We Buy Lansing Tax Lien Properties Fast
When the Ingham County tax letter arrives
If you own a house in Lansing and you are behind on property taxes, the Ingham County Treasurer is the clock you are running against. Eaton and Clinton Counties have their own treasurer’s offices for the smaller pieces of the city that fall into their borders, and each county runs the same Michigan timeline: three years of delinquency leads to forfeiture, then to foreclosure, then to the loss of the property. After foreclosure, there is no redemption period. The deed transfers and the house is gone.
We buy tax-delinquent Lansing properties before that happens. Call Offer Now Michigan at 810-425-5961, give us the address and a rough idea of what is owed, and we will tell you fast whether a cash sale gets you out clean.
How Michigan tax foreclosure works in Lansing
Michigan property tax law follows the General Property Tax Act. The short version: summer and winter property tax bills go out from the City of Lansing Treasurer. If unpaid by March 1 of the following year, the bills go delinquent and are turned over to the Ingham County Treasurer (or Eaton or Clinton, depending on the parcel). Interest and fees start accruing immediately, and the clock starts on a three-year path to foreclosure.
Year one: delinquent. You can still pay with interest and fees.
Year two: still delinquent. The Ingham County Treasurer begins sending notices and adding additional fees. You can still pay to redeem.
Year three (around March 1): the property is forfeited. Interest jumps and a $175 forfeiture fee is added. You still have until roughly March 31 of the following year to pay everything and redeem the property.
After that date: the circuit court enters a foreclosure judgment. Title transfers to the county. There is no redemption period after foreclosure under Michigan law. The home is then auctioned.
The good news for owners who lose the property at auction: the Michigan Supreme Court’s 2020 decision in Rafaeli v. Oakland County, codified at MCL 211.78t, requires counties to return any surplus proceeds from the sale to the former owner who files a timely claim. The bad news is that the process is paperwork-heavy and time-bound, and the auction price is rarely close to retail value. Selling before foreclosure almost always nets you more.
There are also payment-plan programs. Michigan’s Pay As You Stay (PAYS) program waives interest and fees for qualifying low-income owners with a Poverty Tax Exemption in place. That is worth investigating with the Ingham County Treasurer or a HUD-certified housing counselor before you do anything else, because it can buy you time without selling at all.
How we help when selling is the right call
We buy Lansing properties with active tax delinquency, including properties already forfeited and within months of foreclosure judgment. We work directly with the Ingham County Treasurer’s office to confirm the redemption amount, and we structure the closing so all delinquent taxes, interest, and fees are paid off at the title company on closing day. You walk away with whatever is left after payoff.
The earlier you call, the more money goes in your pocket. A homeowner who calls us six months into delinquency has more room than one who calls us 30 days before the foreclosure judgment.
We make a written cash offer within 24 to 48 hours. If you accept, we can close in as little as 10 to 14 days, fast enough to beat almost any foreclosure deadline. You do not need to do repairs, clean out, or list anything. Our offer is generally 70 to 85 percent of after-repair retail, and the tax payoff comes out of the proceeds, not your pocket.
What we buy in Lansing
We buy tax-delinquent and forfeited single-family homes, duplexes, and small multifamily across every part of the city. Old Town, REO Town, Eastside, Westside, Moores Park, Colonial Village, Northwest Lansing, and Groesbeck. ZIP codes 48906, 48910, 48911, 48912, 48915, and 48917. We have closed in south Lansing where delinquency is more concentrated, and in 48906 north of the Grand River where older homes sometimes fall behind after a death in the family.
FAQ
How late is too late to sell before tax foreclosure?
We have closed deals as late as 30 days before the foreclosure judgment. After judgment is entered and title transfers to the county, you no longer own the property and we can no longer buy from you. Call as soon as you can.
What if the Ingham County Treasurer already started the show-cause hearing process?
That happens late in the timeline. It does not stop us from buying as long as title still belongs to you. We can move quickly.
Will I owe income tax on the sale if there is no money left after paying off taxes?
Maybe and maybe not. Forgiveness of debt and capital gains are different issues. Talk to a tax professional before closing.
What about Rafaeli surplus funds — should I let the foreclosure happen?
Letting the foreclosure happen so you can chase surplus funds is almost always worse than selling. Auction prices are well below retail, the claim process under MCL 211.78t has hard deadlines, and counties get to deduct expenses first. Selling to a cash buyer almost always leaves more in your pocket.
Do I qualify for the Poverty Tax Exemption or PAYS instead?
You might. The City of Lansing Treasurer and the Ingham County Treasurer can both point you to the right forms. A HUD-certified housing counselor can help for free. We will tell you to check those first if it looks like a fit.
Get a Cash Offer on Your Lansing Home Today
Ready to talk numbers? Get a free, no-obligation cash offer on your Lansing property in 24–48 hours. Start your free Lansing 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 Lansing, we still want to make you an offer. Here are some nearby cities we work in:
East Lansing · Holt · Okemos · Haslett · Jackson
We also cover Michigan’s three largest cities — Detroit, Grand Rapids, Flint — plus more than 100 other communities. See our full statewide coverage.
A short call buys you options
The earlier the call, the more options you have. Reach Offer Now Michigan at 810-425-5961.