Macomb County property buyers can now electronically record deeds and obtain electronic tax certification due to new technology unveiled by County Clerk/Register of Deeds Carmella Sabaugh and Treasurer Derek Miller.
The new service allows deeds to be electronically recorded in circumstances where tax certification is required.
Some real estate deeds require certification from the county treasurer that all property taxes are paid before a transfer may be recorded at the county register of deeds, according to the officials.
Common examples of transfers requiring tax certification include warranty deeds, land contracts and sales between unrelated buyers and sellers.
In the past, this required property buyers to visit the county register of deeds, then walk to the county treasurer, which is in a separate building in downtown Mount Clemens, then return to the county register of deeds.
About one-third of the approximately 160,000 real estate documents recorded annually at the county register of deeds require tax certification by the county treasurer.
Miller said he has been “working hard to modernize the office by updating technology and working with staff to improve office efficiency.”
“This new service will accomplish both goals while also helping to improve the quality of services we are providing to our taxpayers.”
Sabaugh said the service “will make Macomb County real estate transactions even more efficient.”
Sabaugh implemented a change in the county register of deeds system to route real estate document images to the county treasurer.
Miller created a process in the county treasurer’s office to use the system to electronically certify taxes.
Macomb County real estate documents submitted by title companies and other real estate professionals may now be electronically recorded, and electronically tax certified.
Real estate agents, title companies, attorneys and others who want to electronically record deeds may sign up for Macomb County electronic deed recording with a service provider at https://erxchange.com/UI/Help.aspx, simplifile.com, erecording.com,or goepn.com.
Sabaugh reports that about half of all documents received in 2015 were recorded electronically.
The Macomb County register of deeds received 154,817 documents for recording in 2015, including 79,304 electronically recorded documents.
All documents are searchable on the Internet through the Register of Deeds Super Index within 24-hours of filing, whether recorded electronically or on paper.
Sabaugh said the process greatly reduces the risk of real estate fraud because buyers and lenders can see the ownership chain of title with low risk of documents pending in the recording process that are not visible to the public.
Earlier, Sabaugh and Miller began providing consumer alerts to homeowners whenever a real estate document is recorded. They said this gives homeowners early information about potential fraudulent activity.
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