State Adds Land Seizure Site

LANSING — The Michigan Land Bank Fast Track Authority added a new feature to its Web site last week: The ability for consumers to search online for tax-reverted properties to purchase.

The Web site (found on www.” target=_blank>Michigan.gov/DLEG by clicking the Michigan Land Bank Fast Track Authority icon on the left-hand side of the page) also has links to other counties and cities throughout Michigan that have property search capabilities in their regions, including the cities of Flint, Detroit and Saginaw, as well as Hillsdale and Wayne counties.

The announcement was made by Department of Labor & Economic Growth Director David Hollister, who said the organization worked in partnership with the Michigan Department of Information Technology to develop the new capabilities.

“This new online feature will free up Land Bank Fast Track Authority staff, who answer several calls a day from people inquiring about property availability. Now they can devote more of their time to expediting the sale of properties, which ultimately benefits our communities and neighborhoods,” Hollister stated. “This new online service is in keeping with the authority’s mission of ridding our urban areas of blighted properties and encouraging housing and business investments as quickly and efficiently as possible.”

The authority was created in 2003 with the mission of returning blighted tax-reverted properties to productive and economically viable use. It has been directed to dispose of property in a manner and for an amount that is considered proper, fair, valuable and in the best interest of the community.

“Our customers now have access 24 hours a day, seven days a week to search for available properties. They no longer have to call, fax or mail a request for lists of properties — the information is now just a click away,” stated Teri Takai, director of the Department of Information Technology.