DeedPilot

Livingston County, Michigan

Tax Deed196,976 residentsLive auctions →

County research last verified 2026-07. Office holders, platforms, and deposit rules change — re-confirm anything time-sensitive.

Sale typestate default

Tax Deed

Redemption periodstate default

Forfeiture/foreclosure process ends redemption rights before auction (roughly 2 years of delinquency)

Investor returnstate default

N/A — outright deed transfer

Governing statutestate default

Michigan Compiled Laws §211.78 et seq.

Notes

Michigan tax-deed (PA 123 of 1999) county — not a lien-certificate state. Delinquent taxes forfeit to the county treasurer in year two; if unpaid by March 31 of the third year, Circuit Court enters foreclosure and clear title passes to the Foreclosing Governmental Unit (typically county treasurer) April 1. Public auction of foreclosed parcels follows in summer (commonly July; Michigan Public Land Auction / tax-sale.info is the statewide auction platform used by many counties including Livingston). After foreclosure, prior owner cannot redeem. Occupied homes and vacant land both appear; sold AS IS.

Auction logistics

Format

Online / public auction (Michigan Public Land Auction platform)

Frequency

Generally summer after March 31 foreclosure (often July primary; re-offer cycles as inventory allows) — confirm with Livingston County Treasurer

Deposit rules

Register on tax-sale.info / county auction instructions; deposits and payment forms set per auction catalog (certified funds common). Minimum bids published per lot. City/township first-right-of-refusal windows may apply before public auction under MCL 211.78m. Independent title, occupancy, and environmental diligence required. Separate from weekly Livingston Sheriff mortgage foreclosure sales (Wednesdays at Circuit Court — not tax deeds).

Title risk

Liens that survive the sale
Michigan tax foreclosure (PA 123) generally extinguishes most private liens and mortgages when title vests in the FGU; federal tax liens and certain governmental interests can survive. Always verify the foreclosure judgment and post-sale deed chain. Subsequent taxes after vesting are purchaser’s responsibility.
Quiet title
Tax foreclosure deed is strong, but many buyers still quiet title or obtain enhanced title products before financing/resale if occupancy or notice defects are possible.

Deal maths for Michigan

Assessment ratio
0.5× of market value
Typical quiet title
$2,000–$4,000 · 9 mo
Recording and transfer
$300

Michigan state equalized value is 50% of true cash value by constitution (Mich. Const. art. IX, § 3); taxable value may be lower still. The SEV published with these auction listings is taken from the delinquent tax year that was foreclosed upon, so it is typically several years stale — in a rising market it understates current value, and in a falling one it overstates it.

Offices and records

Areas trending up

Directional read from dated market analysis — not a guarantee, and not a substitute for your own comps.

Howell / I-96 corridor

County seat job and retail center with Detroit–Lansing mid-corridor housing demand

Brighton / US-23

Higher-income SE Michigan suburb with tight inventory and strong school-driven resale

Hartland / Genoa Township edge

Semi-rural SF growth with lake amenities and Ann Arbor–Detroit commuter access

Sources