Buying a mobile home in Oregon

Oregon gives a buyer real information and a fair process: a detailed written disclosure before signing, a written lease, a fast buyer-approval decision, and a clear ownership record. The information below describes how the law generally works; anyone buying should consider consulting a licensed attorney in Oregon.

What the statute says

ORS 90.510(1) requires every park to give prospective tenants a written "statement of policy" that discloses, in summary form, the "policy regarding rent adjustment and a rent history for the space" showing "the rent amounts on January 1 of each of the five preceding calendar years," the "utilities and services that are available" and the "methods of billing for utilities," and the park's policies on "rental agreement termination including ... closure" and "facility sale." The rental agreement and rules must be attached (subsection 2), and ORS 90.510(4) requires a signed written rental agreement.

When a buyer applies to take over a home in place, ORS 90.680(10) requires the landlord to "accept or reject the prospective purchaser's application within seven days," apply screening "substantially similar" to what it uses for its own buyers, and not "unreasonably reject" a qualified buyer. The home is documented by an ownership document issued by the Department of Consumer and Business Services under ORS 446.571.

How it works in general

An Oregon buyer gets an unusual amount of information up front. Before signing, the park must hand over a written statement of policy — including a five-year rent history, the utilities and how they're billed, and the park's rules on rent increases, closure, and a sale of the community — plus a written rental agreement. That rent history is especially useful for judging whether lot rent has been stable. The buyer applies for tenancy and the park must decide within seven days, using the same kind of screening it applies to its own buyers, and can't unreasonably refuse. The home itself is built to the federal HUD standards and tracked by a DCBS ownership document, so the buyer takes ownership when that record is transferred. Reviewing the statement of policy, the rental agreement, the rent history, and the ownership document are the key steps before closing.

Common scenarios

General examples Oregon buyers commonly encounter:

• A buyer wants to know the park's track record on rent. The statement of policy must include a five-year rent history for the space (ORS 90.510).
• A buyer applies to take over a home in place. The park must decide within seven days and can't unreasonably refuse (ORS 90.680(10)).
• A buyer takes ownership. The home transfers through its DCBS ownership document (ORS 446.571).

Other authorities that may apply

ORS 90.510 governs the statement of policy and written rental agreement; ORS 90.680 governs buyer approval; ORS 446.571 governs the ownership document. The home's construction follows the federal HUD code, and federal lending rules and the Fair Housing Act can apply. The statement of policy, rental agreement, and ownership document are the core documents to review.