1226 E Empire Ave, Benton Harbor, MI 49022 Property Records

Berrien County property record for 1226 E Empire Ave, Benton Harbor, MI 49022

Property Summary

Property Type	Single Family Home
Details	1 ba · 1,300 sqft · built 1924
Lot Size	1.67 acres (72,745 sqft)
Owner	Individual Name on Record
Last Sale	$80,000 (Feb 2020)
Tax Bill	$3,145 (2025)
Deeds & Mortgages	Apr 2023 Mortgage Feb 2020 Sale & Line of Credit + 1 more
Flood Zone	Zone X (minimal risk)
APN	`03-0029-0005-00-0`

Property Details

APN / Parcel Number

Primary APN	`03-0029-0005-00-0`
Alternative APN	`11-03-0029-0005-00-0`

Interior

Full Baths	1 Bath
Building Area	1,300 sqft Living Area
1st Floor Area	1,300 sqft
Basement Area	1,300 sqft
Unfinished Basement	1,300 sqft

Exterior

Year Built	Built 1924
Effective Year Built	Effective 1924
Architectural Style	Raised Ranch
Lot Area	72,745 sqft (1.67 acres)
Total Buildings	4 Buildings

Utilities, Heating & Cooling

Heating System	Forced Air with A/C

Location & Zoning

Street Address	1226 E EMPIRE AVE
City	BENTON HARBOR
State	MI
Zip	49022-3834
Property Category	Residential
Property Type	Residential > Single Family > Home
Legal Description	COM AT NE COR OF W 11.67 A OF E 30 A OF NE1/4 OF NW1/4 OF SEC 29 T4S R18W TH W 219.57'TH S 331.31' TH E 219.57'TH N 331.31'TO BEG
Legal Range	18W
Legal Township	04S
Legal Section	29
Jurisdiction	BERRIEN MI
Township / Civil Division	BENTON
Census Block Group	1
Census Block	1008
Census Tract	2100

Owner

Source: Berrien County records, as of September 28, 2026

Owner names and exact recorded amounts shown locked on this page are available instantly with a free trial.

Owner of Record	Individual Name on Record
Mailing Address	1226 E EMPIRE AVE, BENTON HARBOR, MI 49022-3834
Occupancy	Owner Occupied
Owner Type	Individual

Deeds, Mortgages & Sale History

Date	Document
Apr 10, 2023	Deed of Trust, Mortgage · Conventional Mortgage OAK MORTGAGE LLC
Feb 11, 2020	Warranty Deed, Transfer · Line of Credit MARCIA HAMILTON
May 9, 2017	Intrafamily Transfer, Transfer

Assessor's Deed Record

Deed Names	Name on Deed
Last Sale	Feb 11, 2020 · Amount on Record
Deed Sale	Feb 11, 2020 · Amount on Record
Prior Sale	Feb 11, 2020 · Amount on Record
Deed Book / Page	3264 / 2588
Prior Transfer Date	May 9, 2017
Prior Transfer Doc	03171/2050
Record Updated	Oct 29, 2026

April 2023: Deed of Trust, Mortgage

Document Type	Deed of Trust
Jurisdiction	BERRIEN MI
Property Address	1226 E EMPIRE AVE, BENTON HARBOR, MI 49022-3834
Transaction Type	Mortgage
Record Updated	Nov 9, 2023

Transferred To (Grantee/Buyer)

Name	Verified Name
Address	1226 E EMPIRE AVE, BENTON HARBOR, MI 49022-3834

Mortgage

Document Number	0003402/65
Date	Apr 10, 2023
Book Page	3402/65
Instrument	2023378411

Lender

Name	OAK MORTGAGE LLC
Type	Mortgage Company
Address	STURGIS, MI 49091

Agreement

Type	Conventional Mortgage
Amount	Amount Recorded
Term	361 Months
Due	May 1, 2053

Interest

Rate Type	Adjustable Rate
Rate	6.75%
Adjustable	Adjustable Rate Rider
Type Change Date	May 1, 2033
Change Frequency	Annually
Min Rate At Change	4.75%
Max Rate At Change	8.75%
Index	Other
Max Rate	12.7%

