Mobile home titles in North Carolina

North Carolina titles a manufactured home through the Division of Motor Vehicles, and an owner whose home qualifies as real property can surrender that title so the home is treated as part of the real estate. The information below describes how the law generally works; anyone with a specific title question should consider consulting a licensed attorney in North Carolina.

What the statute says

N.C.G.S. §20-109.2(a) provides that "if a certificate of title has been issued for a manufactured home, the owner listed on the title has the title, and the manufactured home qualifies as real property as defined in G.S. 105-273(13), the owner listed on the title shall submit an affidavit to the Division that the manufactured home meets this definition and surrender the certificate of title to the Division." Subsection (a1) adds a process for when "no issued title is available," allowing the owner of the real property to submit an affidavit so that the owner listed on the title "shall be deemed to have surrendered the title."

The cross-referenced definition in G.S. 105-273(13) is the property-tax definition of real property, which a manufactured home meets when it is placed on a permanent foundation on land and the moving hitch, wheels, and axles are removed.

How it works in general

A North Carolina manufactured home carries a DMV certificate of title, which records ownership and any lien; a sale of a home that remains personal property transfers that title. When the home qualifies as real property — generally because it is set on a permanent foundation on land and the running gear is removed — the owner submits an affidavit and surrenders the certificate of title to the DMV, after which the home is treated as part of the real estate (and taxed accordingly). There is a parallel process where the original title can't be located. The certificate of title, the bill of sale, and (after surrender) the real-property records are the key items.

Common scenarios

General examples North Carolina residents commonly encounter:

• A home sits on a rented lot. It is held by a DMV certificate of title and sold by transferring that title.
• An owner sets the home permanently on owned land. If it qualifies as real property, the owner surrenders the title by affidavit (§20-109.2(a)).
• The title is lost. A real-property owner can use the §20-109.2(a1) affidavit process.

Other authorities that may apply

The Division of Motor Vehicles administers the certificate of title and lien recording (Chapter 20); the property-tax definition of real property is in G.S. 105-273(13), and the county handles assessment once the home is real property. The bill of sale and any financing documents also control.