Who issues a mobile home title in Iowa?

The Iowa Department of Transportation. Iowa Code §562B.17A refers to 'the current certificate of title obtained from the department of transportation' when a home is sold, reflecting that a manufactured home in a park is generally personal property carried on a DOT certificate of title. This is general information, not advice about a specific title — consider consulting a licensed attorney in Iowa.

What happens to a lien when an Iowa home is converted to real estate?

Section 435.26 addresses it: if a security interest is noted on the certificate of title, the owner must tender the secured party a mortgage on the real estate or obtain the secured party's written consent before the conversion is completed.

Mobile home titles in Iowa

Q: How does an Iowa manufactured home become real estate?

By being placed on a permanent foundation outside a park. Iowa Code §435.26(1) provides that a home 'located outside a manufactured home community or mobile home park shall be converted to real estate by being placed on a permanent foundation and shall be assessed for real estate taxes.' The owner then notifies the assessor, who inspects and enters it on the tax rolls.

In Iowa, a manufactured home in a community is generally personal property carried on a certificate of title issued by the Department of Transportation. A home placed on owned land outside a park is converted to real estate. The governing provisions are Iowa Code §562B.17A (certificate of title on sale) and §435.26 (conversion to real property). For a specific title question, consider consulting a licensed attorney in Iowa.

What the statute says

On converting a home to real estate, Iowa Code §435.26(1)(a) provides:

A mobile home or manufactured home which is located outside a manufactured home community or mobile home park shall be converted to real estate by being placed on a permanent foundation and shall be assessed for real estate taxes.

On the certificate of title, §562B.17A(1) provides that when a landlord sells a home, the landlord shall "produce and assign the current certificate of title obtained from the department of transportation." Section 435.26 also requires, where a lien is noted on the title, that the owner tender the secured party a mortgage on the real estate or obtain the secured party's written consent before conversion.

How it works in general

While the home sits in a park, it is generally personal property identified by a DOT certificate of title, and liens are noted on that title. To make the home part of the real estate, the owner places it on a permanent foundation on land they own outside a park, resolves any lien as §435.26 requires, and notifies the assessor, who inspects and enters the home on the real-estate tax rolls — recording the home's title number and the manufacturer's identification number. After conversion, the home is eligible for the homestead and military-service tax treatments.

Common scenarios

General examples Iowa residents commonly encounter:

A home sits on a rented lot. It generally stays personal property on a DOT certificate of title, transferred by assigning that title.
An owner moves a home onto owned land and wants it taxed as real estate. Section 435.26 sets the permanent-foundation and assessor-notification path.
A lien remains on the home at conversion. Section 435.26 requires a mortgage to the secured party or its written consent first.

Other authorities that may apply

The certificate-of-title and lien-perfection rules sit in Iowa's vehicle title law administered by the Department of Transportation, and county assessors and treasurers handle the real-estate conversion and taxation under Chapter 435. Lienholder rights and the written purchase or financing documents also control. The Manufactured or Mobile Home Landlord and Tenant Law (Chapter 562B) governs the tenancy itself.