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Washtenaw County, MI

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Washtenaw County, Michigan — Tax Sale & Surplus Procedure

Local operations layer. The legal framework (redemption periods, surplus rights, statutes, case law) lives on the parent page → michigan. This page covers how Washtenaw County actually runs it. Legal information, not legal advice. Last verified: 2026-06-02.

C0. Identity

  • County seat: Ann Arbor · Population: ~372,258 (2020 census) · FIPS: 26161
  • Recording unit: county (Register of Deeds, combined with County Clerk)
  • Parent legal framework: michigan
  • Foreclosing Governmental Unit (FGU): Washtenaw County Treasurer acts as FGU under MCL 211.78; county conducts its own in-rem judicial foreclosure and public auction rather than delegating to the State/DNR.

C1. Local Tax Sale

  • Conducts own sale? YES. Washtenaw County Treasurer is the FGU and conducts its own annual public auction. Source: Washtenaw County Treasurer Terms and Conditions of Sale (July–September 2026), https://content.civicplus.com/api/assets/2d1d8ed8-8d58-44ad-8bcb-a1b2573f43ea?scope=all (retrieved 2026-06-02)

  • Platform: Auction.com, LLC — https://www.auction.com. Washtenaw County does NOT use Tax-Sale.info. All bids must be placed through Auction.com; no in-person or off-platform bids accepted. Source: Terms and Conditions of Sale (2026), ibid.

  • Sale calendar: Annual series of internet auctions. For the 2026 cycle the auctions open on: July 27, August 31, and September 28, 2026. Each property has its own opening/closing time listed on Auction.com. The county reserves the right to extend or cancel individual property sales. Source: Terms and Conditions of Sale (2026), ibid.

  • Rate within statutory range: Washtenaw County does not set a separate local rate within a statutory band. The GPTA forfeiture interest (1/2% per month, non-compounded; MCL 211.78g) applies statewide. See michigan.

  • Minimum bid: All delinquent taxes, interest, penalties, fees, and FGU expenses due, plus 2026 summer tax amounts (the Treasurer includes summer taxes in the minimum bid and forwards them to the local treasurer after receipt of the winning bid). Source: Terms and Conditions of Sale (2026), ibid.

  • Registration & deposit: Bidders must register at https://www.auction.com before the auction. As part of registration, a $2,000 credit-card hold is placed for each asset the bidder registers to bid on. Winning bidders must make payment in full within 48 hours of auction close; acceptable methods are cash, check, and electronic transfer (debit/credit cards NOT accepted). Failure to pay forfeits the$2,000 deposit. Source: Terms and Conditions of Sale (2026), ibid.

  • Bidder eligibility (affidavit requirement): Before receiving a deed, every purchaser must sign a sworn affidavit (under penalty of perjury) confirming: (a) The purchaser does not directly or indirectly hold more than a de minimis legal interest in any Washtenaw County property with delinquent property taxes. (b) The purchaser is not directly or indirectly responsible for any unpaid civil fines for a violation of an ordinance under MCL 117.4 in the property’s local collecting unit. A person who held an interest in the same property at time of foreclosure must pay the minimum bid (cannot receive the property at a discounted bid). Source: Terms and Conditions of Sale (2026), ibid.

  • Pre-auction ROFR: Before properties reach public auction, the State of Michigan, the local governmental unit (city/village/township), and Washtenaw County may each purchase any property at the greater of fair market value or minimum bid (MCL 211.78m(1)). Properties pulled for ROFR are removed from the Auction.com listing; check https://www.washtenaw.org/AUCTION for updates. Source: Terms and Conditions of Sale (2026), ibid.; MCL 211.78m(1)

  • Delinquent list location:

  • Property condition: All sales are as-is, where-is, and final. No refunds. County makes no representations as to fitness, access, ingress/egress, or lien status. Source: Terms and Conditions of Sale (2026), ibid.

  • Post-purchase obligations (deed covenants): Quitclaim deeds contain conditions subsequent: purchaser must (A) pay all 2026 tax obligations and stay current for two years post-deed; (B) demolish the property within six months OR maintain/secure it for two years per local building/health/safety codes. Failure to cure within 30 days of notice may result in title reverting to the Treasurer. Source: Terms and Conditions of Sale (2026), ibid.

