Title Fraud/Protection on Mobile Homes

[Mark Turnbaugh]

I am interested in buying a used mobile home in Texas directly from the current occupant of the home. I am interested in protecting myself from title fraud and the seller misrepresenting themselves as the owner.

Since title insurance is not available for mobile homes that are personal property, how do I ensure that the person selling me the home is the rightful owner (other than recording a bill of sale, transferring title, and making copies of the seller's IDs)?

I figure there may be three possibilities:

1.) This issue is not even heard of in the industry and the risk is already very low

2.) Another type of insurance can cover me

3.) There is no means to reduce the risk other than: recording a bill of sale, transferring title, and making copies of the seller's IDs