Category: Blog

How To Best Secure The Sale Of Your Sarasota Mobile Home!
How To Best Secure The Sale Of Your Sarasota Mobile Home! When selling a mobile home in Sarasota, Florida, is there a way to secure the sale so the Buyer does not walk out when the closing date approaches?

We have been asked this several times by Sellers who have looked to us, at The Mobile Home Dealer, to help sell their mobile homes fast. I thought we should discuss this briefly today so that you all have a better idea of how to set yourself up for success when selling your mobile home.

When selling a mobile home on leased land, as we have discussed in the past, we are selling essentially a used car, as the mobile home carries with it a title and not a deed with the ownership of the property. As such, the closing can happen just as fast as the Seller and the Buyer want it to be completed.

We have seen that oftentimes when Seller looks to sell their home themselves they have a Buyer who will make an offer on the home that they will accept and then there is this really long time between the accepted offer and closing.

Unfortunately, we have seen it happen many times that this long delay then creates a situation where the Buyer winds up walking from the sale and leaves the Seller holding the bag, in this case with a home that they haven’t sold yet!

What we do at The Mobile Home Dealer is something that very few, if any, firms in the area do.
We require a non-refundable $3,000 deposit to be put down in the home at the time of the accepted offer.

Some other firms or independent agents will require a small earnest money deposit, if any, usually a couple of hundred bucks, but we do not feel that this is enough of a commitment from the Buyer to the Seller when they are looking to tie up somebody’s house.

The $3,000 is applied towards the sale of the home and the Buyer has two weeks to get the rest of the money together for closing unless the Seller needs additional time to move out of the property, of course. If an immediate closing is available for both the Buyer and the Seller, we will push to do that for everybody involved just so it’s taken care of nice and fast.

By keeping this time frame as best as we can we can assure the Buyer that they will get into their new home in a timely manner while at the same time providing the Seller with the assurance that they have a Buyer ready to purchase their home who already has some skin in the game right from the start.

Many times when Sellers looking to sell their mobile homes they do not require any money down which then provides no deterrent whatsoever to the Buyer if they want to back out of the purchase.

Requiring a non-refundable deposit to be put down on the home forces the Buyer to act quickly with a larger sum of money further making them commit to the purchase of the home from the Seller.

If the Buyer backs out then the down payment is lost and we, at The Mobile Home Dealer, will split that $3,000 with the Seller.

In addition, when looking to sell your Sarasota Florida area mobile home one needs to always consider two important attributes to each component:

The Sales Price
How The Mobile Home Is Marketed

Sales Price:
Most mobile home Sellers are looking for the same three things when purchasing a home. These sellers want the home to be safe, clean, and affordable. When looking to sell your mobile home, regardless of what time of year it is, it is important to look at pricing your home as competitively as possible so that you are able to get the most eyes on it the fastest.

Marketing:
So many times we see sellers not know how to market their home correctly and, as such, are stuck holding on to their property longer than anticipated. Or, worse yet, they take a lower offer on their home than what they could have gotten simply because they are taking the first and, oftentimes, the only offer that comes in the door. The less marketing that is done the fewer offers will present themselves.

Any time of year is a great time to look for and sell a mobile home in and around the greater Sarasota Florida area.

The reason for this is that this area of Florida is deemed a destination location for many and mobile homes will sell year-round very quickly so long as the home is priced right and marketed correctly.

If the Seller waits to hold off until summer’s end to try and sell their mobile home to a snowbird they will run the risk of selling with quite a bit more competition and this can certainly lead to their home being overlooked.

If you or someone you know are looking to sell their Sarasota Florida area mobile home always look to sell it any time of the year but, before you do, make sure the home is priced right and marketed correctly so you get the most eyes on it in as little of time as possible!

I cannot suggest enough that requiring the Buyer to put down a non-refundable deposit is the way to go when selling your mobile home as by doing this you as a Seller are forcing the Buyer to commit to the sale before starting to pack your belongings or order that moving truck!

The Mobile Home Dealer are licensed mobile home brokers in Sarasota Florida and the surrounding areas. We provide professional buy and/or sell assistance to our clients. If you have any questions, please get in touch with us by clicking this link. You may also visit our Facebook Page and send us a message.

This is Mark Kaiser with The Mobile Home Dealer. We help mobile home Buyers and Sellers improve their lives.

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September 25, 2023
How Is Sales Tax Determined On A Florida Mobile Home?
How Is Sales Tax Determined On A Florida Mobile Home?

Sales tax on a mobile home in Florida is determined by the county in which the mobile home is located. The sales tax rate varies from county to county but is generally between 6 and 7 percent. In some cases, the sales tax may be lower if the mobile home is purchased as a primary residence.

One of the many obvious reasons why you are buying a mobile home in the Sarasota, Florida, area is that mobile homes are not taxed as real estate properties. Not only this, the cost of living is lower than in most bigger states. But do you know that when buying a mobile home, you also need to pay sales tax? Keep reading and learn from the experts before you start looking for a mobile home to buy.

Have you been wondering how much tax to charge a Buyer of a mobile home that is located on leased land in the state of Florida?

We seem to run into this issue with Sellers all the time!

Some Sellers want to “help out the Buyer” and not charge them the correct amount of tax.

Some do not collect tax at all.

