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Frequently Asked Questions
Q. If I don't pay my taxes, will I really lose my house and property?
A. YES. Across the State, thousands of property owners have lost their property to foreclosure, including over 100 in Lapeer County.
Q. What happens once the tax is forwarded to the County Treasurer?
A. On March 1st, a 4% administration fee and interest of 1% per month is added. After one year, the property is forfeited to the County Treasurer. For example, any 2008 taxes that were still unpaid as of March 1st, 2010 are in forfeiture.
Q. What does it mean for my property to be in forfeiture? Does that mean I lose my property?
A. NO. Forfeiture is not foreclosure. If your property is in forfeiture, you still have one year before it will be foreclosed; however the interest and fees will be higher. When the property is forfeited, the interest rates increases from 1% to 1.5% per month, retroactive to the date the taxes became delinquent. A $175 fee is also added. (please see timeline for a list of fees added).
Q. What happens after my property is in forfeiture?
A. After a property has been in forfeiture for one year and the taxes remain unpaid, it will be foreclosed. Unpaid 2008 property taxes will be foreclosed in March 2011.
Q. What happens after my property is foreclosed? How do I get it back?
A. YOU CANNOT GET YOUR PROPERTY BACK AFTER IT HAS BEEN FORECLOSED! FORECLOSURE IS FINAL. Property that has been foreclosed will be sold at public auction to the highest bidder.
Q. What if I don't have the money to pay all the taxes at once?
A. You can make partial payments of any amount at any time. To ensure your payment is correctly applied, please write your parcel number on the check or money order. If you can't pay all of your taxes before foreclosure, contact the Department of Human Services at 810-667-0800 for possible financial assistance.
Q. Will I receive any notification before my property is foreclosed?
A. YES. Five notifications are required by law -- two by 1st Class mail, two by certified mail and the last by personal service. In Lapeer County, we will send an additional 3-5 notices. Plus, names and addresses of delinquent property owners will be published in the newspaper. All parties having any recorded interest in the property (lien holders, land contract holders, mortgage holders, etc.) will be notified.
Q. If I refuse to accept the mailed notices, avoid the personal service or transfer ownership of the property, will I avoid foreclosure?
A. NO. The County Treasurer is only required to make a reasonable effort to notify the person or persons with a legal interest who appear on county records at the time of forfeiture. If you have an unrecorded interest in a property, you can still lose that interest. Newspaper publication will meet the legal requirement for notification.
Q. I am a land contract holder. How can I find out whether or not the taxes are paid?
A. Property tax records are public information. You are welcome to check on the tax status of any property. Also, the law allows you to receive a copy of all notices sent by the County Treasurer concerning a parcel for a year. The fee for this service is $5 per year.
Q. I guess I really don't have to worry about losing my property for two years. Why not wait and pay my taxes then?
A. DON'T WAIT. The longer you delay the more expensive it will be. In addition to the fees previously mentioned, personal service fees and any required maintenance or clean up costs will be charged to the property. Also, please note that there is no statutory relief if you fail to pay because of an unanticipated absence, delayed or misdirected mail delivery, poor weather, illness or forgetfulness. FORECLOSURE IS FINAL!
Q. How can I purchase property that has been foreclosed?
A. Lapeer County will be offering properties at public auction to the highest bidder. The auction dates for 2007 have not yet been set. At the first auction, a minimum bid consisting of all delinquent taxes, interest and fees is required. If all parcels are not sold at the first auction, there will be no minimum bid required at the final auction. A complete list of the properties, estimated minimum bids, and the auction rules and regulations can be obtained from the Lapeer County Treasurer or downloaded from this site after April 10th.
Information on Lapeer County properties is available from the Treasurer's office. With the changes in the Mortgage industry, the Treasurer's office has noticed a dramatic increase in the number of requests for information from Companies that do not maintain or contract with local entities to research this information. In order to maintain a high level of service to Lapeer County residents and respond to the requests from for-profit companies, the Treasurer's office has established the following policy for providing property information. Copies of the reports mentioned in the policy are available upon request. The Treasurer thanks you for your consideration and professionalism in abiding by the policy.
