In Michigan, unpaid property taxes are turned over to the county treasurer, and if they stay unpaid the county forecloses on a fixed yearly schedule. In Wayne County the final day to redeem has generally been March 31. Before that date you can keep the house by paying or entering a payment plan, lower what you owe through programs like Pay As You Stay, or sell the house and keep the equity above what's owed.
The Michigan tax foreclosure timeline
Michigan runs tax foreclosure on a calendar, not case by case. The general pattern for an unpaid tax year is:
- Year 1: property taxes are billed and go unpaid.
- March 1 of year 2: the unpaid taxes become delinquent and are turned over to the county treasurer. Interest and fees start adding up.
- March 1 of year 3: the property is forfeited to the county treasurer if the taxes are still unpaid. That's not foreclosure yet, but it's the last warning stage.
- Early in year 3: the county asks the court for a foreclosure judgment covering all forfeited properties.
- The redemption deadline, generally March 31 in Wayne County: if the taxes aren't paid or in an approved plan by then, ownership passes to the county.
Deadlines and programs change. Always confirm the current redemption date with the Wayne County Treasurer's office.
Help that can lower or stop what you owe
If you live in the house and want to keep it, start here before you consider selling:
- Wayne County Treasurer payment plans: an approved plan can stop the foreclosure as long as payments stay current.
- HOPE (Homeowners Property Exemption): Detroit's poverty tax exemption, which can reduce or eliminate current property taxes for homeowners who qualify by income.
- Pay As You Stay (PAYS): for Detroit homeowners who qualify for the poverty exemption, it can sharply reduce delinquent taxes and set up an affordable plan.
- United Community Housing Coalition (UCHC): a Detroit nonprofit that helps homeowners facing tax foreclosure, including with applications.
When selling makes sense
Selling is the right move when the house no longer fits: it's inherited and nobody wants to live there, it needs repairs you can't fund, or the back taxes plus repairs are more than you want to put in. The key is to sell before the redemption deadline, because once the county takes title, the house is gone and the auction decides the price.
At closing, the title company pays the delinquent taxes, interest and fees straight from the sale proceeds. You don't need cash up front. Whatever is left after taxes, any mortgage and other liens comes to you.
If the deadline has already passed
If the county has already foreclosed, the house is usually headed to the county's tax auction. You can't sell it at that point, but you may still have money coming.
After a 2020 Michigan Supreme Court decision (Rafaeli v. Oakland County), state law changed so former owners can claim the remaining proceeds when a tax-foreclosed property sells for more than the taxes owed. To protect that claim, you generally must file the state's notice of intent form with the county treasurer by a deadline set by law. Ask the Treasurer's office or a housing attorney about the exact form and date right away.
A simple plan if you're behind
- Look up exactly what you owe and the redemption date with the Wayne County Treasurer.
- If you live there, apply for HOPE and ask about Pay As You Stay and a payment plan. Call UCHC for help.
- If you'd rather not keep the house, get a written cash offer early, with the tax payoff shown line by line.
- Compare that with an agent's estimate if there's time to list. Choose whichever leaves you better off.
Common questions
Can I sell my house if it's in tax foreclosure in Wayne County?
Yes, as long as you still own it and the redemption deadline hasn't passed. The title company pays the back taxes from the sale proceeds at closing.
What is the Wayne County tax foreclosure deadline?
Wayne County has generally used March 31 as the final day to redeem. Confirm the current date with the Wayne County Treasurer's office.
Do I get anything if my house was already tax-foreclosed?
Possibly. Michigan law now lets former owners claim remaining proceeds when a foreclosed property sells for more than what was owed, but you generally have to file a notice with the county treasurer by a legal deadline.
