| If you are interested in purchasing a Mobile Home in | | | | and additional deposit funds, into a California escrow |
| California, be sure the seller has their brokers license in | | | | account with a licensed escrow practitioner. When |
| California. The law in California requires that all | | | | working with an internet seller or an out-of-state |
| manufactured or mobile home salespeople, dealers | | | | company, a buyer runs the risk of handing their hard |
| and manufacturers that intend to conduct business in | | | | earned money to a company or person that may not |
| the state of California to have the proper license | | | | be licensed to handle the funds. There is also the |
| issued by the California Department of Housing and | | | | possibility that the buyers funds are never deposited |
| Community Development, or HCD. This law is so | | | | towards the home they believe they are buying (yes, |
| broad that if a person or company advertises itself in | | | | this does happen). Without an escrow company |
| the state of California via mailers, telephone marketing | | | | ensuring the proper deposit of the funds, a buyer may |
| or any other direct advertising or marketing, and does | | | | never know whether the manufacturer of their home |
| not have the proper licensing, that seller is violating | | | | was actually paid with the money they handed over. |
| state law. In California, only licensed dealers and | | | | The mobile home buyer may end up with a Limited |
| salespersons within the state are allowed to advertise | | | | Warranty: |
| their homes for sale. | | | | Manufactured and mobile homes sold in the state of |
| When a buyer purchases a Manufactured or Mobile | | | | California by properly licensed salespersons or |
| Home from an out-of-state seller or company that | | | | companies will always carry more buyer protection |
| does not have the proper licensing, there are many | | | | than the minimum warranty required by the federal |
| problems that are likely to occur, aside from the | | | | government. The manufacturer’s warranty required |
| obvious liability issues. | | | | in California holds both the dealer and the |
| The mobile home buyer may not get the home they | | | | manufacturer responsible for any repairs covered |
| expect: | | | | under the warranty and enforcement of the warranty |
| California law states that all of the amenities and | | | | typically does not require a lawsuit or a lawyer. If a |
| features of the new manufactured or mobile home be | | | | buyer purchases a manufactured or mobile home |
| listed either with their prices or with the total purchase | | | | from an out-of-state dealer or salesperson, California |
| price. The law also states that this information must be | | | | cannot enforce the warranty on the mobile home and |
| provided to the buyer prior to signing the purchase | | | | any enforcement actions must be filed in the state(s) |
| contract. Purchasing a manufactured or mobile home | | | | where the dealer and/or manufacturer are located. |
| from an internet seller may result in the buyer never | | | | In summary, if you are considering purchasing a |
| physically seeing the final home order that is sent to | | | | manufactured home in the State of California, it is |
| the factory for assembly, let alone the final prices. | | | | highly advisable to speak with a licensed company that |
| The mobile home buyer may wind up with a home | | | | specializes in manufactured and mobile homes, such |
| that the factory never paid for: | | | | as a California-licensed Department of Real Estate |
| California law requires mobile home dealers to deposit | | | | broker or salesperson, a California-licensed Escrow |
| every penny of a buyer´s deposits on the mobile | | | | Company or a California Licensed Manufactured |
| home being purchases, including initial down payment | | | | Home Dealer. |