Lapeer County Treasurer Property Information Policy
Click on link above to access tax information
now available on-line
Foreclosed properties are offered first to the State of Michigan, then to the local units and then to Lapeer County & Lapeer County Land Bank. Properties not purchased by governmental entities will be sold at public auction. The next auction date is still to be determined. Bidding will start at all taxes and fees incurred on each parcel.
Below you will find links to the following information:
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Foreclosure List for Lapeer County. The list includes parcels we plan to offer at auction. An estimated minimum bid has not yet been determined. It will be added to the foreclosure list once available.
2020 Foreclosure List Tax Foreclosure Sale
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Policy and application form to apply for a Deferral of Foreclosure due to Financial Hardship for Residential Properties. Please note: this policy is for properties in forfeiture, not foreclosure. Deferral applications will be accepted as late as the date of the administrative hearing in February 10, 2017. Financial Hardship Policy for Residential Properties
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Policy and application form to apply for a Deferral of Foreclosure for Commercial and Industrial Properties. Deferral applications will be accepted as late as the date of the administrative hearing in February 10, 2017.
Financial Hardship Policy for Commercial and Industrial Properties
GIS is now part of the Lapeer County Treasurer's office. The Treasurer's office has vector maps, orthophotos, aerials, soil maps and digital files available for a fee. It is important when placing a map/ortho/aerial order that you identify the township, section number, and size of the map you desire. If ordering digital products, please specify the file format you require as well. See below for pricing.
RETAIL PRICE SHEET for GIS PRODUCTS
Treasurer@lapeercounty.org
All prices subject to change without notice.
DIGITAL ORTHOPHOTOGRAPHY PLOTS: (2005 Black & White, printed by section/square mile)*
1" = 200' 36� x 36� $15.00
1� = 400� 18� x 18� $10.00
1� = 600� 11� x 17� $ 9.00
1� = 800� 8.5� x 11� $ 8.00
AERIAL PLOTS: (1997 Color or Black & White, printed by section/square mile)*
1" = 200' 36" x 36" $15.00
1" = 400' 18" x 18" $10.00
1� = 600� 11� x 17� $ 9.00
1" = 800' 8.5" x 11" $ 8.00
*ADD PARCEL LINES for an additional $5 per township per page.
*ADD SOIL LINES for an additional $2 per township per page.
~Digital Orthophotography photos are current to 2005.
~Aerials are current to 04-97.
VECTOR MAPS: (basic map layers: parcels/roads/waters/parcel #�s)
Color 36" x 36" $25.00
Black & White 36" x 36" $20.00
Color 18" x 18" $12.50
Black & White 18" x 18" $10.00
Color 11" x 17" $ 8.00
Black & White 11" x 17� $ 6.00
Color 8.5" x 11" $ 4.00
Black & White 8.5" x 11" $ 2.50
SOIL MAPS: (per section/square mile)
1� = 800� Black & White 8.5�x11� $ 2.00
XEROX COPIES:
GIS Vector Map 8.5" x 11" $ 2.00
~Aerial Plots (8.5" x 11") may be copied by the Lapeer County Administration Office (810-667-0366) for a fee.
LARGE FORMAT XEROX COPIES:
Black & White 24" x 36" $ 4.00
Black & White 36" x 48" $ 5.00
DIGITAL FILES:
Aerial *.jpg $10.00/section
Parcel Layer *.mif, *.txt, *.dxf or *.dbf $ .10/parcel ($5 min.)
~Data can be mailed via first class mail or electronic mail for a fee.
SHIPPING & HANDLING: (all paper items folded unless otherwise specified-extra S&H charges will apply)
Map/Aerial 8.5�x11� #10 Envelope $1.00 for the 1st pg., .25 ea. add�l pg.
Map/Aerial 11�x17� Large Envelope $1.25 for the 1st pg., .50 ea. add�l pg.
Map/Aerial 18�x18� Large Envelope $1.25 for the 1st pg., .50 ea. add�l pg.
Map/Aerial 36�x36� Large Envelope $1.50 for the 1st pg., $1 ea. add�l pg.
E-Mail There will be a service charge of $5.00 for every two files sent electronically.
FAX 8.5�x11� $2.00 per pg.
NOTES:
Maps which require data creation or alteration beyond simple re-sizing shall be as noted above with an additional fee
of sixty dollars ($60.00) per hour for all time committed to the creation or alteration of the data. A minimum fee of
twenty-five dollars ($25.00) will be charged for data alteration or creation in cases where the total time committed
is less than thirty (30) minutes.
