Info for first time buyer

[wilmotcr]

I am a Canadian looking to buy a cheap, used manufactured home in Spanish Lakes in Port St. Lucie, Florida. Two questions: I have driven through the park, but need to know if anyone has any feedback on Spanish Lakes, good or bad. Also, how do I search the title to be sure there is no lien against the home I am buying. We will be using it for a winter home only. Thanks.

[David Oxhandler]

The best way to find out what it is like to live in any park is to investing a bit of time prior to investing your money. Walk through the park, talk to the folks that would be your prospective neighbors. If possible attend a community event. Most residents will be happy to let you know what they think of their surroundings.

Visit various parks and compare what they have to offer. Among your choices are (1) renting the lot, (2) purchasing the lot, or (3) condominium or cooperative parks. In each case, prior to agreeing to anything, be sure you read and understand the terms of the lease agreement and the rules and regulations of the park, as you will be expected to abide by them.

In Florida, a mobile/manufactured home is a motor vehicle and requires a certificate of title as proof of ownership just as your car or truck does.

There is a separate title document for each section of your mobile/manufactured home (there is one title document for a single-wide mobile/manufactured home and two title documents for a double-wide mobile/manufactured home). If your mobile/manufactured home has been paid for in full, you will receive the title(s) from Division of Motorist Services headquarters in Tallahassee. If there is a lien on your home, the lienholder will receive the title, and hold it until the lien amount has been paid.

The title will show the correct model year of the mobile/manufactured home. If the home is purchased from a dealer, the dealer must apply for the title on your behalf within 30 days of the date of sale. If no dealer is involved, follow the same procedure as you would to transfer a motor vehicle title. The local county tax collector office will be able to answer any questions you might have concerning title transfer.

If you own the land on which your mobile/manufactured home is located and home is permanently affixed to the land, you may declare the home to be “real property” (RP) and have it placed on the tax rolls of your county. Your taxes would then be paid in the same way as conventional homestead taxes are paid. If you rent the land on which your home is located, or if your home is not permanently affixed to your land, you must purchase and display a decal each year for each section of your mobile/manufactured home.


lifted from: http://www.flhsmv.gov/mobilehome/mobile1.html