Every guide is a plate on the garage wall, hung in three rows: renting, buying and neighborhoods. Pick the plate that matches the step you are on.
Row 1RentingThe rental Certificate of Compliance, deposits and tenant rights, lead-safe homes and opening a water account.
DETROITRENT 1Rental certificate checkBefore You Rent in DetroitDetroit requires rental homes to be registered and to pass a city inspection. How the Certificate of Rental Registration and the Certificate of Compliance work, how to look up any address on the city’s rental map, and what tenants can do when a home is not compliant.4 min readDETROITRENT 2Deposits and tenant rightsSecurity Deposits and Tenant Rights in MichiganMichigan’s Landlord-Tenant Relationships Act caps deposits at 1.5 months’ rent and sets strict deadlines: 7 days for your move-in checklist, 4 days for your forwarding address, 30 days for the landlord’s damage list. Plus Detroit’s free eviction lawyers and how to spot rental scams.4 min readDETROITRENT 3Lead-safe housingLead-Safe Housing in DetroitMost Detroit homes were built before 1978, when lead paint was common. What renters and buyers with young children should check, how to find out if a home has a lead water service line, and the city’s free LeadSafe repair program for owners and landlords.4 min readDETROITRENT 4Water bills and helpWater Service in DetroitHow to open a Detroit water account as a renter or owner, what the drainage charge on your bill is, and the help available: the income-based Lifeline Plan, the EasyPay plan for past-due balances and free plumbing repairs for low-income households.4 min read
Row 2BuyingLand Bank homes, property taxes and the exemptions, down payment assistance, and permits for fixing up an older house.
DETROITBUY 1Land Bank homesBuying a Detroit Land Bank HomeThe Detroit Land Bank Authority sells city-owned houses through daily online auctions and fixed-price Own It Now listings, starting at $1,000. How bidding works, who is eligible, the deposits and closing costs, and the rehab and occupancy obligations that come with the deed.4 min readDETROITBUY 2Property taxes and exemptionsDetroit Property Taxes for New HomeownersHow Detroit property taxes are calculated in mills, why every new homeowner must file Michigan’s Principal Residence Exemption by June 1 or November 1, and how the HOPE poverty exemption can reduce or eliminate a year’s taxes for eligible households.4 min readDETROITBUY 3Down payment helpDetroit Down Payment AssistanceDetroit’s Down Payment Assistance Program offers up to $25,000 toward down payment, closing costs and rate buy-downs. Who qualifies, including the 12-month Detroit residency rule, the steps in order, what the money can cover and the three-year residence requirement.4 min readDETROITBUY 4Permits and inspectionsFixing Up a Detroit HomeRenovating an older Detroit house usually means permits from the Buildings, Safety Engineering and Environmental Department. How the online permit process works, which work needs separate water, sewer or right-of-way permits, how inspections end in a Certificate of Acceptance, and where free repair help exists.4 min read
Row 3NeighborhoodsChoosing a neighborhood with the city’s free maps, getting around by bus, the city income tax and Detroit winters.
DETROITHOOD 1Choosing a neighborhoodChoosing a Detroit NeighborhoodDetroit spans 139 square miles, and conditions can change block by block. Census figures for the city as a whole, and the free official map tools that show rental compliance, Land Bank property, lead service lines, drainage and basement backup history for any address.4 min readDETROITHOOD 2Getting aroundGetting Around Detroit by BusThe Detroit Department of Transportation is Michigan’s largest public transit provider. How to pay with the Token Transit app and the Dart regional pass, who qualifies for reduced fares and how to apply, where the main transit centers are, and what to know about accessibility and reporting problems.4 min readDETROITHOOD 3City income taxDetroit’s City Income TaxLiving or working in Detroit means a city income tax on top of Michigan’s. The current rates, the $600 personal exemption, how nonresidents who work partly outside the city allocate their income, the April 15 and quarterly deadlines, and the 2027 move to Michigan Treasury’s online system.4 min readDETROITHOOD 4Winters and basementsDetroit Weather for NewcomersWhat NOAA’s climate normals say about Detroit’s winters and summers, and why basement flooding is the weather risk homeowners and renters most need to plan for, with DWSD’s advice on backwater valves, sump pumps and downspouts and how to file a damage claim.4 min read