This story is part of The Speculators of Detroit, which looks at how bad actors have destabilized neighborhoods, left many residents without safe housing and cost the city hundreds of millions. 

During the worst years of Detroit’s tax foreclosure crisis, about a decade ago, Wayne County could send upward of 20,000 properties to the auction block every year. Renters, and sometimes even owners, would have no idea their house was for sale — or worse, that it had been sold out from under them. 

Over the last eight years, Outlier reporters have learned about all kinds of situations where timely property information was critical. If you want to use our text message service, TXT OUTLIER, to look up a property in Detroit, just text an address (just the number and street name like this, 123 Anderson) to 67485. * 

Read on for a few examples of why you might want to get more information about an address and how to do it. 

Who owns the property I want to rent, buy or live in? 

The infamous fake landlord scam, where someone pretends to own a home and collects rent, preys on people who trust too much and ask too few questions. If you’re thinking of renting a new place, buying in cash or have questions about the place you’re living in, you can verify the owner by looking up the property. Make sure the information matches your lease or sale agreement. 

To find the property owner, you can use TXT OUTLIER: Text the address to 67485 * and get a free report. If you have more questions, you can talk directly to a reporter. 

You can also check the City of Detroit’s Open Data Portal, but the information can be a month or two out of date. The most accurate information comes from the Wayne County’s Register of Deeds, where all property transactions including sales and mortgages are recorded. Outlier uses this data for our text system, and we update it regularly. There’s a limited, free Register of Deeds lookup — but a more detailed search costs $6 for every 15-minute session, plus $2 for every page download. 

What if something doesn’t match? 

There are a few legitimate reasons a property’s true owner might not show up on a lease or a rent bill. In some cases, the owner may have hired a management company to lease the property and collect rent. Reputable management companies have websites and contact information. Call them to confirm the person trying to rent the place or collect money is authorized. 

If public records don’t match up, it could be because the property was recently sold and the official paperwork hasn’t caught up yet. 

If you’re using TXT OUTLIER, text the word REPORTER to 67485. * We’ll look into it for you. 

Who’s responsible for the blighted property on my block? 

To find the owner of a blighted property, follow the same steps as looking up a landlord. It can sometimes be difficult to find the address for blighted properties or vacant lots. At Outlier, we often start by entering a nearby address into Google Maps. Street view can help identify the property you’re looking for. You can then text that address to TXT OUTLIER or look it up on city or county websites. If you’re having trouble, just reach out. 

What if the property owner is hiding behind a company? 

If the property is owned by a company — especially if it’s a limited liability company (LLC) — you’ll need to dig deeper. Many Detroit properties are owned through LLCs. Some property speculators in particular work hard to hide their identities and those of their investors. But there are ways to gather clues about who is behind an LLC. 

Michigan law requires all LLCs and corporations doing business in the state to be registered. You can look up any company for free in a state database. 

These state filings list a “registered agent,” who may not be the owner, but this name can help you find the owner. You can also view company filings to see if they list any “members” or owners. You can always reach out to an Outlier reporter for help. 

Is tax foreclosure a risk for my address? 

Programs that help struggling homeowners pay property taxes mean fewer Detroiters are carrying tax debt, but it can still be important to check the tax history for your property. And, if you’re buying a new house — especially in cash — you will want to check how much tax the current owner has due. If it’s not paid off before the sale, it becomes the buyer’s responsibility. 

The county can foreclose on a property once an annual tax bill goes unpaid for three years. The deadline for overdue taxes from the previous year is March 1. To check the tax status of a property, you can text the street address to TXT OUTLIER or look it up on the Wayne County Treasurer’s website. 

There is help available for taxes that are overdue or create a financial hardship. 

Is my place a registered rental? 

City rules require rental properties to be registered and inspected. But for years the city has been behind on enforcement. Still, you might want to know if your landlord has tried to register the property because it can be a mark of professionalism. The city has a searchable rental registration map you can use to check a property’s registration status or report an unregistered rental.