To sell a mobile home in Florida you sign over the title and deliver it to the buyer, and the buyer applies for a new title and pays sales tax when ownership transfers. If the home sits in a land-lease park, Chapter 723 lets you sell it in place, but the park owner approves the buyer. A home whose title was retired and that sits on land you own is sold by deed, like a house.
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This page is general information, not legal advice. Rules change, so confirm with the agencies named below or a Florida attorney before you sign anything.
Step 1: Find out how your home is classified
How you sell depends on what kind of property the home is. The Florida Department of Revenue says a mobile home is taxed one of three ways: as real property (the owner owns the land and bought a one-time RP decal), with an annual MH decal (the owner does not own the land), or as tangible personal property if it should have an MH decal but does not have a current one.
- Titled home on a rented lot (most park homes): sold by title transfer, covered below.
- Home with a retired title on land you own: under section 319.261, a home whose title was retired must be conveyed by deed or real estate contract and transferred only with the property it is attached to, unless a new title is issued through that section’s removal process. Use a real estate agent or attorney for this kind of sale.
- Home declared real property: the Hillsborough County Tax Collector notes that mobile homes declared as real property are not required to be titled.
Not sure which one you have? Look at the decal and the title, or ask the county property appraiser or tax collector. For more on the park side, see our guide to Florida Statute 723 lot rights.
Selling in a land-lease park (Chapter 723)
You can sell in place
Section 723.058 says a park owner cannot make or enforce rules that deny or limit your right to sell your home within the park, and cannot require you to remove the home just because you are selling it.
“For sale” signs
Section 723.058 says the park may not prohibit a “for sale” sign on or in your home. It can, however, apply properly adopted and reasonable rules on the sign’s size, placement and character. Check your park rules before you order a sign.
The park approves the buyer
Section 723.059 lets a buyer become a park tenant if they qualify under the park’s entry rules, “subject to the approval of the park owner, but such approval may not be unreasonably withheld.” Properly adopted park rules may provide for screening prospective buyers. If the park owner has not approved the buyer 5 days before closing, the buyer may cancel the purchase contract. In practice, get the buyer’s application to the park early.
Fees and resale agreements
Under section 723.058, a park owner cannot charge a commission or fee based on your sale price unless it acted as your agent under a written contract. A park also cannot require you or the buyer to sign, extend or renew a resale agreement as a condition of tenancy or approval. A resale agreement cannot be perpetual, and it ends 6 months after you give the park written notice that the home is for sale. Your prospectus, lease or park rules may require notice before you list, so read them first.
Transferring the title
The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) procedure manual TL-11 (revision date 06/26/23) lays out the seller’s part:
- Sign the title. Complete the “Transfer of Title by Seller” section with the printed name and signature of every seller. Notarization is not required in that section.
- Enter the sale price. TL-11 cites section 319.22(4): no title is accepted for transfer unless the seller entered the sales price.
- Skip the odometer. A mobile home is always treated as exempt from odometer disclosure, but the seller’s printed name and signature are still required.
- Check the co-owner names. The manual treats names joined by “and” differently from names joined by “or.” Look at how your title reads and ask the tax collector if unsure.
- Clear any lien. A lien on the record needs an original lien satisfaction, unless the lienholder authorizes a transfer of equity. Ask your lender how to get the release.
- Deliver the title. Section 319.34 requires the seller to deliver the certificate of title, assigned to the buyer, at the time of sale. Trying to sell without doing so is an offense with penalties.
- Notify the state. TL-11 says a registered owner who sells must notify the department within 30 days, using the Notice of Sale section on the title or form HSMV 82050. That form can also serve as a bill of sale when seller and buyer both complete it.
The buyer, not the seller, applies for the new title. Under section 319.23(6), as cited in TL-11, the application must be filed within 30 days after the sale. Our title transfer guide walks through the paperwork, and the buying guide covers what your buyer should check.
