How to Sell a Mobile Home in California
California is known for being one of the most expensive and competitive real estate markets in America. California’s beautiful cities and wonderful weather are a draw for homebuyers. However, they’re seeking better options for affordable housing in an increasingly expensive market. For first-time homebuyers, it can be difficult to find the right place to call home.
Selling a mobile home in California now is a smart move. Sellers will find buyers looking for quality manufactured homes in a wide market. We’ll be discussing the key points and techniques for selling a California mobile home.
Who is selling your home?
The first step in selling a California mobile home is to choose who to sell it through. There are many options.
Your home may be located in a California mobile home park. First, contact the park management to let them know you are interested in selling. The park may offer for you to work with park sales agents to sell your house. They will coordinate showings, handle the paperwork and present your home in a professional manner. [Photo by Tharakan Consulting] You can also choose to sell “for sale by owner” or hire a realty agent.
A seller selling a manufactured house on their land can also choose to sell “for sale by owner” (or hire a realty agent). A real estate agent can help you with the most difficult tasks. However, it is important to find someone who has experience selling manufactured homes. While selling a mobile home by the owner can save the seller money, it requires that the seller do more of their legwork.
A manufactured home dealer may be an option. A dealer can be a quick and easy way to sell a manufactured house since they specialize in buying and selling manufactured homes. They typically know all of the ins and outs and handle the paperwork. However, for those reasons, the dealer may often offer a lower price than a private buyer.
Appraisal and Inspection
A professional mobile home appraisal and inspection are key to selling a California mobile home if you have the time and resources to do so. A home appraisal will help you determine the value of your home and identify any major repairs you need to make before you sell it.
MHVillage is a great resource to start with because each manufactured home on the site gets a free mobile value report that helps California homeowners price their property more accurately and fairly. It’s easier for sellers to agree on a price when they have accurate information.
Marketing your mobile home
It’s important to market your manufactured house even in a seller’s market such as California. While a real agent will do the majority of the marketing, FSBO sellers will require some knowledge.
Enhancing the curb appeal and presentation of your manufactured home is an important step. A little landscaping work, trimming the grass, and painting a new coat of paint can make a big difference in attracting buyers. A deep clean and a neutral color redecoration can make your home “show-ready”.
Be careful about the description and images you use in your listing. To create an optimized listing of your manufactured home, you can use MHVillages Mobile Homes Online Listing Checklist. This will help to attract buyers and highlight your home’s best features.
California Mobile Home Paperwork
California mobile home title transfers do not take place through the DMV, unlike other states. California Department of Housing and Community Development has the essential forms that you need to transfer and title a manufactured home in California. The HCD mobile-home registration website contains all relevant forms.
For a California mobile home transfer, the following forms will be required to be submitted to HCD:
California Multi-Purpose Transfer form
Original title of the manufactured home
Both parties sign the bill of sale
Certificate of tax clearance from the county assessor’s offices
Your local government may require additional forms or fees. Your manufactured home will be transferred as real property if it is attached to a permanent foundation.
MHVillage, America’s #1 listing site for mobile homes for sale in California, has over 25 million visitors annually and more than 80,000 homes sold each year. Its Mobile House Seller’s Guide will help you take the next steps in selling your manufactured home. The guide is full of helpful information and resources about how to sell a California mobile home.