1553 E Empire Ave, Benton Harbor, MI 49022 Property Records

Berrien County property record for 1553 E Empire Ave, Benton Harbor, MI 49022

Property Summary

Property Type	Single Family Home
Details	1 ba · 1,288 sqft · built 1950
Lot Size	1.09 acres (47,480 sqft)
Owner	Individual Name on File
Last Sale	$20,000 (Jun 2017)
Tax Bill	$1,464 (2025)
Deeds & Mortgages	Jun 2017 Sale
Flood Zone	Zone X (minimal risk)
APN	`03-0020-0057-00-6`

Property Details

APN / Parcel Number

Primary APN	`03-0020-0057-00-6`
Alternative APN	`11-03-0020-0057-00-6`

Interior

Full Baths	1 Bath
Building Area	1,288 sqft Living Area
1st Floor Area	1,288 sqft

Exterior

Year Built	Built 1950
Effective Year Built	Effective 1950
Architectural Style	Raised Ranch
Lot Area	47,480 sqft (1.09 acres)
Lot Dimensions	527 ft deep x 90 ft wide
Garage Area	480 sqft
Parking Spaces	2 Parking Spaces

Utilities, Heating & Cooling

Heating System	Forced Air with A/C

Location & Zoning

Street Address	1553 E EMPIRE AVE
City	BENTON HARBOR
State	MI
Zip	49022-2021
Property Category	Residential
Property Type	Residential > Single Family > Home
Local Zoning Code	A2 SING FA
Legal Description	COM 825.62'W OF SE COR SEC 20 T4S R18W TH N 527.62'TH W 90'TH S 527.62'TH E 90'TO BEG
Legal Range	18W
Legal Township	04S
Legal Section	20
Jurisdiction	BERRIEN MI
Township / Civil Division	BENTON
Census Block Group	1
Census Block	1001
Census Tract	2100

Owner

1553 E Empire Ave is owned and occupied by an individual who bought it in June 2017.

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

Owner of Record	Individual Name on File
Mailing Address	1553 E EMPIRE AVE, BENTON HARBOR, MI 49022-2021
Occupancy	Owner Occupied
Owner Type	Individual

Owner names and exact recorded amounts are on file and can be viewed instantly on this page with a free 10-day trial.

Deeds, Mortgages & Sale History

Assessor's Deed Record

Deed Names	Name on Deed
Last Sale	Jun 26, 2017 · Amount on File
Deed Sale	Jun 26, 2017 · Amount on File
Prior Sale	Sep 30, 2014 · Amount on File
Deed Book / Page	3175 / 2882
Prior Transfer Date	May 2, 2013
Prior Transfer Doc	03036/0804
Record Updated	Oct 29, 2026

June 2017: Warranty Deed, Transfer

Document Type	Warranty Deed
Jurisdiction	BERRIEN MI
Recording Date	Jun 26, 2017
Property Address	1553 E EMPIRE AVE, BENTON HARBOR, MI 49022-2021
Document Number	03175/2882
Book / Page	3175 / 2882
Instrument Date	Jun 26, 2017
Transaction Type	Transfer
Record Updated	Nov 9, 2023

Transaction

Amount	Amount on Record
Tax	$172.00
Amount Accuracy	Full Amount Stated
Additional	Arm's Length

Transferred From (Grantor/Seller)

Name	Verified Name

Transferred To (Grantee/Buyer)

Name	Verified Name
Address	5553 E EMPIRE AVE, BENTON HARBOR, MI 49022-9721

Tax Assessment & Valuation

The 2025 property tax bill for 1553 E Empire Ave was $1,464.

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		$44,100	$88,200
2025	$1,464.00
2023		$36,700	$73,400
2022	$1,264.00

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

Flood

FEMA maps place 1553 E Empire Ave in Zone X, an area of minimal flood risk.

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

Wildfire risk around 1553 E Empire Ave is low, with less than a 0.01% annual chance of wildfire.

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

Wildfire Risk	Low lower than 94% of the US · lower than 85% of Michigan
Wildfire Likelihood	Under 0.01% annual chance
Exposure	Direct burnable vegetation

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	BENTON HARBOR serves 9,103 people · EPA ID MI0000600
Water Source	Surface water
Last State Inspection	Jan 2025
Lead	Under 1 ppb (2025) action level 15 ppb

Violations Reported to EPA

Water Quality	Treatment failure resolved · Sep 2021 Failure to filter resolved · May 2021
Treatment and Procedure	Organic carbon removal Apr 2026 Treatment change without state approval Sep 2021 Lead public education Aug 2021
Monitoring and Reporting	None 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 56 locations within half a mile, as of December 31, 2025

Provider	Max Down / Up (Mbps)
Xfinity Cable	1,200 / 35
Verizon Fixed Wireless	300 / 20
Starlink Satellite	280 / 30