Owner’s title insurance is a smart choice because it protects your ownership rights against claims that could be made in the future involving your property rights. Your lender will have a title insurance policy, and we recommend you have one to protect your interests too.

Often, a manufactured house sale and/or loan will involve not only the question of title to the land, but also title to the home itself. All manufactured homes constructed after July 1, 1994 are required to have a motor vehicle certificate of title. The title to a manufactured home can only be transferred by the Department of Motor Vehicle Title Certificate and similarly, the only way to have a valid lien on the home itself for mortgage purposes is to have that lien recorded on the title.

Therefore, a property title search, by itself, will not guarantee title to any manufactured home located on the subject property. It is incumbent upon the parties involved to first recognize if a home on the land falls within the definition of a manufactured home with a permanent chassis, and if so, be sure to transfer the title or obtain a lien on the home by way of the title certificate. We recommend that the attorney for the buyer use due diligence in obtaining information from the seller before proceeding to closing.