Michigan fix and flip FAQ
Ten questions, asked by Michigan flippers.
Specific to Michigan. For broader hard money questions — FICO floors, BRRRR strategy, the 70% rule, application flow — see the 70% rule explainer, the BRRRR mechanics breakdown, or the full FAQ.
Do you lend in Michigan?
Yes. PML funds fix and flip loans in all 50 states, with active flipper books in Detroit, Grand Rapids, Warren, and Ann Arbor. Single-family, duplex, triplex, and fourplex properties. Loan size from $100,000 to $5,000,000 per asset, with cross-collateralized facility lines available for sponsors running three or more concurrent Michigan projects. No state-line carve-outs on pricing or leverage; a Wayne County flip prices off the same rate sheet as a Kent County flip.
Is PML licensed in Michigan?
Michigan does not require a separate state lender license for business-purpose loans on 1 to 4 unit non-owner-occupied investment property held by an entity. PML originates Michigan fix and flip loans under that posture, with closings handled through the customary Michigan closing process. Loans are not consumer mortgages; they cannot be used for a primary or secondary residence. The borrower is always an LLC, LP, or corporation, never a natural person.
What is the typical Michigan loan size and ARV range?
The bulk of Michigan fix and flip activity in our book lands in a $140,000 to $325,000 ARV band, with loans typically between $115,000 and $260,000 on a single asset. Detroit and Grand Rapids skew toward the lower half of that band on entry-level cosmetic flips; Birmingham, Royal Oak, and East Grand Rapids stretch to $595,000 plus on full-gut projects. We will write a Michigan loan as small as $100,000 and as large as $5,000,000.
How does title and escrow work in Michigan?
Michigan is a title-company state. Closings happen at a licensed title company that handles both the title commitment and the escrow function — there is no attorney-state requirement and no separate settlement attorney. PML has working relationships with title companies in every major Michigan metro and routes closings to whichever office produces the fastest commitment for the subject property’s county. A clean Michigan file regularly closes 5 to 7 business days from term-sheet acceptance.
What transfer tax or recording fees apply in Michigan?
Michigan imposes a state real estate transfer tax of $3.75 per $500 of consideration plus a county transfer tax of $0.55 per $500. The buyer pays the county recording fee on the deed and mortgage. PML’s quote on the HUD reflects the actual Michigan tax and recording schedule for the subject county; there are no lender markups on third-party closing costs.
Does Michigan weather or seasonality affect rehab draws?
Northern Michigan winters slow exterior trade work (roofing, siding, concrete) from late November through March, but they do not slow our draw cadence. Inspector clears within one business day, wire goes out within 48 hours, year-round. Plan rehab budgets with a 2 to 4 week seasonal cushion on cold-weather exterior scopes.
How long does foreclosure take in Michigan if the loan defaults?
Michigan is a non-judicial foreclosure state operating under power of sale. A defaulted business-purpose loan can move from notice to trustee sale in roughly 90 days plus 6-month redemption. As a sponsor this should never matter; as an underwriting input it is one reason our Michigan loans price cleanly off the national rate sheet.
How quickly does Wayne County record a Michigan deed?
The Wayne County e-recording system normally posts a deed and deed of trust the same business day they are submitted. Other major Michigan metros (Grand Rapids, Warren and Ann Arbor) run similarly fast on e-recording. PML wires loan proceeds the day of close; the lien recording happens in parallel.
Do you fund foreclosure or auction purchases in Michigan?
Yes. Michigan trustee sales typically happen on a posted weekly or monthly schedule at the county courthouse. PML issues a binding term sheet within four business hours of a property submission, which is sufficient for most Michigan non-judicial auctions and most online foreclosure platforms. Clean title and a binding term sheet can move from winning bid to wire in 7 to 10 calendar days.
Can I close into a Michigan LLC formed after the property goes under contract?
Yes. PML can close into a newly-formed Michigan LLC even if you took the property under contract in your personal name. The closing party handles the deed transfer at closing — the property moves from your personal name into the new entity simultaneous with the loan funding, with the standard Michigan transfer-tax treatment applied at close. We do not lend to natural persons; the borrower is always an entity. We can help structure the entity if you do not yet have one in place.