Sales tax and decals at sale
Sales tax
The Florida Department of Revenue says sales of used mobile homes classified as tangible personal property, including occasional or isolated sales, are subject to state sales tax plus any discretionary sales surtax. FLHSMV’s procedure manual TL-08 (revision 07/26), written for tax collector staff, says sales tax is collected when ownership of a mobile home is transferred. For a straight sale it puts the state rate at 6 percent of the sales price. Surtax follows the buyer’s address and applies only to the first $5,000 of the price. If a dealer handles the sale, the dealer collects the tax. The same manual says a home with an RP decal is exempt when the land and home are sold together. In a private sale, items attached to the home can be deducted from the price only if the home itself has a value, the deduction is less than that value, and there is an itemized bill of sale.
Decals and property taxes
The Polk County Tax Collector says decals on homes on rented land expire December 31 each year, and a home without a current decal may face late fees or tangible personal property taxation. Hillsborough’s tax collector says decals are not transferable from owner to owner, so each new owner buys their own. Polk also tells buyers to verify there are no outstanding tangible personal property taxes due, so a seller who is paid up and current makes the sale cleaner. Read our registration and decal guide for more.
Disclose what you know
We found no Florida statute written specifically for seller disclosures on mobile homes, so this is practical advice, not a legal rule. Put what you know in writing: past leaks, roof repairs, electrical or plumbing work, flood or storm damage, and whether permits were pulled. A buyer who finds a problem later is usually more upset about what was left out than about the repair. If you are unsure what you must disclose, ask a Florida attorney.
Fixes that buyers and insurers look at
Buyers often order an inspection, and many need insurance before closing. These are worth checking first:
- Level and settling: uneven floors, sticking doors and cracks can signal a home that needs leveling.
- Anchoring: look at your tie-downs for rust, slack or missing straps.
- Roof: leaks, soft spots and worn shingles. A roof-over may be an option.
- Skirting: broken or missing panels leave the underside exposed. See skirting.
- 4-point inspection: Citizens Property Insurance says it requires a four-point inspection for all property owner, dwelling and mobile home applications on properties more than 20 years old. See the 4-point inspection guide and our Florida mobile home insurance page.
Your selling options
- Private sale: you set the price and handle showings, paperwork and park approval.
- Dealer or broker: they handle marketing and paperwork. Under section 320.77, a mobile home broker is a person who acts as an agent or intermediary for a seller of a used mobile home, and a dealer must hold a valid, current license. FLHSMV licenses “Mobile Home Dealers/Brokers” and says an entity that buys, sells or deals in one or more mobile homes needs a dealer license. Ask for the license number and confirm it with FLHSMV before you sign a listing agreement.
- A buyer who will move the home, or the park itself: some buyers remove homes, and some parks buy them. The park cannot make you remove your home just because it is for sale (section 723.058).
We are a free quote service that connects you with local pros. We are not a broker, dealer, attorney or tax adviser. Serving Lakeland and nearby parks.
Frequently asked questions
Can my park stop me from selling my mobile home?
No. Section 723.058 says a park cannot make or enforce rules that deny or limit your right to sell within the park. It can approve the buyer, but that approval may not be unreasonably withheld.
Can I put a for sale sign on my mobile home in a park?
Yes. The park may not prohibit a for sale sign on or in your home, but it can apply reasonable, properly adopted rules on size, placement and character.
Can the park charge me a fee when I sell?
Not a commission or fee based on the sale price, unless the park acted as your agent under a written contract. That comes from section 723.058.
Who pays sales tax on a used mobile home?
Sales tax is collected when ownership transfers, and a dealer collects it on a dealer sale. The Florida Department of Revenue says occasional or isolated sales of used homes taxed as personal property are not exempt, and FLHSMV lists the state rate at 6 percent plus any local surtax.
What do I sign to transfer the title?
Each seller prints and signs the “Transfer of Title by Seller” section and enters the sale price. Notarization is not required there, and odometer disclosure does not apply to mobile homes.
Do I need a license to sell my own mobile home?
Dealers and brokers need a license from FLHSMV. We could not confirm how that applies to a private owner selling one home, so ask FLHSMV if you are unsure.
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