The state of Michigan is known for many things. Faygo pop, the Motor City, and using your hand to tell other people where you live, for example.
But, did you also know that Michigan is one of the hottest markets for manufactured housing in the United States? In 2021, Michigan ranked among the top three states based on new and pre-owned home sales, according to Datacomp sales data.
What does this mean? Well, it means that buyers all over the state may have questions about how to buy a manufactured home in Michigan. The MHVillager is here to answer them.
Private Land Or Community Living?
Before you start browsing MHVillage for manufactured homes in Michigan, there’s one key question that you must ask yourself. That is, would you prefer to live in a mobile home park, or on your own private land?
There are, of course, advantages to both. If you live in a mobile home park, the biggest advantages are the amenities available to you. Many communities have walking trails, dog parks, pools and spas, clubhouses, athletic facilities such as pickleball and racquetball courts, and many more.
Some communities also bundle in various utilities with your monthly lot rent. For example, you can find communities that have utilities like trash pickup, high-speed internet, or water included, among others. You can learn more about the basics of community living through the MHVillager.
There are benefits to owning a mobile home on private land, too. For one, your land is literally your land. This means you have the benefit of having a lot that’s sized and fitted to your liking. On your own land, it can be easier to expand or modify your home to add a garage, for example.
Whether you’re interested in buying a mobile home on private land or in a Michigan mobile home park, MHVillage makes it easy to search for one or the other. When searching for your mobile home, you can select filters in the Location Type dropdown menu for all-ages parks, 55+ parks, or homes on private property. You can also look for homes that must be moved, homes in resident-owned parks, homes on dealer lots, or sited homes.
Finding a Mobile Home You Like
The next step in buying a manufactured home in Michigan is searching in your local market.
You may search for a mobile home that’s close to where you live currently, or in a different city in Michigan altogether. Regardless of where you’ll be searching, you can use MHVillage to search for mobile homes near any Michigan city.
As of this writing in June 2022, there are over 1,600 mobile homes for sale or rent in Michigan on MHVillage. This means that you’ll have a strong variety to choose from when you get ready to buy your manufactured home.
Pro tip: if you’re looking for a mobile home close to a metropolitan area, such as Grand Rapids or Detroit, we have you covered there, too. From the Michigan home search page on MHVIllage, you can search for homes based on how close they are to your nearest downtown hub. This is a perfect option if you wanna cut down on your morning commute, or simply be close by your favorite downtown hangout.
Once you’ve found a home that you like near you, your next step will be getting more information about that home. You can email or call the seller directly from the listing in many cases, or send the seller a message to obtain more information.
If a home listing links to a mobile home park, you can view other homes in that park too if your sights are set on a specific community.
The Offer, Inspection, and Closing
When you’ve found a mobile home that matches your wants and needs, it’s time to put an offer down. From there, your offer will be either accepted, met with a counteroffer, or denied. It’s common that the final selling price for your home will be different than the listing price once the negotiations are wrapped up.
If the offer you’ve put down is accepted, congratulations! You’re almost ready to start living the Michigan mobile home lifestyle. There are just a few things left to do.
First, you’ll want to order a mobile home inspection. These inspections ensure that the quality of the home is as described, and can lay out in detail what work may need to be done to the home. While the seller may have ordered an inspection before listing the home, it’s a good idea to get one of your own.
If the inspection checks out and your financing (if applicable) is approved, then it’s time to sign the closing documents. These may vary from state to state, but you should expect to sign a bill of sale, as well as receive the title or titles for your mobile home.
Michigan-Specific Considerations
When buying a mobile home in Michigan, there are a few things you need to know when it comes to the process in this state specifically.
FIrstly, the State of Michigan will issue you a mobile home title that certifies you as the owner of the home. This is similar to many other states in the country. If your home will be titled or re-titled as real property, you’ll need to file an affidavit of affixture with the Secretary of State’s office.
Like most homes, you’ll have to pay a sales tax or use tax in the state of Michigan when buying your manufactured home. The sales tax rate is 6%, which is similar to many other states. However, there is no annual tax rate on manufactured homes in Michigan.
There’s one other thing you need to know about buying a mobile home in Michigan. Each home will have a serial number that denotes it as a registered manufactured home sold in Michigan. When buying your home, check to make sure that you have proof of your home’s serial number, and that it matches what’s on the bill of sale. You can usually find your mobile home’s serial number in a closet, cabinet, or near your utilities. If you live in a multi-section home, each section will have its own serial number.
If you’re ready to start searching for your Michigan mobile home, then what are you waiting for? Head over to MHVillage to start the process today.
