Category: State Guides

We all know that with any big purchase you have to do your homework. That is even truer when buying a mobile home. That’s why we have been sharing resources for buying a mobile home in different states across the country these past few months. This week we take a look at what you should know when buying a mobile home in Arkansas.

Mobile Home Living Facts in Arkansas

It’s no secret that mobile home living is becoming more and more common across the country. But did you know that zoning laws have been changing to make it easier for new manufactured home buyers to find property? That’s just one of the facts that we found when we started exploring mobile home living in Arkansas. Here are some more interesting facts:

The average price of a pre-owned home: $67388
Average model year of a pre-owned home: 2008
Average pre-owned home size in square feet: 1554
Average sites in a manufactured home community: 78
Average year a community was developed: 1991
Number of age-restricted communities: 5
Number of all-age communities: 131

Buying a Mobile Home in Arkansas Resources

Know Before You Buy

There is no doubt that knowledge is power. That’s why it’s so important to take your time and learn all you can before you buy. Luckily, Arkansas has a lot of resources that can help. Their biggest, the Arkansas Manufactured Housing Association. Their website offers information about why mobile homes are a smart purchase along with tips to help you get the home that is right for you. You can also contact them with questions about reputable dealers, finance options and other deciding factors that go into a home purchase. You can find them here:

Arkansas MHA
1123 South University, #720
Little Rock, AR 72204
(501) 663-8444
www.amha.net

Don’t forget, you will also want to have a definite idea where you want to place your home if you are buying a new one or moving a used one to a new location. Keep in mind, there are zoning laws that will need to be considered. Also, if you are moving into a community make sure that it is a good fit for your needs.

Related: Advantages and Disadvantages of Mobile Home Parks.

Making Your Mobile Home Yours

Once you have decided on your new or new-to-you mobile home its time to make it legal. If your home is new, your dealer will typically handle all the legal steps that need to be taken to make your home yours. However, if you are purchasing a used mobile home you will need to make a trip to your local DMV to file the appropriate title paperwork to place the home in your name.

Like most states, if your home is on a permanent foundation in Arkansas, it is considered real estate and you will be responsible for property taxes each year. You can check with your local tax department to see what forms are necessary for the property.

Issues After the Sale

We all hope that when we purchase a new mobile home that there won’t be any issues. However, there may be defects from the manufacturer, installation issues or just problems that need to be resolved. Thankfully, all new homes come with a one-year warranty just for these types of problems.

However, if the home was installed incorrectly or damaged during transportation it may be tough to get these issues resolved. As soon as you see an issue, reach out to your dealer. Dealerships and builders typically have a whole staff that is in place just to handle those followup issues Make sure that you keep records of all contact you have with the dealer while you are trying to get your problems resolved and if you can’t get things handled it may be time to reach out to someone else for some resolution.

If you have tried to resolve your issues directly with the dealer/manufacturer and haven’t had any luck, it may be time to file a HUD Manufacturing Housing Complaint. Arkansas is one of about half the states across the country that handles its own disputes. You can find the contact information you need to file as well as the contact information on the Arkansas Manufactured Housing Commissions page.

Gorgeous Mobile Homes of Arkansas

As you can see, buying a mobile home in Arkansas is a pretty straightforward process. And, thanks to the web it’s easy to find plenty of homes to choose from. Sites like Zillow, Realtor.com and even facebook marketplace have tons of new and used mobile homes for you to view. Here are just a couple we found in our search.

We still have several states left to explore in the upcoming weeks so be sure to be on the lookout for our next installment. If you are wondering if we have already added resources for your state be sure to check out our State Guide section with all the states we have added so far.

As always, thanks for reading Mobile Home Living.

Thinking about buying a mobile home in Indiana? Our state guide series offers many of the resources buyers need before and after their purchase. Whether it be where to find a reputable dealer, or who to contact if there is an issue, we have you covered. You can also visit our Mobile Home Resources Section to see if we have shared information about buying a mobile home in your state!

