Macomb Township Property Records
Macomb Township property records are maintained by the Macomb County Register of Deeds in Mount Clemens. The township is one of the fastest-growing communities in Michigan, and its land records reflect a wide range of residential and commercial transactions. Deeds, mortgages, liens, and easements are all indexed and available to search. Whether you need to verify ownership, trace a chain of title, or check for encumbrances, the county office holds the official record for every parcel in Macomb Township.
Macomb Township Property Records Overview
Macomb County Register of Deeds
All property records for Macomb Township are recorded at the Macomb County Register of Deeds. The office indexes documents by grantor and grantee name under MCL 565.29, Michigan's race-notice recording statute. That means a buyer who records first and in good faith wins against a prior unrecorded interest. If you need to know who owns a parcel in Macomb Township, this is the place to start.
The office serves all of Macomb County and handles a high volume of residential transactions given the township's growth rate. Staff can assist with basic searches during business hours, or you can use the online portal to search from home.
| Office | Macomb County Register of Deeds |
|---|---|
| Address | 120 N. Main St., Mount Clemens, MI 48043 |
| Phone | (586) 469-7953 |
| Online Access | macombgov.org |
Online Search Options
The Macomb County Register of Deeds provides several ways to search property records online. Free basic access lets you search by grantor or grantee name without creating an account. You can find document types, recording dates, and basic index information at no cost. Full image access and document downloads require a subscription.
The county also offers Fraud Notify alerts, which is a free service that sends an email whenever a document is recorded in your name. This can be useful if you own property in Macomb Township and want early warning of any unauthorized filings. Sign up through the county portal. If you need historical records not available online, the Register of Deeds office can assist with in-person or mail requests.
The Macomb Township Public Data Records page also links to local parcel data, GIS maps, and assessing records for the township itself. That page is a good starting point when you want tax or assessment information rather than the recorded deed documents.
What Gets Recorded
Any document that affects title to real property in Macomb Township must be recorded with the county to be effective against third parties. Under MCL 565.201, the Register of Deeds accepts warranty deeds, quitclaim deeds, land contracts, mortgages, assignments of mortgage, discharges, easements, plats, and liens. Each document gets a liber and page number that becomes the permanent reference in the county's index.
Documents must meet formatting requirements before the office will accept them. The standard recording fee under MCL 600.2567 is $30 per document regardless of page count. That flat fee makes Michigan simpler than many states where fees scale with page count.
Transfer Taxes and Assessments
When property in Macomb Township changes hands, both a county and a state transfer tax apply. The county transfer tax is $1.10 per $1,000 of sale price. The state transfer tax is $7.50 per $1,000. So on a $300,000 sale, the combined transfer tax comes to about $2,580. The seller typically pays this at closing, though the parties can negotiate otherwise.
Macomb Township assessors value property at 50% of true cash value, in line with Michigan's constitutional requirement. Under Proposal A, the taxable value of a property can only rise by the rate of inflation or 5%, whichever is lower, each year. When a property sells, the taxable value uncaps to 50% of the new assessed value. This means buyers in high-growth areas like Macomb Township often see a significant jump in their property tax bill the first year after purchase.
The Michigan Department of Treasury oversees the State Tax Commission, which sets assessment rules and handles appeals above the local level. For local assessment questions, the Macomb Township Assessor's office is the first point of contact.
Chain of Title and the 40-Year Rule
Michigan's Marketable Record Title Act gives buyers a practical tool for clearing old claims. If a chain of title runs back 40 years without interruption, most prior interests are extinguished by operation of law. This matters in a growing township like Macomb where older subdivisions have gone through multiple sales and refinancings over the decades.
Title searches in Macomb Township typically cover at least 40 years using the grantor-grantee index at the Register of Deeds. A title company or real estate attorney can run the search and issue title insurance. tool offers another online option for basic lookups.
State Resources for Property Research
The Michigan Unclaimed Property portal maintained by the Michigan Department of Treasury allows residents to check for unclaimed assets, including proceeds from property sales that were never collected.
Searching the unclaimed property database is free and takes only a few minutes. Macomb County residents sometimes find unclaimed funds tied to old real estate transactions.
The Michigan Department of Treasury also publishes guidance on property tax appeals, exemptions, and the Principal Residence Exemption that can reduce your taxable value if the home is your primary residence.
The Treasury site is especially useful when you need to understand how your tax bill is calculated or want to file a Homestead Property Tax Credit claim.
Nearby Cities
Other large communities in Macomb County also file property records with the same Register of Deeds office in Mount Clemens. If you need records for a nearby city, the search process is the same.
Macomb County Property Records
Macomb Township is part of Macomb County, and the county Register of Deeds maintains all official land records for the township. The county page has additional information on recording procedures, fees, and search tools that apply to every community in the county.