Genesee County Property Records

Genesee County property records are filed and maintained by the Register of Deeds office located in Flint. The office handles all recorded instruments affecting real estate in the county, including warranty deeds, quitclaim deeds, mortgages, land contracts, easements, and liens. Three search options are available to the public: a free index search, a pay-per-search image service through Tapestry, and a subscription-based service through Laredo. You can search Genesee County property records going back to 1956 using the online index, or visit the office in person to access older vault documents.

Genesee County Register of Deeds

The Register of Deeds office sits at 1101 Beach St., Flint, MI 48502. Staff can be reached at (810) 257-3064 during regular business hours. The office records, indexes, and stores all land records for Genesee County. Every deed, mortgage, assignment, discharge, and lien filed in the county goes through this office before it becomes part of the public record.

The online index covers records from 1956 forward. Data for the period from 1956 to 1981 contains some indexing discrepancies, so searchers doing title work in that era should verify findings carefully. Records from 1982 onward are considered fully accurate in the index. For documents recorded before 1960, digital images are not available; you must schedule a vault appointment to view the original instruments.

How to Search Genesee County Property Records Online

The county gives the public three ways to search records online. The first is a free direct index search covering 1956 to the present. This option shows index data only; it does not include document images. If you just need to confirm a recording or identify a book and page number, this works fine at no cost.

The second option is Tapestry, a pay-per-search service. Each search session costs $8.75 and includes the ability to view and print images at $1 per page. Tapestry covers the same date range as the free index, with images available for documents recorded since 1960. This is useful for one-off searches where you need the actual document, not just the index entry. The third option is Laredo, a subscription service for professionals who do high-volume title research. Laredo provides access to the same records as Tapestry at $1 per image page, plus a monthly subscription fee. Title companies and attorneys tend to prefer Laredo for ongoing work.

The Genesee County Register of Deeds website at geneseecountymi.gov links to all three platforms. You can also call the office to ask about current access options.

The screenshot below shows the Register of Deeds search portal as it appears on the county website.

The Genesee County Register of Deeds portal lists all available search platforms and links to each service.

From this page you can navigate to the free index, Tapestry, or Laredo depending on the level of access you need.

Getting Copies of Recorded Documents

To get copies by mail, send a written request to: Register of Deeds Copies, P.O. Box 195, Mason, MI 48854. Include the name of the grantor or grantee, a property description, or the book and page number. Make your check payable to the Register of Deeds at $1 per page. Certified copies cost $5 per document. The office will pull the record and mail copies back to you.

In-person copy requests are handled at the counter during business hours. For very old records stored in the vault, you need to call ahead and schedule an appointment. Pre-1960 documents are not available digitally, so the vault visit is the only way to view those instruments. Bring specific identifying information to speed up the search.

Recording Requirements and Document Standards

Michigan sets uniform formatting standards for all documents submitted for recording. Under MCL 565.201, the first page of every document must have a 2.5-inch margin at the top. All other margins must be at least 0.5 inches. Documents must be on white paper with black ink, and font size must be at least 10 points. Documents that do not meet these standards may be rejected at the counter or assessed a non-conforming document fee.

The flat recording fee for most instruments in Michigan is $30 per document under MCL 600.2567, which took effect October 1, 2016. If a document assigns or discharges additional instruments, there is a $3 charge per each additional reference. Michigan is a race-notice state under MCL 565.29, meaning the party who records first without notice of a prior claim prevails. This makes timely recording critical for any real estate transaction.

Transfer taxes apply at closing. The county transfer tax is $1.10 per $1,000 of the sale price, and the state transfer tax adds $7.50 per $1,000. Both are collected at the time of recording.

Property Assessment in Genesee County

Michigan assesses real property at 50% of its true cash value. This is the state equalized value, or SEV. Under Proposal A, the taxable value of a property can increase by no more than 5% or the rate of inflation (whichever is less) in any given year. When a property sells, the taxable value resets to equal the SEV, which can result in a significant tax increase for the new owner.

The median market value for properties in Genesee County is approximately $158,200, though this varies widely across townships and cities. The city of Flint has a much lower median market value of around $46,800, reflecting long-term economic conditions in the urban core. Property assessment records are public and can be accessed through the local assessor's office in each township or city. These records show the SEV, taxable value, and property class for any parcel.

Questions about assessment can be directed to the local assessor in the relevant township or city. The county equalization department coordinates assessment standards across the county.

Genesee County Land Bank

The Genesee County Land Bank is a useful resource for anyone searching properties that have gone through tax foreclosure. The Land Bank holds title to foreclosed properties and makes them available for purchase or redevelopment. Its online search tool at thelandbank.org lets you look up available parcels by address, parcel number, street, or township.

The screenshot below shows the Land Bank's public-facing property search, which is separate from the Register of Deeds index.

The Genesee County Land Bank search allows you to filter available properties by location, property type, and status.

If a property you are researching has a history of tax foreclosure, the Land Bank records may fill in gaps not covered by the Register of Deeds index.

Grantor-Grantee Index and Chain of Title

Michigan requires every county Register of Deeds to maintain a grantor-grantee index under MCL 565.28. This index is the primary tool for tracing the chain of title on any parcel. When you search by grantor, you find all instruments a person or entity signed as the transferring party. When you search by grantee, you find all instruments where someone received an interest in property.

Michigan's Marketable Record Title Act (MCL 565.101) provides that a 40-year chain of record title is generally sufficient to clear most earlier defects. This means a title search going back 40 years is typically enough to establish marketable title in Genesee County, though exceptions exist for certain types of claims. Title insurers and real estate attorneys rely on this standard when evaluating property titles.

Additional Property Record Resources

Several statewide resources can supplement your Genesee County property search.For UCC filings that may affect commercial real estate or personal property secured by real property collateral, search through Michigan LARA (phone: 517-322-1144). Unclaimed property related to real estate transactions can be searched through Michigan's Unclaimed Property portal.

Cities in Genesee County

Flint is the county seat and the largest city in Genesee County. It qualifies as a major city for property records purposes, and a dedicated page covers Flint property records in detail.

Nearby Counties

Genesee County borders several mid-Michigan counties. Each has its own Register of Deeds with separate records systems.