How do you transfer ownership of a mobile home?
Manufactured Homes February 21st, 2010My parents have given me their mobile home- we wrote up a paper stating that it is now mine and both parties signed it, but I don’t know if this will hold up if I try to sell it, etc. The trailer is an ‘89, before they came with titles.
February 21st, 2010 at 8:20 pm
It would help if I knew what state you were in.
In Ohio, selling a mobile home is much like selling a car. I find it hard to believe there was no title, unless this is a really backward state you live in.
If that is the case, though, that you transferred the sale like that, it would have been best if you had signed the document in the presence of a Notary Public, even if it was with your parents.
Here’s the thing, though. If you guys both honor the document, you will never have a problem. You’re also talking about something that doesn’t really have a whole lot of value. To you it might, I’ve lived in mobile homes and been poor and at the time it seemed like it had a lot of value to me, but it really doesn’t. Somebody would have to be nuts to get lawyers and get into a suing match over it. The lawyers would be way more expensive than the trailer, it is an ‘89 after all. Within a few years it won’t be worth much at all. So, if you get along and honor the document you won’t have a problem. If your state didn’t have titles until recently, you could always get it titled so it can be sold at a later time. This can be done when someone builds a car or a towing trailer, I’ve done that before in the past. Call your DMV and inquire.
As I said, selling a mobile home is a lot like selling a car and nothing at all like selling real estate. Real estate is much more complex, there are deed searches, land surveys, inspections, and all sorts of things involved with that.
For right now, you don’t need to do anything. For no more than what it’s worth, I wouldn’t bother with it at all. No one’s going to fight you for it down the line, I doubt. A trailer’s lifetime is usually up by 30 years unless it’s meticulously cared for, and this one’s already pushing 20.
February 21st, 2010 at 8:20 pm
I don’t know what state you are in but as far as I know they all have titles. You may need to file a lost title claim with the tax office or dmv but I would try to recover a title.
February 21st, 2010 at 8:20 pm
Many mobile homes are considered Personal Property. You may find paperwork with the Tax office.
February 21st, 2010 at 8:20 pm
it has a title unless they " Affixed" it to the land, then you have to go to the county and change the title over,