Are you buying or selling a mobile home in the greater Sarasota Florida area but aren’t sure what documents you need? Maybe you’re about to buy and don’t understand what role a title plays in the process. Or perhaps you’re selling and don’t know what to do with your title when the time comes. Don’t worry—these questions are common among mobile home buyers and sellers.
Understanding What A Sarasota Florida Mobile Home Title Means
When buying or selling a mobile home in Sarasota Florida, the first thing to confirm is where the home is located and what type of park it’s in. Surprisingly, this detail changes how the sale is handled. In Florida, if the mobile home includes land ownership, it’s treated as real estate and comes with a deed. However, if the home is in a leased-land park, the transaction is considered personal property, and a mobile home title is issued instead.
The title itself looks similar to a vehicle title and comes on a blue sheet of paper. Each side of the home has its own title—so a double-wide mobile home will have one title for side A and another for side B.
Before finalizing the sale, make sure the seller’s name appears on the title. This ensures they are the legal owner and can transfer ownership without complications.
Registration and Decals
All mobile homes must display a current registration decal, even when unoccupied. For homes on rented land, decals expire every December 31 and must be renewed annually. Registration fees depend on the home’s length, and each unit—double-wide or triple-wide—requires its own decal.
If you own the land where your mobile home sits, you must obtain a permanent Real Property (RP) decal. To get this, visit the Property Appraiser’s Office for a Declaration of Real Property, then bring it to the Tax Collector’s Service Center to purchase your RP decal.
Registration Renewal Process
Florida law requires mobile home registrations and decals to be renewed yearly before they expire. Failure to display a current decal can result in fines or property tax penalties. Renewals can be done online, by mail, or in person.
Tax offices send courtesy renewal notices about three weeks before expiration. Even if you don’t receive one, it’s still your responsibility to renew. Staying proactive ensures you remain compliant and avoid unnecessary fees.
Transferring A Sarasota Florida Mobile Home Title
Whenever a mobile home sale occurs, both buyer and seller must have all necessary titles ready for transfer. On the top left corner of each title, you’ll find the owner’s name or names. Pay close attention to whether the names are joined by “and” or “or.”
- If the names are joined by “and,” both owners must sign the title before it can be transferred, unless one is deceased or under an exceptional circumstance.
- If the names are joined by “or,” either person can sign the title for a valid transfer.
These small details are crucial because missing signatures or incorrect handling can delay or even void the transaction.
Final Thoughts
Understanding What Is A Sarasota Florida Mobile Home Title helps you navigate the buying or selling process with confidence. It clarifies whether you’re dealing with a real estate deed or a personal property title and ensures that the correct legal documents are prepared before closing the deal.
Always confirm title ownership, stay current with registrations, and double-check all signatures before completing the sale.
This is Mark Kaiser with The Mobile Home Dealer, helping mobile home buyers and sellers get to a better place in life.