Some charge them the basic state sales tax amount.

Before we get started, I will give you the basic disclaimer that I am not an attorney, tax professional, or employee of the Department of Motor Vehicles or the Florida Department of Revenue.

Okay, now that we have that all the way, let’s start!

I am here to tell you, though, that as a licensed, bonded, and insured mobile home broker in the state of Florida, I applaud everybody’s attempts in the previous example of how they’re trying to collect tax. But to my understanding, they are doing it all wrong!

You see, when selling or buying a mobile home on leased land, one needs to realize exactly what they are and what they are not buying. In Florida, a mobile home sold on leased land is viewed and taxed as personal property, just like an automobile is taxed. Now, I know this may sound silly for those who are not familiar with these types of transactions, but a mobile home on leased land carries a title with it, and not a deed, just like a vehicle.

Property taxes do not apply when looking to buy or sell a mobile home on leased land since the home is sitting on is not being sold in the purchase. This is because, in that situation, the land is being leased and paid monthly through a lot rent payment to the mobile home park owner(s).

When purchasing a home on leased land in Sarasota, one must pay attention to two things.
- First, the actual sales tax and the value of the property in the county.
- Second, the county pays the surtax on top of the sales tax.
At the time of this video, the sales tax on a mobile home leased land in Sarasota County is 6% of the sales price of the home. So let’s give an example. Let’s say you buy a mobile home on leased land for $10,000. Then 6% or $600 will be owed for sales tax on the purchase.

The county surtax is where a lot of people get confused. That is going to be based on where the home is located in the state of Florida and what county surtax is associated with that. This is going to be an amount of tax over and above the actual sales tax amount.

So, let’s give another example.

For Sarasota County, as of this video, the county surtax is 1% of the purchase price, which goes up to $5,000. I know it doesn’t sound very clear, so let me give you another example to illustrate this to my knowledge best. Again, let’s say you are buying a mobile home located on leased land for $10,000. As we discussed, $600 will be owed for the sales tax. The county surtax is going to be 1%, but that maxes out at $5,000. So, to figure out the surtax, take 1% of $5,000, which is 50 bucks. So in the above example, on that $10,000 mobile home, the total amount of both sales tax and county surtax owed at closing is $650.

Now I am not a math major, okay, trust me but I do hope that this helps you in determining how much you need to collect or pay when purchasing or selling a mobile home on leased land in Sarasota, Florida.

When looking to buy a mobile home on leased land within the greater Sarasota, Florida area, it is important to know what are the total taxes to be paid and who is going to pay so that the closing of the sale can go without any issues. The buyer and seller should agree on the tax before making any commitments. Although sales tax can’t break your bank, sometimes, small things like this can break a deal if not properly discussed prior to the closing of the sale.

I hope this helps everyone out there better understand why mobile homes on leased land are such an affordable housing option!

In the state of Florida, sales tax on mobile homes is determined based on a variety of factors, including the type of mobile home, the location of the purchase, the type of sale (new or used), and whether a dealer or individual is selling the home. Generally, a mobile home sold by a dealer will be subject to a 6% sales tax, while a used home sold by an individual will be subject to a 6.5% sales tax. The tax rate may be higher if the mobile home is located in a county or municipality that has an additional local sales tax. All taxes must be paid to the county property appraiser before the transfer of ownership can be completed.

The Mobile Home Dealer are licensed mobile home brokers in Sarasota Florida and the surrounding areas. We provide professional buy and/or sell assistance to our clients. If you have any questions, please contact us by clicking this link. You may also visit our Facebook Page and send us a message.

This is Mark Kaiser with The Mobile Home Dealer, and we help mobile home Buyers and Sellers get to a better place in life.

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September 25, 2023
How To Make Sense Of Mobile Home Registration Fees!
How Are Title And Registration Fees Paid On A Mobile Home?

Nobody likes to pay taxes. But, just like many citizens, we rationally accept that they are the basis on which the solidarity pact governs our entire collective life. Taxes have also been an effective redistribution instrument of wealth and have served to pay policies that reward those who have contributed most to their effort to our individual and collective emancipation. In this sense, we accept and applaud them, and we are willing to increase our contribution to the coffers collective in times of crisis and difficulties.

Taxes are contributions that people and companies must make, enforced by law, for the State to have sufficient resources to provide the goods and public services that the community needs. Taxes are important because the State can obtain resources to be able to provide education, health, security, justice, public works, the fight against poverty, and the impulse of economic sectors that are fundamental to the country and support the ones most in need.

But what if real estate taxes are becoming unaffordable? What are your options?

One of the main reasons why people buy mobile homes in Florida is due to the lack of real estate taxes, but of course, mobile homes have their own set of taxes and registration fees that the owner must pay. In this article, I am going to explain how mobile home registrations are paid.

When buying a mobile home on leased land in Florida, have you been confused about how much the title and registration fees will cost you to get the mobile home in your name and out of the Seller’s name?

It was very difficult for me too, but luckily we have been able to crack the code on this one.

Now, before we get started, I will first give you the general disclaimer here that I am not a tax professional. I do not work for the Florida Department of Revenue, I am not an attorney and I did not work for the Department of Motor Vehicles.

Let’s look at how the fees are assessed for the registration and title of a mobile home on leased land here in Florida.

