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Committee approves bill to ease titling process for manufactured homes
Summary
HB 785 would create a process for the Department of Revenue to certify manufactured homes as real property when tags or titles are lost, intended to restore access to conventional financing; proponents from the landlord and land-title industries urged passage and the committee passed the bill 21–0.
Representative Terry Falk opened HB 785 by explaining how the detitling process (removing axles/wheels and verifying HUD tags) allows a manufactured or mobile home to be taxed and financed as real property. Falk and proponents described cases in which HUD tags or title records were lost—sometimes during agency record moves—and said homeowners lose access to conventional or federal loans when documentation is missing.
John Synrude of the Montana Landlord Association said the bill provides a clear administrative pathway for owners to obtain a DOR document that can be recorded and used by lenders; Stewart Doggett of the Montana Land Title Association also supported the measure as helpful for title agents handling transactions with missing documentation.
Committee members asked about the statutory date referenced (10/01/2005) and how the law applies to homes manufactured after 1976; the sponsor and proponents explained that the 2005 law formalized detitling and that homes built July 1, 1976, and later are generally financeable under federal programs. Representative Falk closed and the committee passed HB 785 in executive action by a voice/proxy vote announced as 21 to 0.
If enacted, the bill would allow DOR to provide a form or certification mechanism for owners who can demonstrate a permanent foundation and intent to treat the unit as real property, facilitating recording and access to FHA/VA and conventional financing.