Mobile Home Living in Indiana

There are over 6.6 million people living in Indiana. And, according to the World Population Review, it appears to be experiencing healthy growth every year. So, it should come as no surprise that mobile homes are a popular option in the state. Mobile Home Village shares the following about mobile homes in Indiana:

The average price of a pre-owned home: $47103
Average model year of a pre-owned home: 2007
Average pre-owned home size in square feet: 1228
Average sites in a manufactured home community: 120
Average year a community was developed: 1988
Number of age-restricted communities: 38
Number of all-age communities: 605

Things to Know When Buying a Mobile Home in Indiana

Finding the Right Home

Finding the right mobile home can be quite a job. There are so many choices out there it’s tough to know where to start. The Indiana Manufactured Housing Association-Recreation Vehicle Indiana Council includes over 400 members including manufacturers, retailers, installers, parks, suppliers, insurance and finance companies. If you have questions about a retailer or manufacturer they can help point you in the right direction of your new home. Visit their website or give them a call with any questions!
Indiana MHA
3210 Rand Rd.
Indianapolis, IN 46241
(317) 247-6258

Registering Your Mobile Home

When buying a mobile home in Indiana, whether it is new or used, it will need to be registered in the state. If you are buying a new mobile home from a dealer, the titling paperwork is usually submitted by the dealer for you. If you are buying a used mobile home from a private seller you will want to visit the Indiana.gov site to learn what documentation is needed and visit any Indiana local bureau of motor vehicles to submit the paperwork.

If you are placing your mobile home on real estate that you own you will want to apply to transfer your home to real estate. You can find all that is required for this application on the Indiana.gov site.

Warranty Issues

During the first year after buying a new mobile home, if there is an issue from the manufacturer or something isn’t right from installation, you have options to get those problems resolved. First, contact your dealer, preferably in writing, and let them know. Most dealers have a whole staff that handles problems after the sale. Don’t be afraid to reach out, the one year warranty is in place to handle your issues.

If you aren’t able to get the dealer/manufacturer to take care of your issues, your next step will be to file a complaint with the HUD Dispute Resolution Program. Indiana does not administer its own HUD dispute resolution program for mobile homes. However, if you have an issue with a manufacturer or installer that cannot be resolved, the National HUD dispute resolution program can help. It’s important to remember the following if you are considering filing a complaint:
The retailer, manufacturer, installer, HUD, or the State Administrative Agency was notified of the alleged defect(s) within one year after the date the home was first installed. The home was not reinstalled.

You can submit your request in the following ways:
Online
Email: ten.prdduhobfsctd-39d5eb@ofni
Phone: 571-882-2928
Fax: 888-819-5191
Mail (preferably certified)
ATTN: Manufactured Home Dispute Resolution Program
1676 International Drive
Suite 501
McLean, Virginia, 22102

The Mobile Homes of Indiana

As we mentioned before, Indiana is currently experiencing a big growth in population. And, with over 500 mobile homes available on Zillow alone, mobile home living in Indiana is a budget-friendly home choice for many. Take a look at a few that are available for sale.

As the state continues to grow, buying a mobile home in Indiana will become a common choice for potential homeowners. Not only are mobile homes a budget-friendly choice, but they also offer many of the same options as stick-built homes, including floor plan designs and custom options. The stigma that has long been attached to mobile homes seems to finally be fading!

Thanks for reading Mobile Home Living!

Our series continues, this time with a look at the information you can use when buying a mobile home in Rhode Island.

Mobile Home Living Facts About Rhode Island

Rhode Island, although the smallest state in the country is actually home to more people then states such as Montana, Alaska, and Wyoming. With just over 1 million people who call Rhode Island home, its no surprise more people are deciding to take advantage of the great opportunity of owning a manufactured home.

Mobile Home Buyer Resources

Although there are no official state associations located in Rhode Island for manufactured homes, that doesn’t mean there aren’t easy ways to research your home buying options. First, you need to decide where you will place your home and if you are looking to purchase a new home or one that is already set up. Once you have decided what you are looking for, take a look at the models available at local dealers and ask about their financing options. Visit sites such as Zillow, Realtor.com and even the facebook marketplace to see what’s out there. You will also want to visit your local bank or credit union to see if financing through them is an option.

We have several informative articles that we have published through the years to help with the home buying process as well:

• 30 Most Helpful Tips for Manufactured Home Buyers
• 5 Issues You’ll Need To Consider When Buying A Pre-Owned Mobile Home
• FHA Loans And Other Manufactured Home Financing Options

You can find these and more in our buying tips section.

After Your Purchase

After the purchase of your new or used mobile home in you will need to be titled or registered. Like most states, mobile homes that are not placed on personal real estate will need to be titled through the DMV. If you are placing the home on permanent property the home will then be considered real estate and taxes paid through the county that the home is located in.

