Helpful Resources When Buying a Mobile Home in Ohio

Buying a mobile home is a big decision. That’s why for the past couple of months our state guide has been taking a look at things you need to know about the buying process. Last week, Buying a Mobile Home in Montana was our focus, and this week our attention turns to helpful resources you can use when Buying a Mobile Home in Ohio.

The Facts About Mobile Home Living in Ohio

According to a recent article, there are over 194,000 mobile homes in Ohio, which make up almost 4% of the total housing in the state. Mobile Home Village offers these other statistics about mobile homes in Ohio as well:

• The average price of a pre-owned home:   $54655
• Average model year of a pre-owned home:   2006
• Average pre-owned home size in square feet:   1304
• The average sites in a manufactured home community:   97
• An average year a community was developed:   1969
• Number of age-restricted communities:   151
• Number of all-age communities:    1008

Helpful Resources to Have When Buying a Mobile Home in Ohio

Ohio’s State Association

The Ohio Manufactured Home Association is an excellent resource for potential buyers and mobile homeowners. They offer information about commonly asked questions including:

• How much home can I afford?
• What financing is available?
• Where will I place my home?
• Are there other costs involved in buying a mobile home in Ohio?

You can also find licensed dealers that are in good standing within in the state. For more information visit their site or contact them directly.

Ohio Manufactured Homes Association
244 Bradenton Avenue
Dublin, Ohio 43017-3540
(614) 799-2340

Titling Requirements

Ohio requires that mobile homes in the state have a certificate of title if it is on leased property (such as a mobile home community). The title application needs to be in the county that the home is in and made within 30 days of purchase. You will need to have the application, the certificate of origin of the home, how much it is selling for and all the required fees.

Typically if you are purchasing a new home, the dealer will take care of all of this for you. Like most states, if you are attaching the mobile home permanently to property, you will want to archive the title and attach a deed to the home and property and pay any taxes due.

In either case, you will need to contact the local auditor’s office in your county to obtain the necessary forms and find out the exact fees due.

Resolving Warranty Issues

As we have talked about before, all new mobile homes include a 1-year manufactured home warranty. The warranty covers defects from the manufacturer as well as issues that may go wrong during installation.  Be sure to keep good records of any communications (preferably communicate in writing) so that you have a paper trail showing you have tried to resolve your issues within the first year.

There are times however that you aren’t able to get your problems taken care of by dealing directly with the dealer. In those cases, you will want to file a dispute with the state to get it resolved.

Contact them directly or visit their site to learn more about filing a complaint:

Manufactured Homes Program
6606 Tussing Road
Reynoldsburg, OH 43068-9009
614-644-2223
Fax 614 -644-2618

Ohio Department of Commerce Manufactured Home Division

In early 2018 Ohio dismantled the Manufactured Home Commission in the state and reorganized under the Ohio Department of Commerce which is now handling certifications and licensing of manufacturers, dealers, and installers as well as any warranty issues that cannot be resolved between consumers and dealers.

Just like on the Ohio State Association page, the Ohio Department of Commerce Manufactured Home Division site is full of information for consumers and professionals alike. If you have any questions about whether buying a mobile home in Ohio is right for you this is a great place to start the research process.

The Mobile Homes of Ohio

One of our favorite sources for finding cool mobile homes available across the country is Zillow. There are currently over 500 mobile available on the site, including tiny homes, homes in mobile home communities, and many homes that include land. Here are just a few that we found:

Related: Mobile Home Doorway Awnings: Cooling Your Home in Style.

As you can see buying a mobile home in Ohio can be a wise investment. The state appears to take a big interest in the manufactured home industry and making sure that consumers are protected. Also, there is an abundance of homes available no matter what you may be looking for.

Our state guide series continues next week with a Look at what you need to know when buying a mobile home in Texas, stay tuned.

Thanks for reading Mobile Home Living®.