Tag: Real Estate
Real Estate Law Update: Extension of Marketable Title Act Deadlines
The Marketable Title Act, MCL 565.103 was amended by Public Act 572 of 2018 to make it easier to eliminate old use restrictions and covenants on real property in Michigan. A key component of Act 572 was that interests, claims, or charges could be preserved and kept effective by filing a notice of claim of
New CDC Eviction Moratorium
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a federal Executive Branch Agency, has issued a nationwide eviction moratorium. The moratorium went into effect on September 4, 2020 and serves as an extension of sorts, to a previous Executive Order by the Trump Administration which put a moratorium on evictions for those receiving federal rent assistance.
The Freeze on Landlord-Tenant Eviction Proceedings is About to Come to an End, Sort of
At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Whitmer issued a State of Emergency in the State of Michigan. Pursuant to that State of Emergency, Governor Whitmer has frozen all eviction proceedings for landlord-tenant disputes and for land contract disputes. The current Executive Order governing the freeze is set to expire at 11:59 PM on
Michigan Property Tax Appeal Changes Due to COVID-19
On Thursday, May 14, 2020, Governor Whitmer signed Executive Order No. 2020-87 extending the filing deadlines for property tax appeals in Michigan. Under normal circumstances, a township or local unit of government’s Board of Review meets the second week of March to hear protests from residential real property owners regarding their property tax assessments. If
Michigan Court of Appeals Rules that a Short-Term Rental is not a Residential Single-Family Use for Zoning Purposes
The Michigan Court of Appeals issued a published case in the area of short-term rental regulation. In Reaume v Township of Spring Lake, the Michigan Court of Appeals affirmed that a short-term rental of a residential property is a commercial use of the property and is not a residential single-family use for zoning purposes. Reaume
Solar Panels Allowed on PA 116 Property
Michigan now allows land enrolled in the Farmland and Open Space Preservation Program, also known as PA 116, to be used for solar farm and commercial solar panel array purposes. PA 116 is a tax credit program for the preservation of land in Michigan from development and often used by Michigan farmers to enhance farming
Remote Notarization and Witnessing for Estate Plans and Real Estate Documents
Remote Notarization and Witnessing is now allowed in Michigan under Executive Order 2020-41 throughout Michigan’s COVID-19 emergency. Physical presence in front of notary and the requirement for physical original signatures have been temporarily suspended under Michigan’s Notary Act and the Uniform Real Property Electronic Recording Act. A licensed notary with a valid notarial commission may
Real Estate Law Update: Governor Whitmer Signs Executive Order Extending Moratorium on Evictions to May 15th
Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed an Executive Order extending Michigan’s moratorium on evictions during the COVID-19 emergency to May 15th. Governor Whitmer first suspended evictions on March 20 allowing tenants to remain in their homes even if they do not pay rent on time. Many Michigan District Courts have already imposed their own separate eviction freezes
Property Tax Daze
It’s the new year, meaning property tax season is in full swing. If you are a property owner in the State of Michigan, you should have received a Winter Property Tax bill from your local taxing authority. Winter Tax bills are generally mailed on December 1st of each year and are due by February 14th
Who Really Owns Your Property?
Do you know where the property line between you and your neighbor is? Is it marked by a fence, a tree, or a rock? Do you just guess as to its actual location? If this sounds like your situation, you may be risking losing part of your property through a doctrine called adverse possession. Or,