Michigan Foreclosure Guide
Michigan is a non-judicial (foreclosure by advertisement) state with a six-month statutory redemption period for most properties (and 12 months if the property is more than 3 acres or more than one-third of loan remains). The redemption period runs from the date of sheriff's sale. A 2020 Michigan Supreme Court decision (Rafaeli) requires the county to return any surplus from tax foreclosure sales to the former owner — a constitutional taking rule that has significantly changed the tax foreclosure landscape.
Process Type
Non-Judicial
Typical Timeline
60–90 days (+ 6-mo redemption)
Sale Method
Sheriff's sale
Michigan Title Risk Articles
State-specific articles coming soon — check back as our foreclosure title guide library grows.
County-Level Exceptions Investors Should Know
Statewide rules only tell part of the story. These county-level quirks catch out-of-state investors off guard.
Wayne County (Detroit)
The Michigan Supreme Court's Rafaeli v. Oakland County decision (2020) established that retaining the surplus from a tax foreclosure sale constitutes an unconstitutional taking. Wayne County has been the subject of multiple class actions related to this ruling — buyers of tax-foreclosed properties should confirm that any surplus was properly returned to the former owner to avoid downstream quiet title challenges.
Oakland County
Oakland County has some of Michigan's most competitive bid sales for foreclosed properties. Post-Rafaeli, the county's tax foreclosure surplus return procedures are closely watched by courts. Buyers should track whether the county complied with surplus-return obligations for each property.
Kent County (Grand Rapids)
Kent County has an active land bank authority that acquires tax-foreclosed properties and resells them. Properties purchased from the land bank receive a land bank deed with limited title warranties — buyers who want full title insurance must go through a separate quiet title process.
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