Within the state of Florida, everything is based on the length and width of a mobile home. The age and features of the home do not matter whatsoever when assessing the correct fees needed to be paid for the title and registration of the mobile home.

As a quick review, when buying a mobile home in Florida on leased land, please remember that we are just buying the home and not the land it sits on as we have discussed in the past, we are buying personal property and not real estate. Since we are buying personal property, then all the fees will need to be paid directly to your local Department of Motor Vehicles.

As of this writing, the fee to title a mobile home on leased land in Florida is $78.25 per side of the home. This is per side of the home. If you were to buy a double-wide, it would be double this price or a triple-wide would be triple that cost.

Does this make sense so far? Okay, good!

Next, we need to register the mobile home in your name as you are the new Buyer. For those who do not know what registration means, each year you will get dated stickers that need to be placed on the front of your mobile home. These look exactly the same as the ones that you put on your vehicle license plate in the upper right-hand corner. The reason for this is that in Florida, a mobile home on leased land is viewed as and taxed as a used motor vehicle which essentially is why they use the same stickers I’m sure.

Registering the home is based on the length of the home itself and how long you are looking to get the home registered for. The length of the home can be found in the actual title itself.

Now the length of time will be based on when the year you purchased the home. If you are buying a home in January, then you may be paying a different amount than if you are buying the home say in July.

After working with several members of the local Department of Motor Vehicles, no one can tell me exactly how this is figured out. However, here at The Mobile Home Dealer we were able to obtain the sheet that gives the exact amount, and we will be happy to walk you through this. To do this just get in contact with us through the comments here, or reach out to us directly on our website at sellmobilehome.com.

When purchasing a mobile home, it is of utmost importance that you are getting the home out of the Seller’s name and in your name as the Buyer, as soon as possible. Not only to make sure the paperwork is correct but also to avoid some of the late fees that the Department of Motor Vehicles will impose on you if you do not get the title switched to your name within 30 days.

Mobile home registration fees can vary depending on the state you live in. Generally, these fees are meant to cover administrative costs associated with the registration of your mobile home. In some states, you may need to pay a one-time registration fee when you purchase your mobile home. This fee is based on the size of your home and could range from $50 to $150. Other states may require an annual registration fee, usually ranging from $10 to $50 or more. In some cases, you may be eligible for a discounted fee if your mobile home was built before a certain date. If you’re unsure about the registration fees for your state, contact your local Bureau of Motor Vehicles for more information.

I hope this all helped you get a better idea of exactly how the title and registration fees work for the purchase of a mobile home on leased land here in Florida. We are always here to help.

This is Mark Kaiser with the Mobile Home Dealer and we help mobile home Buyers and Sellers get to a better place in life.

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September 25, 2023
How Are Property Taxes Determined On A Sarasota Mobile Home?
Sarasota is known for its beautiful beaches, vibrant culture, and its mobile home communities. However, one thing that sets Sarasota apart from other cities is the lack of property tax on real estate. This means that mobile homeowners in Sarasota don’t have to worry about losing their homes due to non-payment of property taxes.

However, if you’ve privately financed or mortgaged your mobile home then it’s a different story altogether. In such cases, you need to be vigilant about paying your taxes on time lest you lose your beloved abode. While this may seem like an added burden at first glance, it’s important to keep in mind that property taxes are used by the local government to fund essential services like schools, roads, and public safety.

So if you’re a proud owner of a mobile home in Sarasota and want to continue enjoying all the perks that come with it while avoiding any potential legal issues down the line – make sure you stay on top of your tax payments!

I figured today we would want to discuss something that is very exciting when reviewing the idea of purchasing a mobile home on leased land.

The idea is that ever so-exciting world of property taxes.

Please, you out there in the back, hold your enthusiasm, as I can tell that everyone is as excited as I am to bring this topic to you today!

I am so sure that you will enjoy this topic, that by the end of this video, you will be happy you watched it all the way through as we will be getting you some valuable information on the cost of property taxes when you are purchasing a mobile home on leased land in Florida.

As a quick review, when purchasing a mobile home on leased land, one is purchasing personal property in the state of Florida, as personal property carries with it a title and not a deed and when ownership is transferred.

I know what you’re thinking. Mark, we’re talking about a mobile home. The word home is in it. Cars have titles, houses have deeds!

Although you are, in fact, correct with what you’re saying, it is important to mention that within the state of Florida, mobile homes that are located on leased land are viewed as, and taxed as, automobiles in the state of Florida, not as real estate.

Having a title associated with the home and not a deed means that the home will be registered with the state Department of Motor Vehicles and not the county courthouse. So with that quick review behind us, do you even need to pay property taxes on a mobile home that is located within a park on leased land?

The answer, as you can tell is no.

No, you do not have to pay property taxes, when the home is located on leased land here in the Sunshine State. This creates tremendous cost savings for the owner, as when you are buying the home and the land, then each year you, as the owner, will have to pay property taxes to the county in the home is located in.

Many times, this will add up to several thousands of dollars not needing to be paid each and every year to the county!

When owning a mobile home on leased land, this expense of property taxes, literally, doesn’t exist.

What does exist, however, when purchasing a mobile home on leased land within the state of Florida, is that sales tax as well as a county surtax that is assessed on the sales price of the purchase of that mobile home.

