Minnesota Manufactured Home Sale: Legal Steps for Sellers

Selling a manufactured home in Minnesota is different from selling a traditional house, especially if you rent the lot in a manufactured home park. Understanding your rights and legal responsibilities helps protect your interests and ensures the sale goes smoothly and lawfully.

Understanding Manufactured Home Sales in Minnesota

In Minnesota, manufactured homes are often located in registered parks, with the home owned by the resident and the land leased from the park owner. If you plan to sell your manufactured home and are renting the lot, there are rules that both sellers and park owners must follow to protect all parties involved.

What Are Your Rights as a Manufactured Homeowner?

Under the Minnesota Manufactured Home Park Lot Rentals Act, homeowners have the right to sell their homes in place and to have their sale proceed without unreasonable interference from the park owner¹. However, park owners do have limited rights to approve the buyer as a tenant for the lot.

Legal Steps to Sell Your Manufactured Home

Successfully selling your home involves several key steps. Completing them in order will help avoid legal or financial issues.

• Notify the Park Owner: Written notice is recommended before you list the home for sale. The park owner must allow you to display a "For Sale" sign and show the home to buyers. Detailed rules are set out in Minnesota Statutes Section 327C.07.
• Screening the Buyer: Once you have a buyer, they must apply for tenancy in the park. The park owner can only reject with reasonable grounds (like poor payment history or inability to follow park rules).
• Sale Documentation: The title to the manufactured home must be transferred via the official form. This is similar to transferring ownership of a motor vehicle.
• Disclosures: Sellers must disclose any material facts about the home, such as structural problems. It's wise to keep written records of what was disclosed.

Required Forms and How They're Used

• Manufactured Home Title Transfer (Form PS2000):
  • When to Use: This form is required to officially transfer ownership of a manufactured home (not attached to real property) through the Minnesota Department of Public Safety – Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS).
  • Practical Example: After finding a buyer and agreeing on a price, both parties complete and sign the Manufactured Home Title Transfer (Form PS2000). The buyer submits this form to the DVS to receive the new title.
• Park Approval Application:
  • When to Use: The buyer must submit the application to the park owner or manager to be approved for tenancy.
  • Practical Example: Before finalizing the sale, the buyer fills out the application (usually provided by the park management) so the park owner can screen the new occupant.

Tribunal for Manufactured Home Disputes

If disputes arise—such as a park owner unfairly blocking your sale—you may contact the Office of Administrative Hearings, Minnesota's main tribunal for administrative disputes.

Action Steps for Selling Your Manufactured Home

The process can often feel complicated, especially if you're also a renter of the lot. Here’s a quick summary of the main stages:

• Notify the park owner in writing if possible.
• Find a buyer and agree on a sale price.
• Ensure your buyer applies for and obtains park approval for tenancy.
• Disclose any material defects or issues related to the home.
• Complete and submit Form PS2000 to transfer the home title.
• Move out after closing and confirm all utilities are properly transferred or closed.

Stay organized and follow all park rules to help ensure your transaction goes smoothly.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can a park owner stop me from selling my manufactured home?
   In Minnesota, park owners can't stop you from selling, but they can require approval of the buyer as a park resident. They must have valid reasons to deny a buyer—such as financial ineligibility or violation of park rules.
2. What official form do I use to transfer ownership?
   Use the Manufactured Home Title Transfer (Form PS2000) for all title transfers of manufactured homes in Minnesota.
3. Does my buyer need to be approved by park management?
   Yes. The buyer must fill out an application with the park and be approved before they can rent the lot and complete the purchase.
4. Who do I contact if I think the park owner is being unfair?
   You may contact the Minnesota Office of Administrative Hearings for guidance on dispute resolution.
5. Are there any special disclosures I need to make?
   You're required to disclose all major defects or issues with the home to avoid future disputes or liability.

Key Takeaways

• Notify the park owner before listing your home for sale.
• Buyers must be approved by the park before a sale is finalized.
• Use the official state form to transfer the home’s title and keep all paperwork.

Following these steps helps ensure a smooth and legal manufactured home sale experience in Minnesota.

Need Help? Resources for Renters

• MN Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS) – Title and ownership forms
• Minnesota Attorney General’s Office – Housing information and complaints
• Minnesota Office of Administrative Hearings – Dispute resolutions and hearings
• Manufactured Home Park Lot Rentals Act (Statutes, Section 327C)

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1. Minnesota Statutes Chapter 327C – Manufactured Home Park Lot Rentals
2. MN DVS - Manufactured Home Ownership Transfer (Form PS2000)
3. Minnesota Office of Administrative Hearings

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