New Home Issues

If you purchased a new home from the dealer, it automatically comes with a 1 year manufactured warranty for any flaws, defects or problems that might creep up during that first year. So, after your home has been set up, take the time to make sure that everything is the way it should be. If you see any damage or issues, contact your dealer. They typically have a whole department that handles that. Be sure to keep documentation of any correspondence with them though, if you have problems getting things resolved you will need proof that you tried to get things taken care of.

Rhode Island does not administer its own HUD dispute resolution program for mobile homes. However, if you have an issue with a manufacturer or installer that cannot be resolved, the National HUD dispute resolution program in DC may help. It’s important to remember the following if you are considering filing a complaint:

• The retailer, manufacturer, installer, HUD, or the State Administrative Agency was notified of the alleged defect(s) within one year after the date the home was first installed.
• The home was not reinstalled.

You can submit your request in the following ways:

• Online
• Email: info@huddrp.net
• Phone: 571-882-2928
• Fax: 888-819-5191
• Mail (preferably certified)

Manufactured Home Dispute Resolution Program
1676 International Drive
Suite 501
McLean, Virginia, 22102

Mobile Home Living in Rhode Island

Just like the other states we have explored, there are some gorgeous mobile home properties available when buying a mobile home in Rhode Island. Whether you are purchasing a new home and placing it in a park or on land you own or buying a used home, there are endless options. Here are just a few that we found on Zillow.

Rhode Island, though small, is a beautiful state. With such a growing population buying a mobile home in Rhode Island will continue to grow as an economical and practical home solution.

Thanks for reading Mobile Home Living.

Today we are looking at info you might need when buying a mobile home in Nevada. Did you know that Nevada is one of the best places in the United States to retire? It’s no surprise that over 35% of their population over age 65. With no personal income tax and less than 10 inches of rain a year it sounds like a great place to settle down.

Mobile Home Living Facts about Nevada

All new manufactured homes are built specifically for different climates. Homes for the Southwest regions of the U.S. are constructed as energy efficient as possible to be cost-effective to cool.

Some other interesting facts from our friends at Mobile Home Village include:

The average price of a pre-owned home: $69201
Average model year of a pre-owned home: 1996
The average pre-owned home size in square feet: 1281
Average sites in a manufactured home community: 130
The average year a community was developed: 1991
Number of age-restricted communities: 53
Number of all-age communities: 151

Info You Can Use When Buying a Mobile Home in Nevada

Buyers Resources

Titling Your New Manufactured Home in Nevada

Whether your new home is new or just new to you, it will need to have a title recorded for it in the new owner’s name. However, unlike many states, you won’t apply for a title at your local DMV office. Instead, you will contact the Nevada Housing Division for Manufactured Housing. They will be able to guide you through the process.

Carson City Location

1830 E. College Pkwy., #120
Carson City, Nevada 89706
Phone: (775) 684-2940
Fax: (775) 684-2949

Las Vegas Location

3300 W. Sahara Ave., #320
Las Vegas, Nevada 89102
Phone: (702) 486-4135
Fax: (702) 486-4309

You can also contact them to transfer your mobile home into real estate. They can give you all the necessary steps. Keep in mind, if you are purchasing from a dealer, this paperwork will usually be handled by them at the close of the sale.

After Purchase Issues

We all hope that when we buy our new mobile home things will go flawlessly. Unfortunately, that is rarely the case in the US. The dealers seem to be just as shady as the builders when it comes to issues after the sale.

If your new manufactured home has construction defects the one-year warranty will help.

However, if the home was installed incorrectly or damaged during transportation you may be in for a fight. The blame game is often used by the dealer and the builder to try to get out of repairing an issue. The dealer claims a problem is a builder problem and the builder will claim it’s the dealer’s responsibility.

I’ve read that over 80% of all after-sale complaints about manufactured homes are actually due to improper installation which justs adds a whole new layer of frustration if you have a problem. If your home was damaged during transport it may technically be a dealer issue assuming the installers are a part of the dealership. However, many dealerships use “sub-contractors” that they hire out for installation so they can pass the blame to the ‘installation company.’

As soon as you see an issue, reach out to your dealer and be prepared to fight. Dealerships and builders typically have a whole staff that is in place just to handle those followup issues and they know every excuse in the book. Keep good records of any contact you have with them in case you can’t get the problem resolved.