So here is an example.

Let’s say you purchase a mobile home in Sarasota County that is located on leased land and you pay $10,000 for the purchase of that mobile home. State sales tax on that will be 6%, or around $600 at the time of this recording. Sarasota County surtax is an additional $50 on the price of this purchase.

So, $650 will be owed at the time of purchase, and that’s it. No further tax is owed on the home and certainly no darn property tax.

When you are thinking about whether you should purchase a mobile home on leased land or a mobile home with the land included, I feel it is important to weigh all costs on the ownership of the home, one of which is the fact that when living on leased land, you save tons of money each year.

The lack of property tax is one of the main reasons why people are moving into mobile homes, especially in the Sarasota Florida area. There are other good reasons why people are moving into mobile homes that include but are not limited to the following

Affordability. Obviously, the number one reason why people are moving to mobile homes is due to their affordability, especially for new families or retired seniors who have limited financial resources.

Eco friendly. Mobile homes are more respectful of the environment due to the lower carbon footprint associated with the manufacturing of a mobile home

Durability. It used to be said that manufactured homes had worse materials or that they could have less life than traditional housing. However, the industry has advanced so much that many experts think that mobile homes’ durability is on par with traditional site-built single-family homes.

Registration. They do not need to be registered in the Property Registry. Contrary to what happens with fixed houses (being real estate they have to register mandatory), mobile homes do not need to do so.

Less bureaucratic procedures. Prefabricated mobile homes are viewed as and taxed as motor vehicles, not real estate. – for that, acquiring them implies fewer bureaucratic procedures.

Easy transport and placement. New mobile homes are finished from the factory, mounted, and fully equipped for use. This means that once transferred to the place where they will be installed with the use of a truck, they can be ready for use after a few hours when some details are finalized.

Since there is no real estate property tax, there is no worry to lose your mobile home due to not paying property taxes. Only if your mobile home is privately financed and mortgaged, you should worry about monthly payments except for lot rent.

I hope this helps everyone out there better understand why mobile homes on leased land are such an affordable housing option!

This is Mark Kaiser with The Mobile Home Dealer, and we help mobile home Buyers and Sellers get to a better place in life.

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September 25, 2023
What Does Buying A Sarasota Mobile Home In “As Is” Condition Really Mean?
What Does Buying a Sarasota Mobile Home in “As Is” Condition Really Mean?

What does it mean when you are buying a mobile home and the seller states that the home is being sold in “as is” condition?

Although this question may seem very direct, there continues to be quite a bit of misunderstanding from both the Buyer and the Seller when referring to a home being sold in as-is condition.

With rising real estate prices throughout the area and nationwide, every Seller wants to take advantage of the hot market to make a profit off the sale of their mobile home.

One of the most common questions mobile homeowners will have is whether they should sell the home in “As Is” condition or fix every little thing wrong with the property to get the most money possible.

“As Is” condition means selling the home exactly as it sits. Nothing will be fixed, no warranties of any kind are provided or implied, and nothing in the purchase agreement requires the Seller to do anything to the property once it is sold.

To put it directly, in an As-Is mobile home sale, what you see is what you get.

Many times, Sellers want to sell their home exactly as it sits. If there are issues or repairs that need to be done or furniture that needs to be removed, they are not usually willing to do these actions.

This does not mean, however, that the home and price are both as-is.

Many times when a Seller states that the home is being sold as-is, they are usually willing to do some type of price concessions or discounts for items within the home that may be damaged or need fixing.

If you are selling a mobile home in as-is condition and have informed your sales agent of any problems you are unwilling to fix, that’s fine—just make sure your agent knows about them so they can inform the Buyer.

We at The Mobile Home Dealer always aim to provide a transparent experience for both the Buyer and Seller. We rely on the Seller to inform us of any and all issues within their home before taking it on as a listing. We will disclose all issues to the Buyer so that they know exactly what is going on before making an offer.

Most Sellers are not looking to put any more money into the property before selling. Some may clean it or do general upkeep, but if there are other issues such as broken appliances, windows that don’t shut, or soft spots in the floor, don’t expect those to be fixed by the Seller.

When you are buying a mobile home, it’s important to understand that when purchasing a property in “as is” condition, you agree to take on some of those repairs.

It’s a good idea, however, to work with the Seller on the actual price of the home if you plan to fix those items. A price concession or discount can often be negotiated.

We at The Mobile Home Dealer believe this straightforward, honest approach works best for both Buyers and Sellers.

We support selling homes in As-Is condition because many repairs the Seller may think they need to do will not translate into extra money at closing.

Many Sellers believe that fixing items will increase the sale price enough to cover costs and make a profit, but this is often not the case.

For example, a Seller recently rescreened their lanai expecting to recover all costs and make several thousand dollars more because of the upgrade—but this thinking is false and doesn’t help sell the home faster.

If there are issues with your mobile home, communicate them with your sales agent so they can properly present the property to Buyers. Being upfront helps agents explain both the pros and cons to potential Buyers.

Working openly and honestly will create a win-win situation for everyone involved in an as-is sale.

This is Mark Kaiser with The Mobile Home Dealer, and we help mobile home Buyers and Sellers get to a better place in life.

