Pontiac, Michigan · Oakland County

Can I Sell My Pontiac House With Back Taxes or Liens?

When you sell to us, we can set it up so you don't have to prepay anything — it comes out at closing.

Yes. USA Home Buyers buys houses in Pontiac and Oakland County, Michigan. We buy houses as-is, in any condition — no repairs, no cleaning, no cleanout required to sell to us. You can call with the property address and what you know about the tax bill, lien, or payoff; you do not have to collect every record first.

We give written cash offers in 24 hours.

Call 888-274-5006 to talk through the property.

Talk through your Pontiac lien or tax question

Share the address and whatever you have about the notice, payoff, creditor, or tax account. You can start with the information on hand.

We'll give you a written cash offer within 24 hours.

We give written cash offers in 24 hours.

Tell us the property address and what you know about the notice, payoff, creditor, or tax account.

By submitting, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. You consent to receive calls and texts from USA Home Buyers. We never share your information.

Prefer to call? 888-274-5006.

How tax and lien payoffs work

When you sell to us, we pay the closing costs. Your liens are paid off from the sale at closing.

Mortgage balances, liens, back taxes, and your share of current property taxes are separate from closing costs. The lender, creditor, or tax office confirms the current amount and payoff instructions; the title company uses the confirmed figures to prepare the settlement. The amount left after those items depends on the sale price and the confirmed balances.

Records and a next step

Start with the Pontiac property address. A parcel number, current tax bill or notice, lender payoff statement, recorded lien or court paper, deed, or case number can help identify which record needs checking. Bring what you have; you can call before you have everything.

Ask the lender or creditor named on a notice for its current payoff. The City of Pontiac Treasurer handles city property-tax billing questions; Oakland County Treasurer information is the route for county tax and delinquent-tax questions. The Oakland County Register of Deeds is the county land-records office. A title company checks the records and settlement requirements for the sale.

If the payoff is more than the house is worth

Think the payoff is more than the house is worth? Ask us — we've gotten lenders to come down before.

What happens next

  1. 1. Talk about the house and the notice

    Tell us the Pontiac address, what the notice says, and what timing concerns you. Start with the information you have; you do not need to sort out the payoff before calling.

  2. 2. Review the written offer and terms

    We discuss the house as it stands and give you a written cash offer within 24 hours. Written offer and written terms before you commit; title-company closing. Read the price, responsibilities, payoff treatment, and closing terms before you decide.

  3. 3. Check title and payoff details

    If you choose to move forward, the title company checks ownership and recorded claims for the sale. The lender, creditor, or tax office confirms the current balance and payoff instructions that apply to its account.

  4. 4. Review the settlement figures and close

    The closing company shows the agreed sale terms, confirmed payoffs, property-tax allocation, transfer taxes, and other closing items in the settlement figures for you to review before signing.

Pontiac and Oakland County records, tax sales, and transfer taxes

Use the office or creditor named on the notice. A property-tax matter and a lender mortgage foreclosure are separate processes; one notice does not tell you the status or timing of the other. Check tax questions with the relevant tax office and mortgage papers with the lender, servicer, or court handling that case. For Pontiac mortgage-foreclosure information, see the Pontiac foreclosure page.

City of Pontiac Treasurer ↗

This is the municipal office for City of Pontiac property-tax billing and payment questions. It is at 47450 Woodward Avenue, first floor, Pontiac, MI 48342; call 248-758-3062 about a city tax bill.

Michigan state and county real estate transfer taxes

For an ordinary taxable sale, Michigan's state real estate transfer tax is $3.75 for each $500 of the property's value at the time of sale, or part of $500. The county tax is generally another 55 cents for each $500, or part of $500. State and county exemptions are separate, so the county, sale value, and any exemption must be checked for the actual sale.

When you sell to us, we pay the closing costs, including Michigan state and county real estate transfer taxes.

This transfer-tax promise does not pay a mortgage, liens, back taxes, or your share of current property taxes; those are separate settlement items. Read the Michigan state transfer-tax law and county transfer-tax law.

Compare possible net proceeds

Use the editable Pontiac home-sale net proceeds calculator with your own estimated value, mortgage payoff, lien or tax amount, repairs, cleanout, carrying costs, and closing costs. Just an estimate — the actual number could be more or less depending on the home's condition.

Open the Pontiac home-sale net proceeds calculator →

What sellers say about USA Home Buyers

Pontiac property liens and back taxes questions

Can I sell my Pontiac house with back taxes or liens before paying them?

Yes. When you sell to us, we can set it up so you don't have to prepay anything — it comes out at closing. The current balance and payoff instructions are confirmed for the specific property and sale.

Who checks the current balance and recorded liens?

The lender or creditor confirms its current payoff, and the City of Pontiac or Oakland County tax office can answer questions about the tax account shown on its bill or notice. The title company checks ownership and recorded claims for the sale; the Register of Deeds is the county land-records office.

What records should I have when I call?

Start with the Pontiac property address and whatever you have: a parcel number, tax bill or notice, lender or creditor payoff statement, recorded lien or court paper, deed, account number, or case number. You can call before you have everything.

Are a property-tax sale and a mortgage foreclosure the same thing?

No. A property-tax matter and a lender mortgage-foreclosure case are separate processes with separate records and notices. Check the tax notice with the tax office named on it, and check mortgage papers with the lender, servicer, or court handling that case.

What if the payoff is more than my Pontiac house is worth?

Think the payoff is more than the house is worth? Ask us — we've gotten lenders to come down before.

What happens after I contact you?

We discuss the house and the information you have, then put the offer and terms in writing before you commit. If you choose to move forward, the title company checks the property records and the lender, creditor, or tax office confirms its current payoff information for the settlement.

Which closing costs do you pay?

When you sell to us, we pay the closing costs, including Michigan state and county real estate transfer taxes. Mortgage balances, liens, back taxes, and your share of current property taxes are separate.

Talk through the property

Call 888-274-5006 or use the form above. Start with the Pontiac address and the notice or payoff information you have.

More Pontiac home-sale information

Call Now 888-274-5006