Dealer is a crook and I don't have a title after almost 3 years

[Kimberly]

I bought (paid cash) for a brand new Manufactured home in 2002 and never got a title from the dealer. I have since, found out that he is no longer in business and there are other people in the same community that also didn't get their titles. I also found out that the dealer was keeping our sales tax money and not giving people their titles...probably because he never paid the sales tax to the state and never received the proper paperwork to get our titles.
I will have owned this home for almost 3 years, I have gone to Secretary of State (Michigan) to inquire about the title and they don't have any record of my home at all, and I have gone through the channels/steps of filing a Complaint with the State of Michigan, and have gotten nowhere. The dealer is gone and can be found nowhere...like he disappeared off the face of the earth. I have been told by the Community Manager that if I ever run into this guy that I should not approach him because he may be carrying a gun...Gee, I can't imagine why he would feel that he needs to carry a gun...could it be that he has screwed so many people over that they are all looking for him???
Anyways, I would greatly appreciate it if someone could give me some direction on how I may be able to get my title...I can't even sell my home without it, which is what I want to do within the next year.
I should have known that I was dealing with a real jerk when I had originally changed my mind because he wasn't doing/providing the things he had promised to do when I bought the place, I asked for my deposit of $27,000 back and was told no and my purchase agreement was forged by one of his employees. Then I refused to sign closing papers through the finance company because things that were promised were still not done and/or provided...he still wouldn't give me back my money, so I had to pay the balance off in cash or walk away from everything, including my $27,000. I didn't know what to do at the time, I was in the process of going through a divorce and needed a place to go, but feel that I was pushed into buying this house (under duress)!
Help Please!!!

[David Oxhandler]

Kimberly -

It sounds like you have been thru some hard lessons.

In every business you will find operators that are... less then honerable. Home sales is no exception.

It is time for you to get legal help.