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September 25, 2023
How Are Property Taxes Paid On A Sarasota Mobile Home?
With all of the focus in the media regarding real estate prices, one never seems to hear about the ever-so-exciting discussion of property taxes.

Property taxes are annual fees that you, as a homeowner, will be responsible for paying to the county in which your home is located in.

Each county here in the state of Florida has its own property tax percentage they are entitled to collect on each home within the county. Many times this percentage is predetermined by the county and will be based on the assessed value of the home that is physically located in that county.

Throughout Florida, the average is around 1% of your total home value. So to give you an example, if your home is worth, say $100,000 and you live in a county where the property taxes are 1%, then you, as the property owner, would be responsible for paying an additional $1,000 per year to the county for essentially the usage of the property that you own.

These taxes many times are used for county upkeep and improvements such as the roads, keeping up with the landscaping that you see around town and in some cases, those funds go to county employees such as first responders like police officers and firefighters as well as the local school district that your home is within.

So with that understanding, what is the property tax owed on a mobile home on leased land?

It would have to be the same because it is a house, right?

Well, actually, no!

Property taxes are totally different as there are no property taxes that are paid on mobile homes that are located on leased land.

What are you serious about, Mark?

Yes, that’s a fact!

The reason is that when you own a mobile home on leased land, you are technically owning personal property and not real property in the state of Florida. What this means is that the mobile home that is located on lease land is viewed as an automobile in the state of Florida and has a title associated with the home and not a deed.

Since you did not technically own the land, you do not owe property taxes when you are leasing the land but owning the actual home. As I am sure you can see, this adds to huge savings annually, as you are not responsible for the property taxes associated with the usage of the mobile home when it is located within a leased land mobile home park.

When owning a mobile home on leased land, you are required to register the home each and every year with the Department of motor vehicles, which is a fee that is not need to be paid if you own, say, a regular stick and brick home. The cost of the yearly registration for that mobile home with the Department of motor vehicles will be based on the length of the home and multiplied by the width of your mobile home.

To give you another example, let’s say the length of your mobile home will cost you $50 to register, and your home is a double-wide mobile home. This means that you will be paying a total of $100 annually to register your home, as you will be paying $50 for each side of the home to be registered.

The following Q and A from the Florida Department of Revenue can help you understand more about mobile home tax in Florida.

Mobile Homes Taxed as Tangible Personal Property

Q. If the owner of a mobile home that does not qualify as real property receives an
assessment for tangible personal property tax, can he or she cancel the
assessment by paying the previous year’s annual license tax and purchasing the
MH series sticker?

A. No. Paying the license tax after the property appraiser makes an assessment does not
cancel the assessment. Any mobile home that does not bear a current MH decal on
January 1 is tangible personal property and is taxed as such for that year.

Q. What if the mobile home owner bought the MH decal but did not have it properly
affixed on January 1?

A. The mobile home owner may request relief from the tangible personal property tax when
the owner can provide documentation that the MH decal was purchased before January 1
of the current tax year.

Q. Does the occasional or isolated sales tax exemption apply to mobile homes
classified as tangible personal property?

A. No. Any transfer of ownership of a mobile home classified as tangible personal property
or that has an MH decal is subject to sales and use tax.

Q. Does sales tax apply to the repair of mobile homes classified as tangible personal
Property?

A. Yes. Repairs and improvements to mobile homes are classified as tangible personal property
or that have an MH decal are subject to sales tax and applicable discretionary sales surtax
on the total charge for the repairs and improvements, including materials and labor.

Q. How does sales tax apply to appurtenances?

Appurtenances include items such as carports, sunrooms, utility sheds, furniture, freezers,
refrigerators, drapes, air conditioner compressors,s or condenser units located outside the
mobile home.

A. Appurtenances that are sold by registered sales tax dealers, or by any person required to
be a registered dealer, in conjunction with the mobile home, are subject to sales tax and
applicable discretionary sales surtax.

When looking at purchasing a mobile home on leased land, another huge cost savings is the lack of property taxes that are needing to be paid and one that we feel you should certainly take into consideration when determining the affordability of a mobile home for your next home purchase!

This is Mark Kaiser with a mobile home dealer and we help mobile home Buyers and Sellers get to a better place in life.

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September 22, 2023
How “Mobile” Are Sarasota Florida Mobile Homes?
Have you identified a mobile home that you like, but decided that for this particular home to work for you, you want to move to another mobile home park, or even to your own private land?

This is something we at The Mobile Home Dealer run into on a weekly basis.

Buyers looking to purchase one of our mobile home listings only to have it moved to another location upon purchasing the mobile home is a common theme.

The question then remains if the mobile home which is technically referred to as mobile, how mobile is it really, and what needs to be done in order for it to be moved?

Sarasota, a Spanish term derived from “a place of dancing”, is a Gulf Coast city just outside of Tampa Bay Area. With a lively arts scene, beautiful beaches, and a burgeoning business center, Sarasota is a magnet for people looking to relocate. If that sounds like you, and you’re thinking about moving to Sarasota, read on to learn about what it’s like to live here.

Mobile homes located on leased land in Florida are titled as automobiles within the state but do not believe the exact asset title name as most mobile homes that reside in mobile home parks along the Gulf Coast of Florida have never been moved since they have been delivered to the factory years ago.

