How to Buy a Used Manufactured Home

Licensed sales professionals can assist you in the purchase of a used manufactured home. In some states, real estate licensees can facilitate sales transactions of manufactured homes affixed to land. There are also licensed manufactured sales agents. But before you begin shopping, there are important factors to consider.

Instructions

1. Ask if the manufactured home is sold with or without the land. If it is not being sold with the land, find out if the manufactured home will need to be moved. Find out if it is on lease land or in a mobile home park where you intend to leave the unit.

2. Inspect the land or mobile home park lease if the unit is on lease land and you intend to keep it at its current location. While the seller may believe you will be able to leave the home on its site, typically a new owner will be required to apply for residency. If you fail to do this, it is possible you will need to move the unit once the sale closes.

3. If it is being sold with land, verify that the manufactured home has been affixed to that land. If it is not affixed, it will be considered personal property. If it has been affixed (which is typically recorded with the county) it will be considered real property. Laws on affixture may vary by state. This will impact the type of loan you can get on the property.

4. Learn the age of the manufactured home. Manufactured homes built during the 1970s may be difficult to finance, and many mobile home parks have age limits on units brought into the park. If you intend to purchase the manufactured home to move it, you will want to discover if it will be welcomed at its intended location.

5. Consider the width of a manufactured home. Some lenders will not loan on manufactured homes that are a single-wide. If you need a loan to purchase the used manufactured home, its age, width and affixture will be considerations with lenders.

6. Hire a home inspector. Before purchasing a used manufactured home, locate a licensed home inspector who has experience inspecting manufactured homes.

7. Consider resale. If you plan to resale the unit, consider its age, which may make it impossible to resale after a few years.

8. Investigate the laws of titling, registering and licensing manufactured homes in the state you are shopping, as this may vary by state.

References

• FTC on Buying a Manufactured Home

Resources

• Before You Buy a Mobile Home