Mortgage Broker in Washtenaw County, Michigan
Align Lending works with buyers and homeowners in 8 Washtenaw County communities. We are a Michigan mortgage broker, and our office in Waterford sits about forty minutes northeast of the county.
Washtenaw County is not one housing market. A typical home in Barton Hills, near $909,000, costs more than 3 times as much as one in Milan, near $255,000. At the Barton Hills end, typical prices reach the 2026 conforming limit of $832,750, so loan size shapes the deal. At the Milan end, the check you bring to closing usually matters more.
Buying a Home in Washtenaw County
Washtenaw County is anchored by Ann Arbor and the University of Michigan, which keeps demand steady and inventory tight in a way most Michigan counties do not experience. Ypsilanti and Saline offer meaningfully different entry points, and the surrounding townships still carry acreage.
Home Values Across Washtenaw County
7 Washtenaw County communities have a city guide on our site, from Ann Arbor near $489,000 down to Milan near $255,000. The middle of the list is Chelsea, near $370,000.
| Community | Typical home value, per its city guide | Typical housing |
|---|---|---|
| Ann Arbor | $489,000 | historic homes, condos and townhomes |
| Dexter | $475,000 | historic homes, condos and townhomes |
| Saline | $427,000 | historic homes, estate and luxury homes |
| Chelsea | $370,000 | historic homes, lakefront/waterfront homes |
| Manchester | $360,000 | acreage and rural parcels, mid-century ranches |
| Ypsilanti | $272,000 | historic homes, mid-century ranches |
| Milan | $255,000 | historic homes, newer construction |
We also lend throughout Barton Hills. Those city guides are being written now.
Washtenaw County Property Taxes After a Sale, Community by Community
The year after a Michigan home sells, its taxable value resets to half of the assessor's market value, so the seller's tax bill is not your tax bill. Across the 27 assessing units in Washtenaw County, our 2026 Michigan Property Tax Uncapping Study puts the typical rise in taxable value after a sale between about 25% in Saline Township and 66% in the City of Ypsilanti, against about 38% for the county as a whole. 3 of the 27 sit above the statewide 50.5%.
| Assessing unit | Taxable value rise after a sale | Added first-year tax, $300,000 home | Parcel records |
|---|---|---|---|
| City of Ypsilanti | +66% | about $3,770 | assessing office |
| Bridgewater Township | +61% | about $1,880 | |
| Ypsilanti Township | +58% | about $2,680 | |
| Northfield Township | +48% | about $2,020 | |
| City of Milan | +47% | about $2,480 | assessing office |
| Augusta Township | +46% | about $1,700 | |
| Sharon Township | +46% | about $1,460 | |
| Salem Township | +46% | about $1,290 | |
| City of Manchester | +45% | about $2,150 | assessing office |
| Lyndon Township | +44% | about $1,650 | |
| Sylvan Township | +42% | about $1,560 | |
| Dexter Township | +41% | about $1,590 | |
| City of Ann Arbor | +39% | about $2,230 | assessing office |
| Ann Arbor Township | +38% | about $1,820 | |
| Freedom Township | +36% | about $1,320 | |
| Manchester Township | +36% | about $1,300 | |
| York Township | +35% | about $1,320 | |
| City of Dexter | +35% | about $1,890 | assessing office |
| Lima Township | +34% | about $1,340 | |
| City of Chelsea | +33% | about $1,740 | assessing office |
| Webster Township | +32% | about $1,320 | |
| Scio Township | +30% | about $1,220 | |
| Superior Township | +30% | about $1,390 | |
| City of Saline | +29% | about $1,690 | assessing office |
| Lodi Township | +27% | about $1,100 | |
| Pittsfield Township | +26% | about $1,230 | |
| Saline Township | +25% | about $1,040 |
On the same $300,000 house, that is about $3,770 more in the first year's tax in the City of Ypsilanti against about $1,040 in Saline Township, which is why we price your payment on the post-sale figure for the exact address. Figures from State Tax Commission records, at each unit's median homestead millage.
Where to Look in Washtenaw County, by the Kind of Home You Want
Sorted from what each Washtenaw County city guide says about its own homes: 2 of them describe postwar bungalows and starter homes, the largest group.
Which Loan Usually Fits Where in Washtenaw County
Set against the 2026 conforming limit of $832,750, the 7 Washtenaw County communities with a guide sort into 3 groups. The largest is "Conventional, competitive offers common", with 3. Your file and the specific property make the final call.
Conventional, jumbo only on the largest homes
Conventional, competitive offers common
Saline, Chelsea and Manchester (typical values $360,000 to $427,000).
Help With Cash to Close in Washtenaw County
Cash to close, the down payment plus closing costs plus reserves, is often the number that decides a purchase in Milan and Ypsilanti, where typical values sit between $255,000 and $272,000.
- MSHDA homeownership programs, Michigan's down payment assistance and first-time buyer loans.
- Our first-time buyer page and the budget review.
Washtenaw County Records and Official Sources
- Washtenaw County Equalization, for parcel records and the current taxable value on a specific address.
- Michigan DIFS, to verify any mortgage company or loan officer you are considering, including us.
Washtenaw County Mortgage FAQs
Do you lend everywhere in Washtenaw County?
Yes, in all 8 communities on this page, from Barton Hills to Milan, and anywhere else in Michigan.
Where in Washtenaw County is the property tax jump after a sale biggest?
In our 2026 Uncapping Study the largest typical rises in taxable value after a sale are in the City of Ypsilanti (about 66%), Bridgewater Township (about 61%), Ypsilanti Township (about 58%). The smallest is Saline Township, about 25%.
Where in Washtenaw County do buyers most often need a jumbo loan?
Where typical values sit near or above the 2026 conforming limit of $832,750: Barton Hills (near $909,000). Elsewhere in Washtenaw County most purchases fit a conforming loan.
Where are homes least expensive in Washtenaw County?
Among our city guides, Milan (near $255,000), Ypsilanti (near $272,000) and Manchester (near $360,000). A typical home in Milan costs roughly 50 percent of one in Ann Arbor, so the same budget buys a very different house across the county.
Talk With a Washtenaw County Mortgage Expert
Start with the town. Tell Samantha whether it is Barton Hills, Milan or another Washtenaw County community and what you are trying to do, and she will tell you what actually matters for your situation.
Schedule a call Start your application
Align Lending LLC · NMLS #2041154 · Equal Housing Opportunity · 2625 Pontiac Lake Road, Waterford, MI 48328 · 248-506-5727
