Details for the manufactured-home title process

MCL 125.2330a(2) gives the Department discretion to require a properly executed bond in its prescribed form before issuing title when ownership is uncertain. Its sum is twice the home's value as determined by the Department, not automatically twice the seller's asking price. Obtain the written requirement and complete accepted undertaking for this home.

The manufactured-home statute provides for return after five years, or earlier if the currently valid title is surrendered, unless the Department has notice of a pending action against the bond. The September 2025 TR-121 Vehicle Uniform Surety Bond instead describes a three-year vehicle process. Its reference to trailer coaches does not establish the correct undertaking for a manufactured home.

The Secretary of State's current mobile-home guidance first describes obtaining the prior owner's assigned title, including a duplicate where needed. For missing or abandoned-home titles that cannot be resolved that way, it describes a court ownership order. Discuss the actual case with the Department; the statutory bond discretion does not mean a seller, dealer or park owner can bypass its requested title evidence.

Prepare the owner names and addresses, manufacturer, year, model and manufacturer's serial number, together with the security-interest holders in priority order. The statute allows investigation and additional information and requires rejection when the Department is not satisfied with the application's legality or truth.

The undertaking does not extinguish a lien or guarantee the applicant against a competing ownership claim. Keep the aggregate limit, actual effective date, prescribed execution and pending-action terms distinct from an ordinary duplicate-title request. File the accepted security with the required manufactured-home application and supporting ownership documents.