We Buy Dearborn Tax Lien Properties Fast
If your Dearborn house is sliding toward Wayne County tax foreclosure
Wayne County runs the largest tax-foreclosure pipeline in Michigan by a wide margin, and its annual auction lands in October. If your Dearborn house is in years two or three of delinquent property taxes, that calendar is not theoretical. By Michigan law, property taxes that remain unpaid for three years roll from delinquent to forfeited to foreclosed, and after foreclosure there is no redemption period. The Wayne County Treasurer takes title.
We buy tax-delinquent and tax-lien Dearborn properties before that clock runs out. Offer Now Michigan works in 48124, 48126, 48128, and 48120, and we know the Wayne County Treasurer’s calendar, the IRSPA program, and how to get a closing done in time. Call 810-425-5961.
How Dearborn tax foreclosure actually unfolds
Property taxes in Wayne County are among the highest in Michigan. Non-PRE millage can exceed 65 mills, and even with a Principal Residence Exemption you are around 45 mills. A house in 48126 with a taxable value of $40,000 carries roughly $2,600 a year before any city fees. Miss one year and the delinquent balance moves to the Wayne County Treasurer with interest at 18 percent annually. Miss three years and the property is foreclosed, sold at auction, and gone.
Wayne County does offer paths. The IRSPA program, Interest Reduction Stipulated Payment Agreement, can reduce that 18 percent interest down to 6 percent for qualifying homeowners who set up a payment plan with the Treasurer. The PAYS program, Pay As You Stay, can waive interest and fees entirely for income-qualified owner-occupants with an approved Poverty Tax Exemption from the City of Dearborn. These programs help, but they require timely paperwork, income verification, and consistent payments. For owners who are not in a position to commit to a multi-year plan, who do not live in the home anymore, or who are dealing with other liens stacked on top of the taxes, a clean cash sale is often the better exit.
There is one more piece you should know about. Under Rafaeli v. Oakland County (2020) and the codification at MCL 211.78t, if your property is taken in tax foreclosure and the county sells it for more than what you owed, the surplus belongs to you, the former owner. You have to file a claim within the deadlines set by statute. Many former owners do not know this and never claim what is theirs. If your property has already been foreclosed by Wayne County, talk to an attorney about whether you can still file a surplus claim. We always recommend you speak with a licensed Michigan attorney for legal strategy on tax foreclosure.
How we help before the October auction
Call 810-425-5961 or send the Dearborn address. We pull the current delinquent balance from the Wayne County Treasurer, look at comparable sales in your ZIP, and bring a written cash offer in 24 to 48 hours. If the math works, we can close at a local title company and the back taxes, penalty, and interest get paid from your proceeds at the closing table. The title company wires you the net.
We regularly close on Dearborn properties with three-year delinquencies, mortgage liens, City of Dearborn code-enforcement balances, and inherited title issues stacked on top of each other. Title work takes a little longer in those cases, but it gets done. We are used to brick bungalows off Schaefer with a parent’s name still on the deed and a delinquent tax bill that has been sitting for two summers. We have bought near Warren Avenue, near Miller Road, in Springwells Village, in Aviation Sub, and in Ford-Wyoming.
If you would rather try to keep the home, that is a real option. Wayne County’s IRSPA and PAYS programs, plus the City of Dearborn Poverty Tax Exemption, are worth exploring. We can point you in those directions even if it means we do not buy. We are not in the business of pressuring people out of homes they want to keep.
What we buy in Dearborn with tax issues
Single-family bungalows and ranches in 48126 and 48128, two-flats and duplexes in 48120, vacant lots from prior demolitions, occupied homes where the owner has moved out, and inherited properties where the heirs never paid the bill. We work in East Dearborn and West Dearborn, near Henry Ford College, near the University of Michigan-Dearborn, near the Glass House on Michigan Avenue, and out toward Telegraph.
FAQ
How close to the October Wayne County auction can you still close?
Typically we need 21 to 30 days before the auction to be safe. The earlier you call, the more options you have.
What if my property already went to auction?
Under Rafaeli v. Oakland County and MCL 211.78t, you may be entitled to surplus proceeds if the sale brought more than was owed. Talk to a Michigan attorney about filing a claim.
Will you buy if I owe more in taxes than the house is worth?
Sometimes. If the math works for both sides, yes. If it does not, we will tell you and suggest a different path, including PAYS or IRSPA if you qualify.
Can you help me apply for IRSPA or PAYS instead of selling?
We can point you to the Wayne County Treasurer and the City of Dearborn assessor’s office. We do not file your application, but we will tell you these programs exist.
What about a mortgage foreclosure, not tax foreclosure?
Different process. Under MCL 600.3240, owner-occupied homes under 3 acres typically get a 6-month redemption period after a sheriff’s sale. We also buy in that window.
Get a Cash Offer on Your Dearborn Home Today
Ready to talk numbers? Get a free, no-obligation cash offer on your Dearborn property in 24–48 hours. Start your free Dearborn cash offer here, or call us directly at 810-425-5961.
Related Michigan Resources
Some additional reading that may help with your situation:
Can I Sell My Michigan Home If I Owe Back Property Taxes?
Michigan Pay As You Stay (PAYS) Program: Eligibility and Application
Michigan Tax Foreclosure Surplus Funds: How to Claim Your Money After Auction
Have a Property in Another Michigan City?
We buy houses for cash across the entire state of Michigan. If your property is not in Dearborn, we still want to make you an offer. Here are some nearby cities we work in:
Dearborn Heights · Allen Park · Westland · Taylor · Inkster
We also cover Michigan’s three largest cities — Detroit, Grand Rapids, Flint — plus more than 100 other communities. See our full statewide coverage.
When the tax clock is real
Call Offer Now Michigan at 810-425-5961 or send your Dearborn address through our site. The earlier we talk, the more time we have to close before the October auction.