When looking at a mobile home, you will traditionally see a light-colored trim around the bottom of the home, and what’s commonly referred to in the industry as mobile home skirting. If you were able to pull back the skirting and look underneath the home, you will see the plumbing components, some of the HVAC components, and several other things, including the axles and wheels that are physically attached to the home itself.

If you have never witnessed the process of a mobile home tear down in preparation for it to be moved, let me tell you, it’s quite a sight!

Mobile home tear-down crews will remove the skirting, secure all appliances within the home, load it on a special truck that kind of looks like a miniature semi-trailer, and off it goes. When watching the teardown of a double-wide mobile home, it is even more of a spectacle as the home is literally split right down the middle and then the process of moving just like the single-wide is then done for both sides.

Each county in Florida has slightly different standards for allowing an older mobile home into their territory, but they all have the same attitude: mobile homes in poor condition are not welcome to cross the county line.

Moving a mobile home in Sarasota includes the requirement that the mobile home is inspected by either a state-licensed mobile home dealer, state-certified contractor or state-registered contractor meeting the requirements of the Sarasota County Construction Industry Licensing Board before the move can be authorized.

If the inspector finds any deficiencies, but the home is deemed repairable, a remodel or repair permit may be required; and, of course, the home will have to be installed to the current standards for tie-downs, bracing, and piers—and inspected again by the county inspector after installation at the new site.

If you are not sure whether your home is movable or not, you can always consult a professional inspector before contacting a moving company.

The Mobile Home Dealer are licensed mobile home broker in Sarasota Florida and the surrounding areas. We provide professional buy and/or sell assistance to our clients. If you have any questions, please contact us by clicking this link. You may also visit our Facebook Page and send us a message.

Now, this would give the idea to most, including myself, that all that would need to be done to move the home would be to remove the skirting and get it up on a truck, and off you go, right?

Wrong!

Florida mobile homes will not be permitted to be moved unless they are 20 years old or newer. The permit must be obtained by the licensed mobile home mover in order to take it from one county to the next county within the state of Florida. The average age of mobile homes within mobile home parks along the Gulf Coast of Florida has been built between the mid-70s about the early 80s.

Not being an expert at math here, this tells me that the mobile homes that we see on a daily basis around the Sarasota area can not be permitted to be moved since they are too old.

In order to properly and legally move a mobile home off of one piece of property to another within the state of Florida the home has to be 20 years old or newer, torn down, transported, and set up by licensed trained professionals while being placed on a piece of property that is permitted for mobile homes to be on.

The term, a mobile home is deceiving at best, and as such, I would suggest when buying a mobile home along the Gulf Coast of Florida to not only like the home itself but also like the location it sits on, as many times where you see it is where it will remain forever!

Each county in Florida has slightly different standards for allowing an older mobile home into their territory, but they all have the same attitude: mobile homes in poor condition are not welcome to cross the county line.

Moving a mobile home in Sarasota includes the requirement that the mobile home is inspected by either a state-licensed mobile home dealer, state-certified contractor, or state-registered contractor meeting the requirements of the Sarasota County Construction Industry Licensing Board before the move can be authorized.

If the inspector finds any deficiencies, but the home is deemed repairable, a remodel or repair permit may be required; and, of course, the home will have to be installed to the current standards for tie-downs, bracing, and piers—and inspected again by the county inspector after installation at the new site.

If you are not sure whether your home is movable or not, you can always consult a professional inspector before contacting a moving company.

This is Mark Kaiser with the Mobile Home Dealer and we help mobile home Buyers and Sellers get to a better place in life.

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September 22, 2023
How To Get Insurance For Your Mobile Home
How do you insure a mobile home when you own the home and lease the land it sits on?

Further, is the same insurance available for mobile homes on leased land as there is for single-family homes?

When working with clients who are new to the mobile home space, we are often asked if mobile homes on leased land can be insured and, if so, what type of insurance is available for these homes.

For this blog, we will limit our conversation to what we at The Mobile Home Dealer specialize in: mobile homes on leased land.

Mobile homes on leased land, as discussed several times through our previous blogs, are titled as used motor vehicles in Florida and not as a real estate since these homes come with titles for ownership and not deeds.

If a mobile home is sold with the land, either in a rural setting or in a resident-owned community, then the home is viewed as real estate and not personal property.

When you own real estate, the opportunities for insurance coverage are much greater than that of a mobile home on leased land. What we have found in our experience within the mobile home space is that many times, homeowners of mobile homes on leased land will take out some type of liability coverage for their mobile home. This coverage will often be for slips and falls, personal injury, or if someone gets hurt while on their property.

This could cover the homeowner for a family member falling on a step if it was rainy and slippery or if the delivery person slipped and fell when delivering a package to the front door. We hope that no one ever gets hurt on or around your property, but on the off chance they do, many homeowners will have this type of policy coverage for their mobile home in case a claim needs to be filed.

When we have mobile homeowners looking for full coverage, just as if they were owning a single-family home, they are usually surprised by how few other mobile homeowners carry this type of coverage within their mobile home park.

One of the reasons we have seen so few people having full coverage on a mobile home located on leased land is that mobile homes are much less expensive to repair than similar repairs for a single-family home. To show this, I always like to give the example of damage to a mobile home carport. In this example, if someone you know took the turn too close while turning into the carport of your mobile home and damaged a pillar, it usually is much cheaper to have that repair done with a local professional in cash, as opposed to filing the claim with your homeowner’s insurance policy.

