and Relief

In Ogemaw County, property owners and certain individuals may be eligible for one or more of the following programs:

Appealing Your Value

To contest your value level in Ogemaw County, file an appeal with the March Board of Review in the township or city where the property is located. Ensure you include supporting evidence, such as recent appraisals or comparable sales, to strengthen the appeal. If the Board’s decision does not resolve the issue, file an appeal with the Michigan Tax Tribunal by July 31st.

GIS Maps and Parcel Viewer

Ogemaw County hosts its geographic information system and land records on the FetchGIS portal. Individuals can search the platform by property address, owner name, or parcel number. The portal lets users view parcel boundaries, aerial imagery, municipal boundaries, property class, SEV, and taxable value.

Foreclosure and Tax Sales

Property owners who fail to pay their taxes or meet their mortgage obligations may face foreclosure. In Ogemaw County, foreclosure proceedings generally fall into one of two categories.

Property-Tax Foreclosure

The Ogemaw County Treasurer administers the tax foreclosure process for properties with delinquent taxes. If the outstanding fees are not paid by March 31 of the third year, the property may be foreclosed and sold through a public auction at the courthouse.

Mortgage Foreclosure

Mortgage foreclosures occur when a borrower defaults on payments under the terms of a home loan. According to MCL 600.3240, the properties are published in a local newspaper to inform the public. After a property sale, the original property owners have a six-month redemption period to reclaim their property.

Costs to Access Property Records

You can view Ogemaw County property records online at no cost. However, you must pay specific fees to request copies of land documents or record new land records under state law.

How to Record a Document

Follow these steps to record a land document in Ogemaw County:

1. Prepare a document appropriately. Make sure it includes original signatures, a complete legal description of the property, notary acknowledgment, and meets the state’s recording requirements.

2. Calculate recording fees. Most standard real estate documents are recorded for a $30 flat fee. Call the Register of Deeds at (989) 345-0728 to confirm the fee if your document contains multiple instruments or requires additional services.

3. Submit the original or completed documents to the Ogemaw County Register of Deeds’ office in person, by mail, or online through an approved e-recording vendor. For property transfers, you must submit a completed Property Transfer Affidavit to the local assessor’s office within 45 days of the sale.

4. After the document is accepted and recorded, it becomes part of the county’s public records. The original document is returned to you, and the recorded information is added to the public index within a short processing window.

FAQs

Quick Reference: Your Ogemaw County Property Records Checklist

Key Contacts and Official Portals