February 2020: Warranty Deed, Transfer

Document Type	Warranty Deed
Jurisdiction	BERRIEN MI
Recording Date	Feb 11, 2020
Property Address	1226 E EMPIRE AVE, BENTON HARBOR, MI 49022-3834
Document Number	03264/2588
Book / Page	3264 / 2588
Instrument Date	Feb 7, 2020
Transaction Type	Transfer
Record Updated	Nov 9, 2023
Title Company	FIRST AMERICAN TITLE

Transaction

Amount	Amount Recorded
Downpayment	Downpayment on Record
Loan-to-Value (LTV)	LTV on Record
Tax	$688.00
Amount Accuracy	Full Amount Stated
Additional	Arm's Length

Transferred From (Grantor/Seller)

Name	Verified Name
Address	708 PETRIE AVE, SAINT JOSEPH, MI 49085-1930

Transferred To (Grantee/Buyer)

Name	Verified Name
Address	1226 E EMPIRE AVE, BENTON HARBOR, MI 49022-3834

Mortgage

Document Number	0032642589
Date	Feb 11, 2020
Instrument	3264/2589

Lender

Name	MARCIA HAMILTON
Type	Private Party

Agreement

Type	Line of Credit
Amount	Amount Recorded

May 2017: Intrafamily Transfer, Transfer

Document Type	Intrafamily Transfer
Jurisdiction	BERRIEN MI
Recording Date	May 9, 2017
Property Address	1226 E EMPIRE AVE, BENTON HARBOR, MI 49022-3834
Document Number	03171/2050
Book / Page	3171 / 2050
Instrument Date	May 9, 2017
Transaction Type	Transfer
Record Updated	Nov 9, 2023

Transaction

Tax	$0.00
Amount Accuracy	No Consideration Stated
Additional	Intrafamily Transfer

Transferred From (Grantor/Seller)

Name	Verified Name

Transferred To (Grantee/Buyer)

Name	Verified Name
Relationship	Joint Tenants with Right of Survivorship
Address	708 PETRIE AVE, SAINT JOSEPH, MI 49085-1930

Tax Assessment & Valuation

Source: Berrien County assessment roll, as of September 28, 2026

Property Jurisdictions

Type	Name
State	Michigan
County	Berrien County
County Subdivision	Benton Charter Township
Unified School District	Benton Harbor Area Schools (PK - 12)

Tax Bill & Assessment History

Year	Tax Bill	Assessed Value	Assessed Market Value
2026		$121,800 (+5.82%)	$243,600 (+5.82%)
2025	$3,145.00 (+1.26%) Homeowner's exemption	$115,100 (+9.83%)	$230,200 (+9.83%)
2024	$3,106.00 (+12.37%)
2023		$104,800	$209,600
2022	$2,764.00

Assessed value and assessed market value are set for property tax purposes and are not market price estimates.

Flood

Source: FEMA National Flood Hazard Layer, effective September 10, 2024

FEMA Flood Zone	Zone X minimal risk
Flood Insurance Requirement	Not required lenders may require it

Values are read at the parcel center point; lenders make the official flood determination.

Wildfire

Source: USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (2nd edition), as of 2024

Wildfire Risk	Low lower than 98% of the US · lower than 95% of Michigan
Wildfire Likelihood	Under 0.01% annual chance
Exposure	None beyond ember reach

Values cover an area roughly 900 ft across, not the parcel itself; insurers use their own ratings.

Drinking Water

Source: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System, as of September 2026

Water System	SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN REGIONAL SANITARY SEW serves 26,780 people · EPA ID MI0003726
Water Source	Purchased surface water from ST JOSEPH
Last State Inspection	Feb 2025
Lead	1 ppb (2023–2025) action level 15 ppb

Violations Reported to EPA

Water Quality	None last 10 years
Treatment and Procedure	None last 10 years
Monitoring and Reporting	1 last 3 years

Results are for the whole water system, not water tested at this address; lead at the tap also depends on the building's own pipes. The service area is an EPA estimate; the actual supplier may differ.

Internet Providers

Source: FCC Broadband Data Collection, based on 127 locations within half a mile, as of December 31, 2025

Provider	Max Down / Up (Mbps)
Xfinity Cable	1,200 / 35

May also be available: AT&T.

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