If you have tried to resolve your issues directly with the dealer/manufacturer and haven’t had any luck, it may be time to file a HUD Manufacturing Housing Complaint. Nevada is one of about half the states across the country that handles their own disputes. You can find the form you need to file as well as instructions for filing and contact information on the Nevada Housing Division of Manufactured Housing Page.

Living in a Mobile Home in Nevada

There are over 700 available mobile homes listed on Zillow right now in Nevada. Whether you are looking for a retirement home in a community or looking to live in a warmer climate on your own land, there’s something for everyone! Here are just a few that we came across.

As you can see, Nevada doesn’t handle mobile homes much different than other states across the country. If you are thinking about buying a mobile home in Nevada and have questions please comment below and we will try and find an answer for you! If you’re wondering if we have covered your state yet, check out our state guide section for all states we have visited so far.

Thanks for reading Mobile Home Living.

Living in a mobile home changed my life for the better. It allowed us a chance to live stylishly while still saving money for a down payment on a larger home. Needless to say, we’re big advocates for mobile home living! However, buying a mobile home, especially a used home, can be a stressful situation. We’re trying to make it easier for families to buy and live in mobile homes with our state guides. In this article, we share helpful information for anyone thinking about buying a mobile home in North Carolina.

North Carolina is a beautiful state with lots of economic opportunities (which is why half the state of West Virginia has moved there!). You have the beach on one side and the beautiful mountains on the other. NC was known for being a manufacturing and financial center of the east coast.

Here are some stats, helpful information, and contact information for mobile home buyers and owners in the state of North Carolina.

My husband and I have lived in North Carolina a couple of different times over the last 22 years. We lived in Lexington (Davidson County) for 2 years in the late 1990s when we first started out. In 2005, we moved to Southport to work with a contractor that was building houses in the Boiling Springs community. Both times, we rented a really nice single wide. Our rent in Lexington was $500 and in Boiling Springs was $600. Both on large lots in nice neighborhoods and both within 200 yards of a lake or pond (I’ve always loved being close to water).

North Carolina Mobile Home Living by the Numbers

As you already know, manufactured homes are a great investment for many people and that is especially true for North Carolina.

NC has the second highest number of mobile homes (per capita), right behind South Carolina. Mobile Home Village offers these other statistics as well:

The average price of a pre-owned home: $85869
Average model year of a pre-owned home: 2009
The Average pre-owned home size in square feet: 566
Average sites in a manufactured home community: 72
Average year a community was developed: 1997
Number of age-restricted communities: 36
Number of all-age communities: 851

Making an Informed Mobile Home Purchase

When making a mobile home purchase, whether it be a new or used home, it’s important to do your homework. Fortunately, for mobile and manufactured home buyers and sellers there are a few

The North Carolina Manufactured & Modular Home Builders Association site. While there you can learn about the home buying process, financing options and ways to protect yourself as a consumer. You can also contact them directly at:

4911 Departure Dr
Raleigh, NC 27616
919.872.2740 Fax: (919) 872-4826
gro.ahm-cnobfsctd-20bc17@ofni

Titling Your Mobile Home

Once you have purchased your new or used mobile home the next step is to make sure that it is titled within the state. If your purchase was a new home, the dealer will usually handle all that for you. But if you are buying a used home then you will need to make sure that you take care of the requirements yourself. Titling will require a Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin. You can find all the requirements on the NC DMV site.

If your mobile home is placed on a permanent foundation on land that you own the title of the home will be canceled. In its place, the county will deed the land and you will then be responsible for property taxes on it.

If There’s a Problem With a New Manufactured Home Purchase

Unfortunately, there are times that your new mobile home has issues that need to be handled. These can be problems that happened during the building of the home, during setup, or after the home is installed. Luckily, a new mobile home includes a one year manufactured warranty. There are a couple of manufactured home builders that offer 5 and even 7-year warranties. Any issues or defects from the factory or the installation are usually handled by the dealer.

Be sure to keep a record of any correspondence (typically contact them in writing via certified mail or email) so that you will have a paper trail in case your issues aren’t handled properly. Learn more about handling manufactured home warranty issues here.

If you cannot get your issues handled by dealing directly with the dealer, you can reach out to the NC Department of Insurance State Fire Marshall Office online, via phone at 1-800-587-2716, or by mail at:

Manufactured Building Division
Office of the State Fire Marshal
NC Department of Insurance
116 West Jones Street
Raleigh, NC 27603

When filing the complaint be as specific as possible and include details of any attempts to get the issue handled.

