All articles about Michigan First-Time Home Buyer Guide.
Zillow's Michigan tax history shows the seller's capped Proposal A rate — not what you'll pay. Here are the tools and methods that show your actual post-transfer obligation.
The best resource for Michigan buyers pursuing MSHDA's $10,000 down payment assistance — navigating Targeted zip codes, income limits, and dual underwriting.
Michigan rural buyers face land contract risks and PFAS well water testing that urban guides ignore. Here's what you need to evaluate rural and UP property safely.
Moving to Michigan from a state with attorney closings? Michigan uses title companies, has no mandatory PFAS testing, and runs a unique property tax system. Here's what changes.
Everything Michigan first-time buyers need to know about FHA loans — credit requirements, loan limits by county, mortgage insurance, and how to layer MSHDA DPA on top.
Michigan's Proposal A uncapping can spike your property taxes $2,000-$5,000 after purchase. Here's how to calculate the real bill before you close.
Michigan's clay soil and freeze-thaw cycles make basement foundation problems far more common here than most states. Here's how to spot them before closing and what repairs cost.
A complete breakdown of Michigan closing costs for buyers — title fees, transfer taxes, escrow setup, and a full itemized estimate for a $200,000 purchase.
A plain-English breakdown of Michigan's MSHDA programs — MI Home Loan, $10K DPA, income limits, approved lenders, and how to stack them with FHA or USDA.
Comparing paid Michigan first-home guides against MSHDA.org, NerdWallet, Reddit, and Zillow — what free resources miss and when a structured guide is worth it.
What homes actually cost across Michigan's major markets in 2026 — Detroit, Grand Rapids, Ann Arbor, Lansing, Kalamazoo, and outstate — with context on what's driving each market.
How Michigan's homestead exemption, Principal Residence Exemption, and homestead property tax credit work — plus the Proposal A uncapping trap every buyer needs to know.
How the Michigan residential purchase agreement works — earnest money requirements, key contingencies, the seller disclosure form, and what title companies do instead of attorneys.
Michigan's geology creates elevated radon risk in most of the state. Here's what radon levels to watch for, how testing works, and what mitigation costs in Michigan.
Michigan real estate transfer tax explained — state and county rates, who pays by default, exemptions, and a calculator breakdown for common sale prices.
About 25% of Michigan residents rely on private wells. Here's what PFAS contamination means for rural home buyers, how to test with the MPART map, and what the $290 EGLE test covers.
How USDA Rural Development loans work in Michigan — eligible counties, income limits, how to stack with MSHDA DPA, and why rural Michigan buyers use this over FHA.