C2. Local Redemption → framework: right-of-redemption

  • Redemption office: Washtenaw County Treasurer’s Office; 200 N. Main St., Suite 200, Ann Arbor, MI 48107-8645 · Phone: (734) 222-6600 · Email: taxes@washtenaw.org
  • Redemption deadline: March 31 of the year following the in-rem judgment of foreclosure (the statutory GPTA cutoff; MCL 211.78k(6) and MCL 211.78g). After this date, title vests absolutely in the Treasurer and no post-sale redemption exists. Source: michigan; MCL 211.78k(6); also stated in the 2025 show-cause notice: “Unless all forfeited unpaid delinquent taxes, interest, penalties, and fees are paid not later than March 31, 2025, the title to the property shall vest absolutely in the Washtenaw County Treasurer.” (2025 Notice of Show Cause Hearing, retrieved 2026-06-02 from PDF)
  • Show Cause Hearing: In the 2025 cycle, this was held on January 28, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. at the Washtenaw County Courthouse, 101 E. Huron St., Ann Arbor, MI 48104 (in-person only). Judicial Foreclosure Hearing on February 18, 2025, at 1:30 p.m. at the same location. Source: 2025 Notice of Show Cause Hearing PDF, ibid.
  • Hardship extensions: Washtenaw County Treasurer operates a tax foreclosure prevention program that provides hardship extensions (one-year delays) and assists owners in applying for poverty exemptions, deferments, and state assistance programs. Source: https://www.washtenaw.org/government/treasurer/tax-foreclosure-prevention (retrieved 2026-06-02)
  • Local fees: Same as state default: $175 forfeiture fee + 1/2%/month additional interest from the forfeiture date (MCL 211.78g). No local surcharge identified.
  • Deviations from state default: None identified. March 31 cutoff strictly enforced.

C3. Local Surplus / Excess Proceeds → framework: surplus-funds

Note: “Remaining proceeds” is the MCL 211.78t term used locally; this module covers both the standard annual 78t process and the retroactive (pre-Rafaeli) remediation process that Washtenaw County ran in 2025–2026 for 2015–2020 auction sales.

  • Claim filing venue (standard annual cycle):

    • Step 1 — Notice of Intention (Michigan Treasury Form 5743, notarized): delivered to the Washtenaw County Treasurer no later than July 1 immediately following the effective date of the foreclosure (MCL 211.78t(2)). Address: 200 N. Main St., Suite 200, Ann Arbor, MI 48107-8645
    • Step 2 — Motion to Claim Remaining Proceeds (SCAO Form CC 541): filed in the Washtenaw County 22nd Circuit Court during the February 1–May 15 window immediately succeeding the sale (MCL 211.78t(4)). Court address: 101 E. Huron St., P.O. Box 8645, Ann Arbor, MI 48107-8645 Court phone: (734) 222-3270 Form CC 541: https://www.courts.michigan.gov/4aa627/siteassets/forms/scao-approved/cc541.pdf Source: Official 2025 Show Cause Hearing notice (washtenaw County Legal News, Dec 2024); MCL 211.78t(2),(4); https://www.washtenaw.org/4253/Claiming-Remaining-Proceeds (retrieved 2026-06-02)

  • Retroactive (2015–2020 auctions) extended filing: In December 2025, the Treasurer issued a court-ordered extended deadline for former interest-holders in 2015–2020 auction properties to file motions (SCAO Form CC 541) at the Washtenaw County Circuit Court by January 16, 2026; hearing held February 24, 2026, at 1:30 p.m. at the Courthouse. Source: Washtenaw County Legal News notice (Dec 18 & 25, 2025), retrieved 2026-06-02 from PDF.

  • Claim form:

  • Local deadline notes:

    • July 1 Notice-of-Intention deadline is a hard bar; missing it forecloses the claim (MCL 211.78t(2)).
    • The Feb 1–May 15 motion window (78t(4)) is the currently-effective window — older sources citing “October 1” are stale (see michigan note).
    • Retroactive/pre-2020 sales have been subject to extended court-ordered deadlines in this county.

  • Unclaimed list published: needs_verification — no specific published unclaimed-proceeds list was located for Washtenaw County; the 78t mechanism requires affirmative claiming, and proceeds for which no timely Notice of Intention was filed are retained by the FGU (the county), with no separate escheat-to-unclaimed-property step identified.

