How lien and tax payoffs work
When you sell to us, we pay the closing costs. Your liens are paid off from the sale at closing.
Our closing-cost payment does not also pay your mortgage balance, liens, back taxes, or share of current property taxes. Those are separate settlement items. The creditor or tax office confirms the amount and instructions that apply, and the settlement figures show what remains from the sale.
A lien is a legal claim that can affect the property or the money due at closing. A payoff is the current amount and instructions to satisfy a debt as of a stated date. A recorded document can help identify a claim, but the creditor or tax office supplies the current payoff; the title company reviews the property records and settlement requirements.
Records that help—and when to call
If you have them, keep the property address, tax bill or delinquent-tax notice, payoff statement, mortgage statement, lien or court notice, parcel number, creditor name, and case number nearby. The title company checks ownership and recorded claims; the responsible lender, creditor, City Treasurer, or County Treasurer confirms the current balance and payoff instructions for its account. You can call us before you have all of those records.
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. Talk through the house and the notice. Share the Sandusky address and the records or payoff information you have. You do not need to resolve a tax or lien question before calling.
- 2. Review the written offer and terms. We give you a written cash offer within 24 hours and provide written terms before you commit.
- 3. Let the title company check the sale details. If you choose to proceed, the title company reviews ownership and recorded claims, then works with the relevant creditor or tax office on current payoff instructions and settlement figures.
- 4. Review the settlement and close. The settlement figures show the sale price, applicable payoffs and tax adjustments, closing costs, and the amount remaining. The title company handles the closing.
We buy houses as-is in Sandusky and Sanilac County. We buy houses as-is, in any condition — no repairs, no cleaning, no cleanout required to sell to us. Your offer and written terms are yours to review before you decide.
Sandusky and Sanilac County offices
Current City property-tax and special-assessment questions go to the City Treasurer; Sanilac County publishes delinquent-tax information through its Treasurer. County and City office contacts below are routes for checking records, not parcel-specific results or confirmation of walk-in availability.
Sanilac County Treasurer’s Office ↗
Start here for delinquent-tax questions and the County’s tax information. The office is at the Courthouse, 60 West Sanilac, Room 204, Sandusky, MI 48471. Call (810) 648-2127.
City of Sandusky Treasurer ↗
Contact the City Treasurer about City property taxes and special assessments. City Hall is at 26 W. Speaker Street, Sandusky, MI 48471. Call (810) 648-4444.
Sanilac County Register of Deeds ↗
The county recording office handles deeds, mortgages, and other recorded land documents. The office is at the Courthouse, 60 West Sanilac, Sandusky, MI 48471. Call (810) 648-2313.
City of Sandusky Assessing Department ↗
Use the City Assessor for assessment and parcel-record questions. City Hall is at 26 West Speaker Street, Sandusky, MI 48471. Call (810) 648-4444. An assessment is not a current tax payoff or lien balance.
Michigan tax foreclosure, mortgage foreclosure, and transfer taxes
Delinquent property taxes
A delinquent-property-tax matter follows a different process from a lender’s mortgage foreclosure. Sanilac County publishes delinquent-tax information; check the notice and the parcel’s current status, balance, and next date with the County Treasurer. For a current City property-tax bill or special assessment, check with the City Treasurer.
Mortgage foreclosure is a separate process
Michigan mortgage foreclosures commonly proceed to a sheriff’s sale. In foreclosure by advertisement, six months after the sale is the most common redemption period, but shorter and longer periods apply. Redemption requires the sale amount plus required interest and charges—not just the missed payments. Check the actual sale status, deadline, and amount with the title company or an attorney before relying on a closing date.
Read Michigan’s mortgage-foreclosure overview → Read the Michigan redemption statute →
Michigan 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 real estate transfer tax is generally another 55 cents for each $500, or part of $500. The seller is generally responsible under state law; state and county exemptions are separate and 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. Your mortgage balance, liens, back taxes, and share of current property taxes are separate.
Read Michigan’s state transfer-tax law → Read Michigan’s county transfer-tax law →
Compare estimated net proceeds
Use the Sandusky home-sale net proceeds calculator to compare your estimated sale proceeds with costs and payoffs. Just an estimate — the actual number could be more or less depending on the home's condition.
For broad market context only, the current typical home value for $176,195 (As of August 2026; Zillow typical home value for Sandusky, MI) is not a value or offer for a specific house.
Open the Sandusky home-sale net proceeds calculator →Questions and contact
Questions about Sandusky property liens and back taxes
Can I sell my Sandusky 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. Call or use the form with the property address and whatever notice or payoff information you have; you can start before you have every record.
How are liens and back taxes paid when I sell?
When you sell to us, we pay the closing costs. Your liens are paid off from the sale at closing. The payoff amount is separate from our closing-cost payment; the title company and the creditor or tax office confirm the current amount and instructions for the settlement.
What should I have ready before I call about a lien or tax balance?
Start with the Sandusky property address and any tax notice, payoff statement, mortgage statement, lien or court notice, parcel number, creditor name, or case number you have. You can call before you have everything; the title company and responsible office check the records and current figures for the sale.
What if the payoff is more than my Sandusky house is worth?
Think the payoff is more than the house is worth? Ask us — we've gotten lenders to come down before.
Which office handles Sandusky property taxes?
The City of Sandusky Treasurer handles City property taxes and special assessments. Sanilac County Treasurer publishes delinquent-tax information and is the contact for delinquent-tax questions. The exact parcel and notice determine which office to ask about a current balance or status.
Are a Michigan tax foreclosure and a mortgage foreclosure the same process?
No. Delinquent property-tax questions follow a different process from a lender's mortgage foreclosure; check the notice and parcel status with the Sanilac County Treasurer. A Michigan mortgage foreclosure may proceed to a sheriff's sale. In foreclosure by advertisement, six months after the sale is the most common redemption period, but shorter and longer periods apply. Confirm the exact status, deadline, and redemption amount for the property with the title company or an attorney.
What happens after I contact USA Home Buyers?
We talk through the Sandusky house and the records you have, then give you a written offer and written terms before you decide. If you choose to proceed, the title company checks ownership, recorded claims, payoff instructions, and the settlement figures with the parties involved before closing.
What transfer taxes apply to a Michigan house sale?
For an ordinary taxable sale, Michigan's state real estate transfer tax is $3.75 for each $500 of the property's value, 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 and need to 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. Your mortgage, liens, back taxes, and share of current property taxes are separate.
Talk through the property
Call 888-274-5006 or use the form above. Start with the Sandusky address and the notice or payoff information you have.