The NC Office of the State Fire Marshal’s website has a complete index of the NC Regulations for Manufactured Homes (2004 Edition) online. You can see it here.

You can also see Manufactured Housing Memos and Code Interpretation page where they have a ton of information on regulations and codes.

Mobile Home Living in North Carolina

If you are looking for a manufactured home its easier than ever to find one. Dealers can help you customize exactly what you are looking for if you are buying new and with sites like Craigslist, Realtor.com, and Zillow it’s easy to find used ones whether it be in a community or attached to property. During our recent search, there were over 1400 homes on Zillow alone! These are just a few we found.

Related: 45 Great Manufactured Home Porch Designs.

In Closing

Every state has its own unique way of dealing with mobile and manufactured homes. But one thing that all the states have in common is their growing acceptance of these homes being an affordable investment for consumers. Hopefully, we will continue to see these homes pop up as manufacturers keep making gorgeous, affordable home options.

Be sure to watch as our series will continue with a look at mobile home resources available in another state across the country! As always we appreciate you reading Mobile Home Living.

Buying a mobile home in Utah is as complicated as any other state. Mostly, because they are treated as automobiles.

Buying a mobile home in any state can sometimes be an overwhelming process. In this article, we share resources and information that can help anyone buy a mobile home in Utah.

Tips for Buying a Pre-Owned Mobile Home in Utah

If you’ve found a mobile home you want to buy in Utah you’ll need to have an inspection done by a licensed mobile home inspector. Please do. A couple of hundred dollars is well worth knowing that your subfloors aren’t waterlogged or the wiring isn’t working in one room

There are numerous articles about buying a used home:

• Buying a Used Mobile Home
• Learn Why a Manufactured Home Inspection is so Important

Facts About Mobile Home Living in Utah

Did you know that manufactured homes in Utah are built specifically with their unique climate in mind? That means they are built to be as energy efficient as possible with very low maintenance required. Some other facts about mobile homes in Utah from Mobile Home Village include:

The average price of a pre-owned home:	$67552
Average model year of a pre-owned home:	2011
Average pre-owned home size in square feet:	1249
The average sites in a manufactured home community:	108
Average year a community was developed:	1984
Number of age-restricted communities:	16
Number of all-age communities:	159

Mobile Home Titling in Utah

Assuming you’ve had the home inspected and are ready to buy, the next step is to make sure the seller has the latest title in their name. If they cannot produce a title with their name on it they will have to apply for a duplicate title and that can take weeks. Do not buy a home without a good title in your hand as soon as the money is exchanged.

Technically, you do not own a mobile home until the title has been registered in your name.

You can learn more about mobile home titles and title issues here.

Like most states, Utah uses the DMV for their title processing. If the home is attached to real estate, the title will need to be surrendered and the home will then become real estate.

The majority of the time if you purchase a new manufactured home from a dealer, they will take care of the titling process for you. Just make sure to ask during the closing process.

Application for Duplicate Title

If you need to order a new mobile home title in the state of Utah you will fill out one or more of the following forms:

• Vehicle Application For Utah Title
• Certificate Of Inspection
• Ownership Statement

You can find a lot of helpful information in the Utah Manufactured/Mobile Housing Standards of Practice booklet here.

Evidence of Ownership Checklist

If you absolutely cannot get a title you can use the following process to get one:

• Photocopy of picture(s) or a print-out of digital photo(s) of the home that clearly shows the condition of the home. (This will help determine the condition and value of the home, if necessary
• Ownership Statement, form TC-569A, containing at least the following information:

• a) A complete recital of facts explaining the absence of a negotiable title;
• b) How the home was obtained, from whom, and any other information pertinent to the acquisition or possession of the home;
• c) A statement indicating any outstanding liens or encumbrances on the home (if known); and,
• d) A description of the condition of the home.

• VIN Inspection, TC-661 form: A VIN Inspection can be completed by a Certified Safety/Emission Station Inspector or by a Utah Law Enforcement Officer.
• A completed TC-656, Application for Registration/Title along with a check or money order for $6.
• A ‘Bill of Sale(s)’, ‘Contract of Sale’, ‘Warranty Deed’, or ‘Deed of Trust’ from the previous owner. A chain of ownership is required by the DMV to verify that the current owner(s) of home are valid.
• Lien release is required, when applicable, on agency or financial institution letterhead.
• Need last 5yrs. Property tax clearance from County Assessor, to show ownership.

