Looking to dive deeper? These links will take you to summaries of research, best practices, and resources about key topics related to housing in Detroit.
Tax foreclosure and other forms of housing displacement are very serious issues in Detroit. The scope of the problem can be quite daunting and understanding the nuances challenging. These resources can be used to learn about this topic and access several resources for Detroit homeowners and renters facing displacement.
Tax foreclosures occur after a property owner does not pay property taxes for four years. At this point, the government seizes the property, evicts any residents, and auctions off the property to make up the delinquent taxes.
Since 2002, when Wayne County started auctioning off tax foreclosed properties, 90% of all tax auction purchases have been to investors, many of whom buy in bulk.
Around $34 million was spent by the City of Detroit to demolish houses purchased by speculators in the tax foreclosure auction.
On average between 2012 and 2016, each year nearly 35,000 owner-occupied households (28.2% of the city’s homeowners) met income eligibility guidelines for a full exemption from property taxes, while an additional 4,220 qualified for a partial exemption. However, only 4,645 homeowners applied in 2016—just 11.9% of those eligible.
More than 1 in 6 children born in large U.S. cities experience eviction by age 15.
Renters often find themselves evicted for calling 911, even in emergency situations that impact their health and safety. This paper investigates the public health impact that includes domestic violence and other calls for emergency services in the te...
This paper analyzes survey data of renters in Milwaukee to better understand involuntary displacement and its impact on where an evicted renter moves to. The paper finds most displaced renters relocate to poorer and higher-crime neighborhoods....
This paper performs a literature review on 40 studies to help understand the impacts of foreclosures on health-related outcomes. The paper identifies four pathways to health impact. Research suggests that both foreclosures and living near foreclosure...
This paper reviews the potential impacts of redlining on current segregation of Detroit neighborhoods. The research finds that neighborhoods with greater history of segregation and redlining have worse neighborhood outcomes, possibly increasing curre...
This research paper studies the impact of evictions on low-income households. The report finds that evictions are associated with higher rates of homelessness, emergency room use, and long-term instability....
This report examines the health impacts of tax foreclosures and evictions on former owners. It also explores the use of data tools by governments to target property demolitions. Lastly, the paper looks at potential imperfections of these tools as wel...
This paper explores housing insecurity, especially evictions, and its relation to the foreclosure market in Detroit. It also examines how evictions and tax foreclosures build the portfolios of speculators and slum lords. It estimates the neighborhood...
This paper explores the impact of Medicaid expansion on national rates of evictions. The paper found that Medicaid expansions were associated with a decline in evictions. The paper suggests that further healthcare support could continue to reduce e...
Based on interviews with 127 randomly sampled landlords and property managers, this research exposes how landlords avoid evictions by utilizing the threat of eviction. The paper explains how landlords use the threat of eviction, because it is cheape...
This paper analyzes potential factors that help predict an individual’s risk of eviction. It identifies family size, job loss, neighborhood crime, neighborhood eviction rates, and less robust social networks as relevant predictors of eviction, regar...
This paper utilizes a panel of children from 20 major U.S. cities and finds that 1 in 6 children suffer from at least one eviction before the age of 15. It suggests that housing evictions should be investigated further because of this prevalence and...
The research paper describes the process of evictions and foreclosures in Detroit and its impact on Detroit residents. It shows how the tax foreclosure process serves as a pipeline for speculators and bulk buyers in Detroit. It points out possible...
This research paper controls for various factors to show that residential properties with higher assessment ratios sold since 2009 were more likely to experience tax foreclosure. It estimates that about 10% of tax foreclosures were caused by illegall...
This article details the overassessment of Detroit properties prior to the mass tax foreclosures in the city, as well as an argument contesting the legality of the foreclosure process. Using assessment and sales data from 2009–2015 for the entire Cit...
This report examines each stage of the Homeowners Property Tax Assistance Program application process, identifying where residents might have problems accessing the program. The findings reveal that many residents are eligible and face considerable t...
This is the section of the Michigan Compiled Laws that pertains to property taxes as it has been changed since being passed in 1999....
The law detailing the auctioning of tax-delinquent properties....