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

Wexford County covers about 500 square miles and has over 25,000 parcels of land. Affordable housing options and a stable workforce drive the local real estate activity and help sustain the property market. The public school systems and local manufacturing businesses support the county’s economy.

The Wexford County Register of Deeds, the Equalization Department, the County Treasurer, and city and township assessors and treasurers manage various types of property records in the county. Most homes are detached single-family houses, with many located in Cadillac and nearby communities, such as Cherry Grove and Clam Lake. Homes listed for sale typically remain on the market for about 40 days before receiving an offer.

Recent records reveal the underlying factors influencing the local real estate market, with a median home value of $140,300 and a median rent of $923, alongside a median household income of $53,081.5 and a median real estate tax rate of 1.1 as a percentage of the property's assessed value.

How to Look Up Wexford County Property Records

In Wexford County, city and township assessors set property values and maintain their respective records. You can search for the owner's name, property address, assessed value, taxable value, and legal description on the BS&A Online portal.

To access legal property documents, contact the Wexford County Register of Deeds Office. You can search the office’s Self Service platform remotely or conduct an in-person record search by visiting the office in Cadillac.

Who Keeps Wexford County Property Records?

Wexford County property records are publicly accessible under the Michigan Freedom of Information Act. Several county and municipal offices maintain these records, including the following:

• The Wexford County Register of Deeds is responsible for recording property documents and maintaining the county’s official chain of titles.

• Local assessors appraise properties to establish annual valuations and assign local land classifications. In Michigan, municipalities manage assessments entirely rather than a county office.

• The County Equalization Department maintains the countywide property search platform and parcel map. It ensures property taxes are fair across the county by working with municipal assessors to verify real estate values and address assessment inequities.

• Local treasurers manage the invoicing and collection of active property taxes. Unpaid balances are declared delinquent after March 1 and transferred to the Wexford County Treasurer as debt. The Treasurer oversees the formal tax forfeiture and foreclosure proceedings.

How to Search Wexford County Property Records Online

You can search Wexford County property records online by taking these steps:

1. Use the online Wexford County BS&A Online portal to locate the specific property. The interface accepts searches by current owner name, street address, or assigned parcel number.

2. Review the public parcel summaries on the portal to find details such as the legal property description, state equalized value (SEV), current taxable value, and active Principal Residence Exemption (PRE) status.

3. Use the tax tab within the portal to check payment logs or verify if outstanding balances have been turned over to the County Treasurer as delinquent debt.

4. To view deeds, mortgages, or liens, open the Wexford County Register of Deeds Search Platform. You can filter the recording index by document number or recording date to inspect the property chain of titles.

5. For official certified copies, order them from the Register of Deeds Office.

Register of Deeds: Deeds, Mortgages, and Liens

The Register records and maintains property-related documents.

Assessors and Equalization: Ownership, Values, and Parcel Data

Property assessment is conducted at the local level, where city and township assessors value properties within their respective boundaries and prepare the local assessment roll. The Wexford County Equalization Department oversees this process to equalize values across the county.

Treasurer’s Office: Taxes, Bills, and Payments

Local city and township treasurers initially collect property taxes in Wexford County. Summer tax bills are mailed by July 1, with initial deadlines in August or September depending on the municipality. Winter tax bills are distributed by December 1.

Local treasurers accept payments for both cycles through February 28. On March 1, all unpaid real property taxes become delinquent and are forwarded to the Treasurer for collection.

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

Local property tax bills are calculated by multiplying a parcel's specific taxable value by the combined local millage rate, then dividing that total by 1,000. Under Michigan law, a property’s initial assessed value is set at 50% of its true market value. Note that one mill represents $1 of tax for every $1,000 of a property's taxable value.

Proposal A and Uncapping

Michigan’s Proposal A protects property owners by capping annual increases on a property's taxable value. For as long as the property retains the same owner, yearly increases to the taxable value cannot exceed the rate of inflation or 5%.

When a property is sold or ownership changes, the limit is usually removed, and the property’s taxable value is reset to the state equalized value (SEV), per MCL 211.27a. This leads to higher property taxes. However, certain family transfers, such as deeds passing between spouses or direct relatives, do not trigger a valuation uncap.

Exemptions and Relief

Appealing Your Value

If you believe your property's assessment does not reflect its true market value in Wexford County, file an appeal directly with your local township or city Board of Review. You will need to present supporting evidence, such as recent appraisals or sales data of similar properties in your immediate neighborhood. If you are dissatisfied with the local board's decision, escalate your case by filing a petition with the Michigan Tax Tribunal.

GIS Maps and Parcel Viewer

Wexford County's Equalization Department maintains an interactive GIS map that displays parcel boundaries, aerial photography, zoning districts, and other geographic layers. The map helps users locate property information by parcel number, property address, street name, or owner name.

Foreclosure and Tax Sales

Michigan has two types of foreclosure, each operating under separate legal rules and timelines.

Property-Tax Foreclosure

If property taxes are left unpaid by March 1st, they are turned over to the Wexford County Treasurer as delinquent. At that point, a 4% administration fee is added, along with statutory interest accumulating at 1% per month. Under state tax law, if these balances remain unpaid for a full year, the property officially enters forfeiture on March 1st of the second year. The county then files a formal petition with the Circuit Court.

Property owners have until March 31st of the third year of delinquency to pay the full balance of taxes, interest, and penalties. If this deadline passes without payment, the county takes absolute title to the property and places it in a public tax auction.

Mortgage Foreclosure

This is a non-judicial process initiated when a homeowner defaults on their loan agreements. Under federal banking rules, lenders must wait until a mortgage is more than 120 days delinquent before starting the foreclosure process. To initiate it, a legal notice of sale must be published in a local Wexford County newspaper once a week for four consecutive weeks. Additionally, a copy of the notice must be physically posted on the property within 15 days of the first newspaper printing.

At the end of the four weeks, the county sheriff sells the property at auction to the highest bidder. After the sale, Michigan law grants the homeowner a six-month redemption period to pay the winning bid amount plus interest to reclaim their home.

Costs to Access Property Records

The Michigan Freedom of Information Act permits the Wexford County Register of Deeds to charge certain fees when responding to public records requests.

How to Record a Document

Follow these steps to record a property instrument in Wexford County under the Michigan Recording Act:

1. Ensure the document meets statutory formatting rules. It must have clear margins, legible black text, and original signatures. Any document conveying real estate ownership must also include a complete legal description and a proper notary public acknowledgment.

2. Calculate the required fees. Michigan charges a flat recording fee of $30.00 per document, regardless of page length. In addition, most property sales require payment of transfer taxes. The county tax is $0.55 per $500 of the sale price, and the state tax is $3.75 per $500.

3. Submit the documents and combined check payments directly to the Wexford County Register of Deeds Office. Submissions are accepted in person or by mail at 437 E. Division Street, Cadillac, MI 49601. Alternatively, Electronic recording is available through approved vendors.

4. If the recorded document involves a transfer of property ownership, you must independently file a Property Transfer Affidavit with the local city or township assessor's office within 45 days. Once the Register of Deeds completes the official indexing and scanning process, the original document will be mailed back to the address you provided.

FAQs

Quick Reference: Your Wexford County Property Records Checklist

Key Contacts and Official Portals