Check the Home for Liens

If the title is in hand your next step is to check for liens. Luckily, Utah has an online title, lien, and registration search online which is something we don’t often see. It costs $2.00 to do a search but that can help you establish whether the home you are about to buy has any liens attached to it.

Utah Department of Motor Vehicles

The DMV handles mobile home titles in Utah. You can find the contact page of their website here. Their main office address is

Utah State Tax Commission
Motor Vehicle Division
P.O. Box 30412
Salt Lake City, UT 84130

Telephone 801-297-7780 or 1-800-368-8824

To get forms about mobile homes click the following link and then type ‘mobile home’ in the white search box —-> tax.utah.gov

Reclassifying a Mobile Home from Personal Property to Real Property

You can have your manufactured home classified as real property in Utah. For the home to be considered an improvement to real property it must:

• the home must be permanently attached to the property
• the person seeking the reclassification must own the home and the land though some leased land situations may qualify.
• surrender of ownership and an affidavit of affixture
• a statement certified by the assessor of the county in which the manufactured home or
• mobile home is located that the owner of the manufactured home or mobile home

You can read all of the rules here.

Sales Tax on Mobile Homes

If I’m understanding correctly, only new manufactured homes have sales tax.

“A partial exemption for new manufactured homes and a total exemption for used manufactured homes are provided in Utah Code Ann.59-12-104(37), which exempts from taxation:(a) 45% of the sales price of any new manufactured home; and (b) 100% of the sales price of any used manufactured home.”

You can read more here.

Mobile Home Owners Associations

There are a couple of different associations for manufactured housing owners to join and get resources from in Utah. The Rocky Mountain Home Association includes several states and their goal is “to promote acceptance of manufactured and factory-built housing through education and government officials.”

Utah Housing Alliance’s website looks to have been hacked but if you can include a section to help their section to find dealers, retailers, finance companies, and even communities in the state.

Where to Turn if Things Go Wrong

Unfortunately, there are times after the purchase of a new manufactured home when things don’t go quite right. Whether its a defect from the manufacturer or a problem during the installation, sometimes you just need some help to get things fixed.

Your first option should always be reaching out to the dealer you purchased from. You can find how to report issues and get your manufactured home fixed under warranty here. Typically, they have a dedicated staff that is trained to take care of any issues you have. Don’t forget you have an automatic one year warranty with your new home. Just be sure to keep a record of any correspondence you have and try and use certified mail so you have a record of your efforts.

If you aren’t able to get your issues handled, you will need to reach out to the HUD Manufactured Housing Dispute Resolution Program. Utah doesn’t administer their program. Instead, they are a part of the federal program that is in place. You can submit your complaint in the following ways:

Online
Email: ten.prdduhobfsctd-1b8ea3@ofni
Phone: 571-882-2928
Fax: 888-819-5191

Mail (preferably certified):
ATTN: Manufactured Home Dispute Resolution Program
1676 International Drive
Suite 501
McLean, Virginia, 22102

Utah HUD State Administrative Agency (SAA)

Chris Rogers, Bureau Manager
State of Utah
Div. of Occupational and Professional Licensing
P.O. Box 146741
160 E. 300 South
Salt Lake City, UT 84111-6741
PH: (801) 530-6720
FAX: (801) 530-6511
Email vog.hatuobfsctd-16f32a@sregorc

Mobile Home Taxes

Mobile and manufactured homes are taxed in Utah based on their appraised market value. Market value is estimated one of two ways: cost approach value or sales comparison. Weber County has a website where they explain the process:

Once market value is established, taxes are assessed according to the tax rate in each tax district. Such tax is collected and apportioned to the county, cities, school districts, and other taxing entities to pay for local governmental services.

Weber County Assessor’s Office

Should you not agree with the appraisal on your mobile home you can appeal. Weber County has their form online here.

Mobile Home Park Residency Act

As manufactured homes continue to rise in popularity I hope to see more states giving mobile home owners living in parks better protections. Utah seems to have stepped up to the plate with Utah’s Mobile Home Park Residency Act here.

A Look at Mobile Home Living in Utah

Utah has very nice homes at seemingly very fair prices on Zillow.

Ready to Buy a Mobile Home in Utah?

