Can a Michigan park make a buyer purchase a home from a particular seller?

No. Under MCL 125.2328(1)(b), it is an unfair or deceptive practice to require 'a person to directly or indirectly purchase a mobile home from another person as a condition of entrance to, or lease or rental of,' a park space. A park also may not charge an entrance fee (§125.2328(1)(a)). This is general information, not advice about a specific purchase — consider consulting a licensed attorney in Michigan.

Buying a mobile home in Michigan

Q: Can a Michigan buyer purchase a home that is already in the park?

Yes, if they qualify. Under MCL 125.2328(1)(h), a park may not prohibit an on-site sale to a buyer where 'the purchaser qualifies for tenancy and the mobile home meets the conditions of written park rules,' and the park must offer the buyer a written lease (§125.2328(1)(g)).

Q: How does a Michigan buyer take ownership of the home?

By the certificate of title. Under MCL 125.2330(3), a 'mobile home shall not be sold or transferred except by transfer of the certificate of title,' issued by the Secretary of State, so the buyer takes ownership when the title is transferred and applies for a new title (the fee is $90 under §125.2330a).

Michigan's Mobile Home Commission Act gives a buyer real protection: a required written lease, freedom from forced-seller tie-ins, the right of a qualifying buyer to purchase a home on-site, and a clear title-transfer process. The information below describes how the law generally works; anyone buying should consider consulting a licensed attorney in Michigan.

What the statute says

MCL 125.2328(1) bars a park from requiring "a person to directly or indirectly purchase a mobile home from another person as a condition of entrance" (b), from charging "an entrance fee" (a), and from "requiring or coercing a person to purchase, rent, or lease goods or services from another person" as a condition of the tenancy (d). A park must offer "a written lease" (g), and may not prohibit an on-site purchase where "the purchaser qualifies for tenancy and the mobile home meets the conditions of written park rules or regulations" (h).

Ownership transfers by title: MCL 125.2330(3) provides that a "mobile home shall not be sold or transferred except by transfer of the certificate of title," issued by the Secretary of State, with a $90 application fee under §125.2330a. The home's construction is governed by the mobile home code the commission promulgates under MCL 125.2305, which includes "safety measures sufficient to protect health, safety, and welfare," alongside the federal HUD standards.

How it works in general

A Michigan buyer who wants to keep a home in a park applies to qualify for tenancy; if they qualify and the home meets the written park rules, the park cannot block the purchase, and it must offer a written lease. The park cannot charge an entrance fee or force the buyer to purchase the home (or other goods and services) from a particular seller. The buyer takes ownership by transferring the Secretary of State certificate of title and applying for a new title in their name. Reviewing the written lease, the park rules, and the title (and any liens noted on it) are the key steps before closing.

Common scenarios

General examples Michigan buyers commonly encounter:

A park insists the buyer purchase a home from its own sales lot. That forced tie-in is barred (§125.2328(1)(b)).
A buyer wants a home already in the park. If they qualify and the home meets the rules, the park can't prohibit the sale (§125.2328(1)(h)).
A buyer takes ownership. The certificate of title is transferred through the Secretary of State (§125.2330).

Other authorities that may apply

The Mobile Home Commission Act governs the lease requirement, the tie-in ban, and the on-site-purchase right; the Secretary of State administers the title. The mobile home code (§125.2305) and the federal HUD standards govern construction, and federal lending rules and the Fair Housing Act can apply. The written lease, park rules, bill of sale, and certificate of title are the core documents to review.