  • Contact: Office: Washtenaw County Treasurer — taxes@washtenaw.org · (734) 222-6600 Court (for motions): Washtenaw County 22nd Circuit Court · (734) 222-3270 State Bar referral for legal help: https://lrs.michbar.org · (800) 968-0738

▸ For Investors / Operators — Washtenaw County uses Auction.com (not Tax-Sale.info) for all online bidding; the 2026 cycle opens July 27, August 31, and September 28. Registration requires a $2,000 credit-card hold per asset, and full payment in cash, check, or electronic transfer is due within 48 hours of close (no credit/debit cards at settlement). Deeds are quitclaim with conditions subsequent: two years of tax compliance plus maintenance covenants with a reversion clause. The State, local governmental units, and the County each hold a pre-auction ROFR under MCL 211.78m(1) — check washtenaw.org/AUCTION for removed parcels. Title insurers here typically require a quiet-title action (22nd Circuit Court, MCL 600.2932) before issuing coverage; estimated cost$1,950 plus costs.

▸ For Former Owners — The MCL 211.78t remaining-proceeds process requires two steps: (1) file a notarized Michigan Treasury Form 5743 with the Washtenaw County Treasurer (200 N. Main St., Suite 200, Ann Arbor, MI 48107) by July 1 following the foreclosure, then (2) file a SCAO Form CC 541 motion in the 22nd Circuit Court (101 E. Huron St., Ann Arbor) between February 1 and May 15 after the sale. Missing the July 1 deadline forfeits the claim. For properties from the 2015–2020 auction cycle, a court-ordered extended deadline ran in early 2026; contact the Treasurer (734-222-6600) to confirm whether any retroactive window remains open.

C4. Offices & Contacts

OfficeNameAddressPhoneURL
Treasurer / FGU / Tax ForeclosureLatitia Lamelle Sharp, Treasurer200 N. Main St., Suite 200, Ann Arbor, MI 48107-8645(734) 222-6600https://www.washtenaw.org/1136/Treasurer
22nd Circuit Court (in-rem foreclosure; 78t motions)Washtenaw County Trial Court101 E. Huron St., P.O. Box 8645, Ann Arbor, MI 48107-8645(734) 222-3270https://www.washtenaw.org/991/Trial-Court
Clerk / Register of DeedsLawrence Kestenbaum200 N. Main St., Suite 110, Ann Arbor, MI 48107-8645(734) 222-6700 (Clerk); (734) 222-6710 (Deeds)https://www.washtenaw.org/262/Clerk-Register-of-Deeds
Sheriff (mortgage foreclosure sales)Alyshia M. Dyer, Sheriff2201 Hogback Rd., Ann Arbor, MI 48105(734) 971-8400https://www.washtenaw.org/1124/Sheriff

Sources:

C5. Local Procedure Notes

  • Auction platform is Auction.com, not Tax-Sale.info: While Tax-Sale.info is the dominant Michigan county auction vendor, Washtenaw County uses Auction.com. Bidders experienced with other Michigan counties should note this difference and register at auction.com separately.
  • Three auction opening dates per cycle (2026): July 27, August 31, September 28. Each date opens a separate batch; individual properties open and close on the schedule posted at auction.com, not simultaneously.
  • Deed type is quitclaim: The Treasurer issues a quitclaim deed conveying only such title as vested in the Treasurer under the GPTA process. The deed carries conditions subsequent (two-year tax-compliance and maintenance covenants) with a reversion clause.
  • ROFR routine: The county reports its washtenaw.org/AUCTION page for properties withdrawn due to ROFR exercise; buyers should check this page between registration and the auction date.
  • Tax foreclosure prevention active: Washtenaw has historically had a very low foreclosure rate (the Treasurer’s prevention program reportedly reduced thousands of forfeited parcels to a handful reaching auction in recent cycles). In 2022, 5,325 delinquent notices were sent but only ~15 properties reached the 2025 foreclosure list. Source: The Sun Times News, https://thesuntimesnews.com/march-31-deadline-looms-as-washtenaw-fights-to-prevent-foreclosures/ (retrieved 2026-06-02)
  • Sheriff’s mortgage foreclosure sales: Held every Thursday (except holidays) per Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office schedule; location needs_verification (likely at or near the Courthouse, 101 E. Huron St., Ann Arbor, but the official schedule page did not confirm exact time/room). Source: Multiple secondary sources confirm Thursday schedule; official WCSO page at https://www.washtenaw.org/1593/Foreclosure-Sales-Adjournments (retrieved 2026-06-02 — page loaded but schedule content not extracted by tool).
  • Extension hearings: Show Cause and Judicial Foreclosure hearings are held at the Courthouse (101 E. Huron St., Ann Arbor) in January–February each year. In-person attendance required per 2025 notice.