The reason for this is that once the mobile home owner factors in the insurance policy deductible and the possible increase in monthly premiums as a result of the filing, they may very well come out ahead if they had just paid for the claim in cash, as opposed to filing it.

Homeowners insurance on mobile homes located on leased land is certainly available. Although we are not insurance specialists by any means here at The Mobile Home Dealer, we strongly suggest that you do your homework on what type of coverage you select prior to obtaining your mobile home’s homeowner’s insurance policy.

Although manufactured homes, previously called mobile homes, are built in a factory and moved to a chosen place, they are not very different from the single-family houses built on the site, even regarding insurance. Whether you live there all year or season, it is essential to help protect your home with mobile home insurance.

What covers mobile home insurance?

Insurance coverages for mobile homes are usually similar to a standard policy for traditional house owners, which offers home coverage, your personal property, and demands for civil liability. According to the Insurance Information Institute* (III), the two basic coverages that are generally included in mobile home insurance policies are physical damage and civil liability.

Physical structure and contents

If your mobile home or its content suffers physical damage caused by dangers such as fires, robbery, or vandalism, repair or replacement costs are generally covered by a policy for mobile homes. The additional structures of your lot, such as a patio or a garage, and your personal belongings will probably also be covered. However, some policies only cover certain causes of loss. These “designated hazards” policies can have lower premiums, but be sure to check with your agent to know what is excluded from your policy.

Civil Liability

Policies generally include coverage against civil liability, which can help protect yourself (within the limits of the established policy) if you or someone in your home are responsible for the damage to the property. However, the coverage against civil liability generally does not cover an injury that you have suffered or another member of your family, or anyone inside your mobile home. However, if your children accidentally break the neighbor’s window playing the ball, your policy will probably cover the repair cost.

This is Mark Kaiser with The Mobile Home Dealer. We help mobile home Buyers and Sellers improve their lives.

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September 22, 2023
How Does Sarasota Real Estate Craze Affect Mobile Home Sales?
How Does Sarasota Real Estate Craze Affect Mobile Home Sales? As of mid-2022, the average price of a single-family house in Florida is around $ 382,000 while the average price of used mobile homes goes anywhere between $10,000 and $25,000.

This means that the average price of a house in the Florida real estate market is actually a little lower than the national average price of a house of $ 385,000, while the used mobile home is around $47,000 and can go far higher or far lower. While this makes the property in Florida a large investment, the cost of living is also incredibly attractive. This makes Florida the perfect place to invest and live!

While property prices have increased in recent years, Florida’s real estate market, especially in the greater Sarasota area, does not show signs of deceleration in the short term. Whether you are looking to invest in a rental property, a vacation house, or move to Florida completely, now is the best time to invest.

As anyone can tell you, single-family homes are flying off the shelves in record numbers here on the Gulf Coast of Florida.

Currently, there is a housing buzz going around this area of the state that I have never seen in all of my years living down in the Sunshine State!

It is very common right now to see homes being sold before the realtor is even putting a sign in the front yard, many of these homes are being sold for more money than what they are actually being appraised for!

With interest rates and inventory low, it is fair to say that this house craze will continue for several months if not a few more years.

With this understanding, are mobile homes on leased land throughout the Sarasota area experiencing the same sales climate as single-family homes?

Before we dive into that question, let’s do a quick review of what a mobile home on leased land is and what a mobile home on leased land is not.

Mobile homes on leased land, where you own the home and lease out the land that it resides on through a monthly fee called lot rent, are viewed and taxed as personal property in the state of Florida, not real estate.

What this means is that the homes are viewed as vehicles and they are actually titled at the Department of Motor Vehicles as they do not carry a deed since the land is not included with the sale, but it does include a title.

Understanding all of this, it is important to realize that traditional mortgages do not usually apply to mobile homes on leased land, as you are technically not owning real estate.

The reason we provide this brief overview is that the interest rates associated with traditional mortgages do not apply here since the home on leased land is usually unable to obtain one.

Financing for mobile homes can be hard to come by if that is needed in your situation.

However, there are ways to obtain financing through private money lenders, Seller financing, or private loans.

Much of the real estate craze is based on low interest rates, which now we know do not help or hurt the mobile home industry on leased land, simply because they usually do not qualify for them in the first place.

Low inventory is another reason why single-family homes are being sold so fast because there are very few homes available.

Currently, there exists a slight dip in inventory right now in the Sarasota area for mobile homes on leased land, however, there still is plenty to choose from at the current time.

What we have seen is that mobile homes on leased land are selling just as fast as they always have, if the home is priced right and marketed correctly.

What we have not seen, though, is Buyers paying more than what a mobile home is worth as is the case with traditional real estate.

So here is the answer as to are mobile homes on leased land are being sold as fast as single-family real estate.

The answer, in our opinion, is yes, absolutely.

However, one needs to know that it is not realistic to sell your mobile home for more than what it is worth at this time.

A mobile home on leased land that is priced right and marketed correctly will move so fast, it’ll make your head spin!

Why invest in mobile homes?