~Historical aerials are available for viewing only at the Lapeer County Drain Office (810-667-0371) or the United States Soil Conservation Service (810-664-3941).
~Payment in full is required before any product will be released from this office. Make checks payable to
LAPEER CO TREASURER. Shipping and handling fees will be charged as appropriate: please call first
to get an exact total.
BUSINESS HOURS
Monday thru Friday - 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday – Closed
HOLIDAYS FOR 2022
(The Treasurer's office will be closed in observance of the following holidays)
January 3rd – New Year’s Day
January 17th – Martin Luther King Day
February 21st – President’s Day
May 30th – Memorial Day
July 4th – 4th of July
September 5th – Labor Day
November 11th – Veteran’s Day
November 24th & 25th – Thanksgiving Day
December 23rd – Christmas Eve
December 26th – Christmas Day
December 30th – New Year’s Eve
HARDSHIP POLICY & FORMS
Policy and application form to apply for a Deferral of Foreclosure due to Financial Hardship for Residential Properties. Please note: this policy is for properties in forfeiture, not foreclosure. Deferral applications will be accepted as late as the date of the administrative hearing in February 10, 2017.
Financial Hardship Policy & form for Residential Properties
Policy and application form to apply for a Deferral of Foreclosure for Commercial and Industrial Properties. Deferral applications will be accepted as late as the date of the administrative hearing in February 10, 2017.
Financial Hardship Policy and form for Commercial and Industrial Properties
Policy and application form to apply for a Deferral of Foreclosure due to Financial Hardship for Residential Properties. Please note: this policy is for properties in forfeiture, not foreclosure. Deferral applications will be accepted as late as the date of the administrative hearing in February 10, 2017.
Financial Hardship Policy & form for Residential Properties
Policy and application form to apply for a Deferral of Foreclosure for Commercial and Industrial Properties. Deferral applications will be accepted as late as the date of the administrative hearing in February 10, 2017.
Financial Hardship Policy and form for Commercial and Industrial Properties
WHERE TO GET HELP
1.) The best way to get your taxes paid is to save the money yourself. If you need help in budgeting or money management counseling, contact: Greenpath Debt Solutions, Flint, (810) 230-1077. This non-profit agency can provide debt management services where they receive your salary check and then pay your creditors.
Love, Inc., 245-2414. Regular series of money management classes.
Hispanic Service Center, 724-3665. Budget counseling and translation.
Blue Water Center for Independent Living, 664-9098. Counselors and advocates for people with disabilities.
MSU Extension, 667-0341. on a case-by-case basis.
Legal Services of Eastern Michigan, (810) 239-8831. Regular Property Tax Clinics
Housing Resource Center, 664-0255. Assist with budgeting and finding housing-related resources or financing
Veteran�s Department, 667-0256. For veterans and families.
2) Personal resources that you have. See if any of them can loan you money.
Your family or friends
Your church
Your bank, credit union, etc.
Ask a club, service organization or labor union to which you belong.
3.)
4.) 3) Angel Food Ministries takes orders for food on a monthly basis � About $65 worth of food for $30. No income limits. Call Faith Christian Family Church at 810-667-5077or Dryden Wesleyan Church at 810-796-2157.
5.) 4) Do you want to cut your current tax bill? Apply at your Township or City offices for a Poverty Exemption. This is an annual exemption that can cut or eliminate your current property taxes. You must apply by December 1, 2016 for the 2016 tax year.
Do not wait!
Information about DHS
(Department of Human Services)
If your household income meets the Lapeer County Annual Income Guideline, or if you have some extraordinary, one-time expenses (healthcare, fire, etc.) contact the Lapeer County Treasurer's Office for an application for a Financial Hardship Deferral of Foreclosure. Completed applications should be returned to the Treasurer's office as soon as possible. A Hearing will be held February 10, 2017 to review the applications.
If a deferral is granted, the full amount of taxes, interest, penalties and fees is still owed. However, the property is withheld from Foreclosure for one year. Except in unusual circumstances, this is a one-time, non-renewable deferral. Please call 810-667-0239 if you have any questions.
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