Houghton County Deed Records
Houghton County deed records are kept by the Register of Deeds on the second floor of the courthouse at 401 E. Houghton Avenue in Houghton. The office serves the Upper Peninsula's Copper Country region and maintains a full archive of property transfers, warranty deeds, mortgages, and other recorded instruments. You can search online through Tapestry on a pay-per-use basis or Laredo with a subscription, or come in person during office hours. This page covers search tools, fees, recording rules, and other resources for anyone looking up property records in Houghton County.
Houghton County Deed Records
Houghton County Register of Deeds Office
The Houghton County Register of Deeds is located on the second floor of the courthouse at 401 E. Houghton Avenue, Houghton, MI 49931. Office hours run Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Note that the recording cutoff is 3:30 PM, so documents submitted after that time will be processed the next business day. You can call at 906-482-1311, fax to 906-483-0364, or send email to registerofdeeds@houghtoncounty.net. The full department page with current contact details is at the Houghton County Register of Deeds website.
The office handles passport applications as well as recording services. Passport forms can be notarized and submitted during regular hours. This is a useful convenience if you are visiting the office for a deed transaction and also need passport services. Call ahead to confirm passport availability on the day you plan to visit.
Houghton County also runs a free Property Fraud Alert program. When you sign up, the system sends you an alert any time a document is recorded using your name. A free Notary Fraud Alert is available as well. Both programs are at no cost to residents. These tools are worth using if you own property in Houghton County, since recorded fraud is often discovered late.
The screenshot below shows the Register of Deeds department page for Houghton County. The department listing includes the current address, phone, fax, and email contact information.
The page above is part of the Houghton County official website, which also provides links to other county departments and services.
Search Houghton County Deed Records Online
Houghton County offers two online platforms for deed record searches. Tapestry is available on demand, with no subscription required. You pay per document or per search session. This works well if you only need to check a record now and then. Laredo is a subscription service used by title companies, attorneys, and others who run searches daily. Both tools pull from the same county database and let you search by name, instrument type, or date range.
For tract index searches, the county charges $400 per month for regular access, $20 per hour, or $5 per 15-minute block. These rates apply to in-office tract index use, not to Tapestry or Laredo. If you are doing a title search that requires the tract index, contact the office to set up the appropriate access level.
The county also accepts e-recording through approved vendors. E-recording lets law firms, title companies, and lenders submit documents electronically instead of by mail or in person. Approved vendors include Simplifile (1-800-460-5657), ePN, CSC, and Indecomm. Contact the office to confirm vendor compatibility before submitting your first electronic document.
Recording Fees and Transfer Tax
The standard recording fee in Houghton County is $30 per document, set under MCL 600.2657. This flat rate applies to most deed types, including warranty deeds, quitclaim deeds, land contracts, and mortgage instruments. Copies of recorded documents cost $1 per page. Certification of a document costs $5.
Michigan's real estate transfer tax is split between the state and the county. The state rate is $3.75 per $500 of value under MCL 207.521, and the county rate is $0.55 per $500 under MCL 207.501. Combined, the total transfer tax is $8.60 per $1,000 of sale price. Transfer tax is paid at the time of recording and is based on the consideration stated in the deed. Some transfers are exempt, including certain family transfers and corrections of prior deeds.
To record a deed, it must meet the formatting requirements of MCL 565.201. This includes a minimum font size, margin requirements, clear identification of the preparer, and a completed property transfer affidavit when ownership changes. Deeds that do not meet these standards may be rejected at the counter.
What Houghton County Deed Records Contain
Deed records in Houghton County cover a wide range of property instruments. Each recorded document creates a public record tied to a specific parcel. The index lets you search by grantor (seller) or grantee (buyer) name, which makes it possible to trace ownership history for any parcel in the county.
Common document types recorded at the Houghton County Register of Deeds include:
- Warranty deeds conveying full ownership with guarantees
- Quitclaim deeds transferring whatever interest the grantor holds
- Land contracts for installment sales of real property
- Mortgages and discharge of mortgage documents
- Easements granting limited use rights over land
- Liens, including tax liens and judgment liens
- Plats and subdivision maps
Each document in the system has a liber (book) and page number or an instrument number assigned at the time of recording. Title searches typically require reviewing all recorded instruments for a parcel to confirm clear title. Houghton County's archive covers the county's mining era history, and some parcels have layered ownership records going back many decades.
Houghton County Property Transfer and Tax Records
When real property changes hands in Houghton County, the buyer must file a Property Transfer Affidavit with the local assessor within 45 days of the transfer. This is required under MCL 211.27a. The affidavit triggers a review of the property's assessed value and may result in a change to the taxable value. Failure to file on time can result in a penalty.
The Michigan Department of Treasury maintains guidance on transfer of ownership rules. You can review current requirements at the Michigan Treasury change of ownership page. The county assessor's office works alongside the Register of Deeds on these transfers, but the two offices are separate. Contact the Houghton County Equalization Department for assessment questions.
E-Recording in Houghton County
Houghton County accepts electronic recording of deed documents. E-recording speeds up the process for title companies and law firms that submit documents regularly. Instead of mailing paper originals or driving to the courthouse, submitters upload documents through an approved vendor platform, and the county processes and returns the stamped document electronically.
The Michigan Treasury provides additional background on e-recording under MCL 565.841 (MURPERA). Approved vendors serving Houghton County include Simplifile, reachable at 1-800-460-5657, along with ePN, CSC, and Indecomm. Check with the Register of Deeds office to confirm which vendors are currently active for Houghton County.
The screenshot below shows the main Houghton County website, from which you can navigate to the Register of Deeds and other county departments.
The Houghton County website links to all county departments and provides updated contact information and news.
Additional Resources for Deed Research
The Michigan Department of Treasury maintains several online tools that are useful when researching Houghton County deed records. The Michigan Register of Deeds page provides statewide information on recording requirements. The transfer tax page explains rates and exemptions. The change of ownership page covers the Property Transfer Affidavit process.
For easement and conveyance tax questions, the Treasury also provides guidance at its easement conveyances page. This is useful if you are recording a right-of-way or utility easement and need to know whether transfer tax applies.
Title searchers working on Houghton County properties may also find the county's historical mining records relevant. The county has a long history of copper mining activity, and some parcels carry mineral rights separations or old mining company deeds that require careful review. The Register of Deeds office can point you to the right index section for historical instrument searches.
Nearby Counties
Houghton County borders several other Upper Peninsula counties, each with its own Register of Deeds office for property records.