How To Check Mandan Special Assessments Before You Buy

Surprised by a line on a tax bill is the last thing you want after closing. In Mandan, special assessments can add thousands to your long-term costs or show up late in the process if you do not know where to look. You deserve a clear, repeatable way to check every property before you write an offer. This guide shows you exactly where to search, how to read what you find, and what to do if a special pops up. Let’s dive in.

Why Mandan special assessments matter

Special assessments help pay for improvements like streets, water, or sewer. Under the North Dakota Century Code, these assessments become a lien on a property when the city approves the assessment list, and they take priority over most other liens except general taxes. You should treat them like any other encumbrance on title because they can follow the property if not paid at closing. Review the rules in the North Dakota Century Code Title 40, Chapter 40-24.

Quick check: your first 3 steps

1) City of Mandan dashboard

Start with the City’s Special Assessment Inquiry Dashboard. It shows project codes, original amounts, remaining balances, interest, years left, the estimated annual installment, and what is currently due. The City notes the dashboard is updated monthly, and pending specials may not appear, so call Finance at 701-667-3271 or email [email protected] and Engineering at 701-667-3225 if anything looks unclear. See the City’s dashboard announcement for details on what is included and how often it updates on the Special Assessment Inquiry Dashboard page.

2) Morton County property and tax lookup

Search the county site by parcel or address to see if any annual installments have been certified and placed on the tax roll. Certified installments appear on the county tax history and are collected with property taxes by the treasurer. Use the Morton County property and tax lookup to confirm.

3) Title commitment and exceptions

Ask your title company for a preliminary commitment and request in writing whether they checked city special assessment records, not just county records. Title policies address taxes and assessments, but coverage and exceptions vary by policy and endorsements. For background on how policies treat assessments, review this example from Stewart Title on title insurance coverage and exceptions.

Certified vs. pending specials

Pending or uncertified specials are often visible in city engineering files, commission minutes, and staff records, but they may not appear in county searches. They can still become liens under state law once the city approves the assessment list. City guidance notes these items might not show up in county tax records until certification, so verify with the city if you suspect a pending project. Review the City’s overview on the Mandan Special Assessments page.

Certified installments are sent by the City to the county auditor by November 1 each year. After certification, the county treasurer collects them with the property taxes and they show up on your tax statement. North Dakota law also explains when installments become liens and how payments are routed between the county and the city. The rules and timing are in Title 40, Chapter 40-24.

How to read your results

• On the City dashboard, note the project code, remaining balance, interest rate, years remaining, estimated annual installment, and the sum currently due. Save a screenshot for your records.
• On the Morton County lookup, confirm whether any installment is listed in the most recent tax year. That tells you it has been certified and will be collected with property taxes.
• If the dashboard shows no results but you heard about nearby improvements, call Mandan Finance or Engineering to ask about pending districts that have not been certified yet. The City updates the dashboard monthly and may have recent actions that are not yet posted.
• City guidance notes annual installments are certified by November 1. Certain payments can be made without interest through February 15 of the following year, and uncertified portions are paid to the City auditor. Those details affect what you see and where you pay on or before closing.

Buyer checklist and questions to ask

Follow this simple workflow before you offer and again before closing:

1. Search the City of Mandan dashboard by parcel and address. Save the results and write down balances, interest, years, and annual installments. For clarifications or pending items, call Finance at 701-667-3271 or email [email protected], and call Engineering at 701-667-3225. Reference the dashboard details.

2. Run the Morton County property and tax lookup. Save the tax history page that shows any certified installments. Contact the county treasurer to verify payoff procedures and deadlines.

3. Ask your title company for a preliminary commitment. Request written confirmation of any exceptions for special assessments and whether they checked city records. See an example of policy treatment in Stewart’s summary of coverage and exceptions.

4. Request from the seller: signed disclosures of known specials, any City payoff certificate, and any documents from the assessment commission or city engineer that mention the property. If the seller is unsure, ask the City for a written statement about pending assessments. The City’s overview is on the Mandan Special Assessments page.

5. Check City commission minutes and public notices for newly formed or recently approved districts. If a district was approved and certification is likely by November 1, build protection into your contract.

Sample questions you can use:

• “Has the City of Mandan assigned any special assessment to this parcel? Please provide the dashboard printout and any City payoff certificate.”
• “Are there pending improvement districts or hearings that could affect this parcel?”
• “What does the Morton County tax history show for recent certified installments?”
• “Please explain any title commitment exceptions for special assessments and how they will be cleared.”

What to do if you find a special

• Ask the seller to pay it off at closing. For certified installments on the tax roll, the title company can pro-rate or collect and pay through the county. For uncertified balances, the City auditor can provide a payoff certificate and accept payment directly, consistent with Title 40, Chapter 40-24.
• If the seller will not pay in full, negotiate a credit or escrow holdback so funds are set aside to clear the lien after closing.
• If you agree to take over future installments, get it in writing and make sure the title policy reflects any remaining risk or exceptions. Review policy language on coverage and exceptions.
• If a seller misrepresented knowledge of assessments, outcomes depend on facts and timing. Older North Dakota case law shows disputes often turn on whether the assessment had been certified and what was disclosed. See an example in Halverson v. Boehm. Most issues resolve through payoff, credits, or title insurance. Consider speaking with a real estate attorney for serious disputes.

Red flags that need quick follow-up

• The City dashboard shows a larger balance than the seller disclosed.
• The county tax history lists a new certified installment not shown on the seller’s statement.
• The City approved a district and publication or appeals are in progress.
• The title commitment includes a “special assessments” exception without a payoff figure or a plan to clear it.

Local contacts and links

• City of Mandan Finance: 701-667-3271, [email protected]
• City of Mandan Engineering: 701-667-3225
• City guidance and dashboard overview: Mandan Special Assessments page and dashboard details
• County property and tax search: Morton County property and tax lookup
• Statutes: North Dakota Century Code Title 40, Chapter 40-24

Ready for help in Mandan?

You do not have to sort this out alone. If you want a clear assessment check, smart contract terms, and a smooth closing, connect with Travis Huber to walk through your specific property and next steps.

FAQs

What is a special assessment in Mandan?

• A city-assessed charge to a property for public improvements like streets, water, or sewer that becomes a lien and may be collected with property taxes under North Dakota law.

How do I see if a Mandan property has pending or certified specials?

• Check the City’s dashboard for balances and call Finance or Engineering for pending items, then confirm certified installments on the Morton County tax lookup.

When are Mandan specials certified to the county tax roll?

• The City certifies annual installments to the county auditor by November 1, and the county treasurer then collects them with property taxes.

Who do I pay if I need to clear a special before closing?

• Pay certified installments through the county treasurer and uncertified balances to the City auditor using a written payoff figure or certificate.

Does title insurance cover special assessments in North Dakota?

• It depends on your policy and endorsements, so review the title commitment for any assessment exceptions and ask the title company to confirm coverage in writing.

What if a seller did not disclose a Mandan special assessment?

• Ask for documentation, confirm with the City and county, and seek a resolution such as payoff, credit, or escrow; for significant disputes, consider legal counsel.