C6. Records Access

Sources:

C8. Title & Quiet Title

  • Title type: tax deed (quitclaim deed; fee-simple vesting under GPTA, with conditions subsequent). Michigan is a deed state — no lien certificates. See michigan.

  • Quiet title action:

    • Required? Not a statutory mandate, but the Treasurer’s own Terms and Conditions of Sale state: “Purchasers of property through prior auctions have found it useful to quiet title to property they purchased after receiving a quit-claim deed from the Treasurer.” Title insurers in Washtenaw County typically require a quiet title action before issuing a policy on a tax deed property. Source: Terms and Conditions of Sale (2026), https://content.civicplus.com/api/assets/2d1d8ed8-8d58-44ad-8bcb-a1b2573f43ea?scope=all (retrieved 2026-06-02)
    • Type: Judicial — action under MCL 600.2932 (Michigan quiet title statute).
    • Court: Washtenaw County 22nd Circuit Court, 101 E. Huron St., Ann Arbor, MI 48107-8645 · Phone: (734) 222-3270 Source: 22nd Circuit is the court of general jurisdiction for Washtenaw County; MCL 600.2932 designates circuit court for quiet title. Confirmed via Michigan Legal Help (retrieved 2026-06-02).
    • Typical timeline: needs_verification — no Washtenaw-specific primary data located. Michigan quiet title actions generally take 3–9 months depending on contested parties and service of process complexity.
    • Typical cost range: Approximately $1,950 plus costs as of 1/1/2024 per industry source (QuietTitle.com, https://quiettitle.com/quiet-title-services/quiet-title/, retrieved 2026-06-02). This is an industry reference; actual attorney fees in Ann Arbor/Washtenaw County may differ.

  • Deed seasoning local notes: No specific local deed-seasoning rule identified. Title insurers generally want either a quiet title judgment or adequate passage of time plus no competing claims before insuring.

  • Title insurers active locally:

    • American Title Company of Washtenaw — 825 Victors Way, Suite 100, Ann Arbor, MI 48108 · Phone: (734) 996-0036 · Email: americantitle@atitle.biz Source: https://www.americantitleco.biz/ (retrieved 2026-06-02)
    • Devon Title Agency — 3025 Boardwalk Dr., Suite 155, Ann Arbor, MI 48108 · Phone: (734) 372-2800 Source: https://www.devontitle.com/locations/washtenaw-county-ann-arbor/ (retrieved 2026-06-02)
    • Major national underwriters (Old Republic, Stewart, First American, Fidelity/Chicago) are all active through local agents in Washtenaw County; needs_verification for a complete list of agents specifically willing to insure tax-deed-sourced titles post-quiet-title.

C9. Purchaser Obligations

  • Subsequent tax payment office: Property taxes for the year of sale (2026 summer taxes) are included in the minimum bid and forwarded by the Treasurer to the local collecting unit (city/village/township treasurer). For all subsequent taxes, the purchaser must contact the local city, village, or township treasurer directly. The purchaser must also update their mailing address with the local assessor to receive future tax bills. Source: Terms and Conditions of Sale (2026), ibid.

  • Notice-to-owner procedure: Under MCL 211.78t, the Treasurer is responsible for notifying former interest-holders of the remaining-proceeds process (via publication and mailed notice in the in-rem foreclosure proceeding). A tax-deed purchaser has no separate obligation to notify the prior owner of the right to claim remaining proceeds; that obligation lies with the FGU (Treasurer). Purchasers should be aware that former owners may file 78t motions in circuit court and that the Terms and Conditions of Sale explicitly caution that “parties with previous ownership interests in the property may later seek to set aside the foreclosure and sale in Circuit Court on due process or other grounds, or seek alternative forms of relief, including seeking the remaining proceeds.” Source: Terms and Conditions of Sale (2026), ibid.; MCL 211.78t.

