Your local starting points
Local records, clearer questions
Prepare your property research in Ann Arbor
For an Ann Arbor home, match the approximate work date to the correct archive. The city’s A2Trak page describes records from roughly 2008 through March 2022 and separate digitized collections for earlier paper and microfiche records. New applications use STREAM. For a purchase or refinance, gather known permit numbers and dates of major alterations before searching. Compare any records with the home’s actual layout and condition, and ask staff about missing documents rather than assuming a single system contains the entire history.
Choose the archive by period and document type
A2Trak links separate large- and small-format archives for records from roughly 1930 through 2007. These are different entry points from its later permit and plan records. Follow the city’s current links and ask about coverage if the work predates the collections or a document is missing.
Use STREAM filters deliberately
The city’s STREAM public-search guide explains filters for record type, status and dates such as application, issuance and finalization. Choose the date field matching your question. Save the case identifier and use the parcel view to investigate related records; one matching case need not be the whole project.
Use the research in your loan comparison
Bring the address, unresolved property questions, inspection findings and recurring costs into the discussion. For a purchase, add the price, cash available and contract dates. For a refinance, include current loan statements and any additional financing or assistance. Ask for a comparison that shows costs, new balance and repayment period as well as the monthly payment.
Ann Arbor research and mortgage questions
Why might an older Ann Arbor alteration not appear in STREAM?
The city directs users to A2Trak and earlier digitized archives for older records. Check the approximate application period and relevant collection, then ask staff about gaps. The absence of a result in the newer system is not proof that no records exist.
What if records disagree with the home I toured?
Keep copies and note the specific discrepancy. Ask the responsible office, your agent or closing professional to clarify it, and tell your advisor if it affects the property description, condition or intended use. Do not assume a missing entry or informal explanation resolves it.