United States · Real Estate Transfer Tax (RETT)
Michigan's real estate transfer tax is a flat $3.75 per $500 (0.75%) of the sale price, and by law the seller pays it unless the contract reassigns it. Some counties add an optional $0.55 per $500 (0.11%) on top. On a $300,000 home the state RETT is $2,250 — a modest, predictable line in the seller's closing statement. Michigan's property taxes are comparatively high (the state constitution caps annual growth but not the initial assessment), so buyers should weigh the annual bill more than the transfer tax.
Preset rates are indicative reference values only. Confirm current rates and any reliefs with your local tax authority.
Jurisdiction comparison at $300,000.00
Michigan pays $2,250.00 (0.75%) vs Michigan at $2,250.00 (0.75%).
State RETT of $3.75 per $500 (0.75%) paid by the seller, plus an optional county tax of $0.55 per $500 (0.11%) where adopted. Bands below are the standard residential buyer schedule used by the calculator.
| Property value | Rate |
|---|---|
| All values | Flat 0.75% of the full value |
Indicative figures compiled August 2026 — official source: Michigan Department of Treasury. Rates are typically indexed or revised each financial year.
A USD 300,000.00 purchase in Michigan attracts about USD 2,250.00 in real estate transfer tax (rett) at the standard indicative rates — an effective rate of 0.75%. Recording fees run $30–60; title insurance is standard. That makes the all-in cash requirement USD 302,250.00 before you factor in any deposit, legal work, or moving costs. Adjust the price in the calculator to model your own number.
State RETT of $3.75 per $500 (0.75%) paid by the seller, plus an optional county tax of $0.55 per $500 (0.11%) where adopted. Rates change with legislation and vary by buyer circumstances, so treat these as planning figures and confirm the current rate with Michigan Department of Treasury before you commit.
At the indicative rates above, a USD 300,000.00 property attracts about USD 2,250.00 in real estate transfer tax (rett) — an effective rate of 0.75%. Recording fees run $30–60; title insurance is standard.. The calculator above lets you change the price and see the result instantly.
There is no general first-time buyer exemption in Michigan at the standard indicative rates. State RETT 0.75% is seller-paid by default. Check current eligibility rules with Michigan Department of Treasury.
The buyer pays the tax in essentially every case in this market. It is payable in full before or at settlement and cannot normally be added to a mortgage, so it must be part of your cash budget alongside the deposit.
How we calculate: the calculator applies the official band schedule marginally — each rate applies only to the slice of the price inside its band, exactly as the revenue authority does. Worked examples are computed with the same function.
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Disclaimer: real estate transfer tax (rett) rates change with legislation and vary by buyer circumstances. These are indicative planning figures, not tax advice — confirm every number with Michigan Department of Treasury or a qualified local professional.