  • Redemption payment office: No post-sale redemption right exists for tax deeds; title vests absolutely in the FGU on the March 31 cutoff (MCL 211.78k(6)). For mortgage foreclosure (sheriff sales), redemption is paid to the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office Civil Bureau, 2201 Hogback Rd., Ann Arbor, MI 48105 · (734) 971-8400, during the applicable redemption period (MCL 600.3240). See michigan for redemption period lengths.

  • Occupancy and access notes: Properties in the Auction.com tax sale may or may not be occupied. Occupied structures may not be entered without the occupant’s permission; secured vacant structures may not be entered by the bidder. The Treasurer makes no representations as to access. Post-purchase possession proceedings (if required) involve the 22nd Circuit Court or local district court; quiet title may be a prerequisite before an eviction/ejectment action. Source: Terms and Conditions of Sale (2026), ibid.

C10. Local Restrictions

  • Right of first refusal (ROFR) active locally: YES — the State of Michigan, local governmental units (cities, villages, townships within Washtenaw County), and Washtenaw County itself each hold the statutory ROFR under MCL 211.78m(1) before the public auction. The Terms and Conditions of Sale confirm that the county’s auction page (washtenaw.org/AUCTION) is updated as properties are removed pursuant to ROFR exercise. Source: Terms and Conditions of Sale (2026); MCL 211.78m(1). Note on Jackson v. Southfield NRI: Where a local unit exercises ROFR and takes the property at the minimum bid with no public auction, MCL 211.78t does not govern the former owner’s surplus claim — the remedy is inverse-condemnation under Rafaeli (jackson-v-southfield-2025). This applies equally if a local unit in Washtenaw County exercises ROFR and no surplus is generated via public auction.

  • Land bank: INACTIVE. Washtenaw County created a Land Bank Authority in 2009, dissolved it in March 2010 due to funding shortfalls and lack of policy direction, and reinstated it in September 2010. As of the date of this page, the City of Ann Arbor’s board listing shows the Washtenaw County Land Bank Authority as (inactive) with no scheduled meetings; the county website’s former shortcut (washtenaw.org/urls/landbank) returns a 404 error. No active land bank operations in Washtenaw County have been identified in 2020–2026. Sources:

  • Entity / insider notes: No local ordinance restricting entity purchasers identified beyond the statewide affidavit requirement (no delinquent taxes in county; no unpaid civil fines in the local collecting unit). Prior interest-holders in the same property must pay the minimum bid (cannot benefit from a lower opening bid). Source: Terms and Conditions of Sale (2026), ibid.; MCL 211.78m.

C7. Meta

▸ For Investors / Operators — Washtenaw County uses Auction.com (not Tax-Sale.info) for all online bidding; the 2026 cycle opens July 27, August 31, and September 28. Registration requires a $2,000 credit-card hold per asset, and full payment in cash, check, or electronic transfer is due within 48 hours of close (no credit/debit cards at settlement). Deeds are quitclaim with conditions subsequent: two years of tax compliance plus maintenance covenants with a reversion clause. The State, local governmental units, and the County each hold a pre-auction ROFR under MCL 211.78m(1) — check washtenaw.org/AUCTION for removed parcels. Title insurers here typically require a quiet-title action (22nd Circuit Court, MCL 600.2932) before issuing coverage; estimated cost$1,950 plus costs.

▸ For Former Owners — The MCL 211.78t remaining-proceeds process requires two steps: (1) file a notarized Michigan Treasury Form 5743 with the Washtenaw County Treasurer (200 N. Main St., Suite 200, Ann Arbor, MI 48107) by July 1 following the foreclosure, then (2) file a SCAO Form CC 541 motion in the 22nd Circuit Court (101 E. Huron St., Ann Arbor) between February 1 and May 15 after the sale. Missing the July 1 deadline forfeits the claim. For properties from the 2015–2020 auction cycle, a court-ordered extended deadline ran in early 2026; contact the Treasurer (734-222-6600) to confirm whether any retroactive window remains open.

Legal information, not legal advice. This page summarizes Washtenaw County, Michigan local tax sale and surplus procedure as of 2026-06-02. Statutes, sale dates, and platform details change; verify against the cited primary sources and consult a licensed Michigan attorney before acting. The next auction cycle dates (July 27, August 31, September 28, 2026) and all Terms and Conditions are subject to modification by the Treasurer prior to the commencement of sale.

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