Mobile homes are one of the safest investments you can do. While stocks and bonds can also be relatively safe investments, they have the potential to reduce their value overnight. In this way, mobile home investment is considered a physical asset that still provides utility even if the price fluctuates over time.

While stocks can sometimes give you dividends, you can obtain a stable passive income from mobile homes. This allows you to create an additional source of income while maintaining the relatively safe main investment.

There are also tons of exemptions and fiscal deductions that can help investment in a rental mobile home more affordable for you.

Mobile home market predictions for 2023 in Florida

Economists from all over the country agree that we are currently, still in a recession. Economic activity has slowed down throughout the country and properties are expected to fall slightly during the next year. However, economists also agree that Florida is completely exempt from this.

This is because the prices of properties, including mobile homes in Florida’s major cities including Sarasota, have continued to grow even though the general economy has been declining. Many attribute this to the fact that people still go to Florida to take advantage of tax exemptions and the lowest cost of living. In this way, the demand for mobile homes in the Sarasota Florida area has not slowed down at all.

Since moving to Florida entails real financial benefits, many expect the real mobile home housing market in Florida to be higher which makes it the perfect moment to invest in mobile homes.

This is Mark Kaiser with the Mobile Home Dealer and we help mobile home Buyers and Sellers get to a better place in life.

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September 22, 2023
How To NOT Get Your Sarasota Mobile Home Sold!
Today we are going to begin a short mini-series entitled “How To Not Get Your Home Sold”.

I feel that this is a topic that very few people want to discuss, as everyone wants to know how to sell their home, but they never talk about what to do or not to sell it.

Within this series, I will go over examples from personal situations we at The Mobile Home Dealer have gone over in the past that led to a Seller not getting their homes sold even after we had a Buyer with cash in hand who was ready and willing to purchase their property at an agreed upon price.

Although some of these situations may seem downright goofy, I promise you, these have all happened to one or more of our team members when trying to sell a mobile home for one of our clients.

With that said, please take this mini-series as a reference list of what not to do if your goal is to get your mobile home sold!

Today, we will review the importance of fixing what you say you will fix on your mobile home.

All of the mobile homes that we sell at The Mobile Home Dealer are sold in “as is” condition.

What this means is that the Seller and anyone here at The Mobile Home Dealer is not making any representations or warranties on anything within the mobile home.

Another way of putting this is the Buyer is getting exactly what they are seeing.

When a Buyer decides to purchase a mobile home that we are listing, they have the right to do what’s called a final inspection of the home that they are getting ready to purchase. This final walk-through is done with a team member within The Mobile Home Dealer organization. Here, we welcome the Buyer to try out the house essentially. The Buyer is welcome to turn on the water and the lights and check the appliances or any other part of the home before agreeing to make their final purchase.

This is their final test drive before they sign the papers and take the car off the lot to put it in their garage.

When we complete this final walk-through with the Buyer, we review the Seller Disclosure Form that the Seller filled out with one of our team members at the initial listing appointment. The disclosure goes over all of the items that are, to the best of the Seller’s knowledge, wrong or not working right with the home. The Buyer signs off on this document when they are going through their final closing documents, acknowledging that they know full well what they are buying.

During the final walk-through, the Buyer has a chance to ask if something can be fixed that they feel is broken or not working properly, even though the home is being sold in as-is condition.

Here, we see our first example of how a Seller should proceed if they don’t want to sell their house.

In several instances, we have gone to the final walk-through, and the Buyer stopped the closing process because they saw something concerning. Examples of this could be a hot water pump not working, a window not opening, or a door that just will not close. You name it; at this point, we have seen it all.

Here, we keep in mind the Buyer is being sold the home in as-is condition, but acknowledge that they have the right to ask for whatever item to be fixed by the Seller prior to the closing.

We will communicate with the Seller to see if they are willing to get the item that caused the Buyer’s concern. If the Seller says they will fix it, we will notify the Buyer of this. Usually, the Seller goes through and keeps their word, getting things fixed that they said they would repair. Sometimes, however, the Seller will say they will get things fixed but then decide to not get them repaired for whatever reason and go back on their word with the Buyer!

As you can imagine, this causes a major trust issue with the Buyer.

It is not uncommon for the Buyer to walk from the deal, leaving the Seller with a home that they could have sold if they had only kept their word and followed through with what they said they would do.

If you, as a Seller, agree to fix something, make sure you follow through!

If not, you very well may be back to square one looking for another Buyer.

Selling a mobile home can be a complicated process, and not being properly prepared can make it even more difficult. Before listing and marketing a mobile home for sale, it is important to create a budget, research the local market to determine an appropriate asking price, and make necessary repairs or renovations. Having all of this in order will ensure that you get the best possible return on your mobile home when you put it up for sale.

People usually talk about “how to sell” and not about “how not to sell,” so they often overlook important reasons why they are not selling their mobile homes. Knowing many of these reasons can help you sell your home by avoiding these obvious reasons.

There are other reasons why you are not selling your mobile home, not only in Sarasota. I discussed this important topic in several of my videos. We also have articles here about this topic, and I invite you to read them, as this topic is broad and cannot be covered in just one or two videos.

This is Mark Kaiser with the Mobile Home Dealer, and we help mobile home Buyers and Sellers get to a better place in life.

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September 22, 2023