State associations, realtor sites like Zillow, and sites like Mobile Home Living are all great resources for potential and current mobile homeowners. We are all in this together!

As always we thank you for reading Mobile Home Living.

Buying a mobile home in California is a bit more complex than other states due to two reasons: a wide variety of regulations and a wild real estate market.

California is not a cheap place to live but it’s considered a paradise for good reason. The weather is near perfect and jobs are plentiful so it’s an easy state to live in and thrive.

Mobile Home Living in California

California is most known for cool movie stars but the state has some really cool mobile and manufactured homes too. We’ve shared a ton of gorgeous mobile homes in California over the years. You can see a few luxury mobile homes in the state here.

Over 500,000 homes in California were built in a factory. That’s 3.4% of the housing stock in the state.

We found some other interesting facts on MH Village about mobile home living in California:

The average price of a pre-owned home: $138362
Average model year of a pre-owned home: 1995
Average pre-owned home size in square feet: 1276
The average sites in a community: 131
Average year a community was developed: 1985
Number of age-restricted communities: 851
Number of all-age communities: 1370 (another source we found states CA has over 4800 parks)

Where to Start When Buying a Mobile Home in California

Like most states, California has a state association that promotes mobile homes and mobile home communities. This one is a bit different, though, because it is a very active state association. The California Manufactured Housing Institute site offers valuable information about the current laws and taxes in place that affect home buyers. It also gives current information about members and who to contact for financing and community living.

To learn more about members or if you have questions you can reach them by mail, phone, or visit their site for more information:

California MHI
10630 Town Center Dr., #120
Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730
(909) 987-2599

Registering Your Mobile Home in California

Any mobile home that is not tied to a permanent foundation is required to be titled and then registered on an annual basis by the owner. The California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) has an entire section devoted to Manufactured and Mobile Homes. There you can find any necessary forms, learn about the fees associated with titling and registering and find answers to most any question.

When a home is placed on a permanent foundation in the state of California it no longer requires a title. The Consumer section of the HCD explains the process in detail as well as offers information about other things that are important to mobile homeowners.

Consumer Information Concerning Mobile Homes in California

Also, when visiting the Manufactured and Mobile Homes page you can also find information concerning mobile home park laws and what to do if you have an issue. There is also a section concerning any permits or inspections that are required if you decide to alter your home in any way. We must say we are very impressed with all the information that is available for potential and current mobile homeowners in the state. It’s nice to see a state embracing mobile and manufactured homes.

California MHP Rent Stabilization Ordinances

California is a state that has protections for mobile home park tenants. To get information on each county you can go to the Mobile Home Park Home Owners Allegiance.

The MHPMOA describes the relationship between mobile home equity and mobile home park lot rent:

Who to Contact if There’s a Problem With Your New Mobile Home

All new mobile homes include a 1-year manufactured home warranty. This warranty covers defects from the manufacturer as well as issues that may go wrong during installation. If you have an issue, 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.

Unfortunately, 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. California is one of the states that allows the federal HUD Dispute Resolution Program to handle any disputes between mobile homeowners and dealers and installers.

To utilize the HUD Manufactured Housing Dispute Resolution Program you can submit your complaint the following ways:

Online

Email: info@huddrp.net

Phone: 571-882-2928

Fax: 888-819-5191

Mail (preferably certified) to:

ATTN: Manufactured Home Dispute Resolution Program
1676 International Drive
Suite 501
McLean, Virginia, 22102Email: info@huddrp.net

Mobile Home Living in California

Mobile and manufactured homes are becoming a more and more popular choice in California. With homes ranging from under $50,000 to over $4,000,000, there are more choices than ever if you are looking for a mobile home. On Zillow alone, we discovered more than 5,000 homes for sale. Here’s just a sampling of what we found:

Register Your Mobile Home California

If you have not registered your mobile home because of back taxes or title issues the new program called ‘Register Your Mobile Home California‘ may be able to help you.

Per their website:

It’s nice to see that California has decided to utilize and encourage mobile home living in the state. With easy access to resources for buying mobile homes, as well as what to do if you have a problem with a new home or within a park, its easy to see why mobile homes are such a good option.

Be on the lookout for the next installment of our state buying guide. We will be taking a look at what you need to know when buying a mobile home in North Carolina.

Check out our Mobile Homeowner’s State Guides for all the other states we’ve covered.

Thanks for reading Mobile Home Living.