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

Sanilac County is in eastern Michigan and has over 32,000 parcels of land. Listed properties in the county go pending in 33 to 55 days, with most homes located in Croswell, Sandusky, and Brown City. Real estate demand in the county is driven by farming, large crop production, tourism, a lower cost of living, and a median home price well below the state average.

The prevalent home types in Sanilac County include traditional farmhouses, ranch and mid-century styles, duplexes, and mobile homes. Records of these properties can be found with the Register of Deeds, the Equalization Department, and local municipal assessors and treasurers.

Recent records reveal the underlying factors influencing the local real estate market, with a median home value of $146,400 and median rent of $806, alongside a median household income of $57,407 and a median real estate tax rate of 0.98 as a percentage of the property's assessed value.

How to Look Up Sanilac County Property Records

You can access property records in Sanilac County through various county offices. The table below shows the official offices that handle property records with their online search databases:

Who Keeps Sanilac County Property Records?

Sanilac County property records can be accessed through the following offices:

• The Sanilac County Register of Deeds is the official custodian of all legal documents affecting real property. This office maintains records including land contracts, mortgages, deeds, easements, and other related documents.

• Local city and township assessors' duties are to address changes, assessments, property valuation, principal residence exemptions and homestead, transfer affidavits, property exemptions, and land splits and combinations.

• The Sanilac County Equalization Department ensures that all property within the county’s local unit of government is assessed fairly and equitably.

• The Sanilac County Treasurer’s Office is in charge of collecting all delinquent property taxes across the county, taking over the accounts after local city, village, and township treasurers finish collecting the initial current-year tax bills each season.

How to Search Sanilac County Property Records Online

Here is how to search Sanilac County property records online:

1. You can start by looking for the parcel through the interactive GIS map tool or through the local township or city BS&A online portals within Sanilac County. These portals offer several search options, including by street address, parcel ID, or owner’s name.

2. Next, select the appropriate result to view basic records. This will reveal the lot dimensions, property boundaries, acreage, soil maps, current owner’s name, and the unique parcel ID.

3. Visit the county Register of Deeds online index portal to search the history of deeds, mortgages, and liens. To trace the chain of title on this portal, you can search by owner’s name or the land lot details.

4. Revisit the local township or city BS&A online portals to check if the property has any outstanding balances. This will show you the current year's summer and winter tax bills, past payment histories, and whether the taxes are paid in full or are approaching delinquency.

5. You may purchase standard copies of property documents through the Register of Deeds online portal or contact them directly.

Register of Deeds: Deeds, Mortgages, and Plats

The Register of Deeds records legal documents that change or affect property ownership. This includes warranty deeds, quitclaim deeds, mortgages, liens, land contracts, easements, rights-of-way, and official property surveys.

Assessors and Equalization: Ownership, Values, and Parcel Data

Assessors work at the local township or city level to inspect properties and calculate their values for tax purposes. The county Equalization Department then reviews local data to ensure assessments are fair and uniform across towns. Documents you may request from the Equalization Department include the tax rate report, the annual report, tentative ratios and multipliers, and taxable value reports.

Treasurers: Taxes, Bills, and Payments

Local treasurers collect current-year summer and winter property taxes directly from residents until the end of February. On March 1, any unpaid taxes become delinquent, and the local treasurer hands control over to the county treasurer for long-term collection. The county treasurer then manages the account going forward, adding a 4% administration fee, 1% interest per month, and other statutory fees and costs to the unpaid tax bill.

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

In Sanilac County, property taxes are calculated by taking the taxable value of the property, which is approximately half of what the property is worth, and multiplying it by the number of mills imposed by local authorities.

Proposal A and Uncapping

Proposal A limits annual property tax increases and provides stability for property owners. That means if a property stays under the same ownership, its taxable value is strictly capped. It can increase year over year by the rate of inflation or 5%, whichever is lower.

However, when a property undergoes a non-exempt transfer of ownership, such as being sold, given away, or transferred through a land contract, the Proposal A protection breaks. The following tax year, the property's taxable value uncaps and jumps up to match the current state-equalized value. Michigan law outlines specific safe harbors where a property can change hands without triggering an uncapping. These include close family transfers, qualified agricultural land, and certain trusts and joint tenancies.

Exemptions and Relief

Appealing Your Value

To challenge your assessment, first contact your local assessor to discuss any discrepancies in your notice. Common errors may include incorrect square footage, outdated property features, or misclassification of property type or use. If issues remain unresolved, you can file an appeal with your local board of review.

During the hearing, the board will review your evidence and decide whether to adjust your assessed value. If successful, this adjustment will reduce the property's taxable value and the resulting taxes. If you are dissatisfied with the board of review’s decision, you can escalate your case to the Michigan Tax Tribunal.

GIS Maps and Parcel Viewer

You can use the FetchGIS provided by Sanilac County to look up aerial photography, boundary lines, total acreage, soil maps, and delinquent tax information. The system allows you to search by parcel ID, owner name, or street address.

Foreclosure and Tax Sales

In Sanilac County, there are two ways a property can face foreclosure. These include:

Property-Tax Foreclosure

Property-tax foreclosure occurs when an owner fails to pay real estate taxes for two consecutive years. At this stage, the property officially forfeits to the county treasurer, and substantial fees and interest accumulate. The circuit court then enters a formal foreclosure judgment. Afterward, the homeowner is given a final legal deadline of March 31st to clear the debt.

If the balance remains unpaid, ownership permanently transfers to the county. The property is then sold at a public land auction to recover the back taxes, with no redemption period remaining for the buyer.

Mortgage Foreclosure

When a borrower defaults on a mortgage by missing payments, the lender can initiate a non-judicial foreclosure by advertisement. The upcoming sale date is published in the local county newspaper for four consecutive weeks. The process finishes with a public auction at the Sanilac County Courthouse, where the highest bidder wins the property. This final sale then triggers a standard six-month redemption period for the original homeowner.

Costs to Access Property Records

You can look up Sanilac County property records for free through their online tools. However, you will incur fees if you request standard or certified copies.

How to Record a Document

To record a real estate document in Sanilac County, you have to take these steps:

1. Prepare the document to meet the Sanilac County and Michigan statutory requirements. All signatures must be original and signed before a notary public.

2. Calculate the recording fees. Sanilac County charges a flat recording fee of $30 per document, regardless of the number of pages. Keep in mind that if you are recording a warranty deed or land contract, you must also pay a $5 tax certification fee to the county treasurer before it can be recorded.

In addition, if ownership of the property is changing, you must calculate and add the county and state real estate transfer tax, which totals $8.60 per $1,000 of the property's total sale value.

1. You can submit your prepared documents with payments to the Sanilac County Register of Deeds Office in person, by mail, or through an approved e-recording partner.

2. Once the office reviews and records the paperwork, it returns the original document to you. You can request certified copies of your recorded document from the Sanilac County Register of Deeds Office or view them online through its portal.

FAQs

Quick Reference: Your Sanilac County Property Records Checklist

Key Contacts and Official Portals