Kentucky mobile home — quick answer
In Kentucky the question that decides everything is whether an Affidavit of Conversion to Real Estate has been filed. Filing it surrenders the Kentucky certificate of title to the county clerk and moves the home onto the real property tax rolls — after which there is no title left for anyone to sign over.
How mobile home sales actually work in Kentucky
- Governing statute
- KRS 186A.297
- Where it is filed
- County clerk of the county where the real estate is located
- What it requires
- Surrender of the Kentucky certificate of title along with the affidavit
- Where it is recorded
- The miscellaneous record book
- Unreleased liens
- A clerk may not accept a title showing one unless an attorney who satisfied the liens swears they are paid
- Tax consequence
- The clerk sends a copy to the Property Valuation Administrator for the real property tax rolls
- Recording fee
- $15.00, filed in the Deed Room
Transferring a mobile home in Kentucky, step by step
- Ask the county clerk whether an Affidavit of Conversion to Real Estate has been filed for this home. It is a public record and it is the first thing to check.
- If no affidavit exists, the home is still personal property: the seller assigns the Kentucky certificate of title and the buyer retitles it.
- If the home is being converted, execute the affidavit and surrender the certificate of title to the clerk of the county where the land is.
- Clear any lien first. The clerk cannot accept a title with an unreleased lien on it without a sworn attorney affidavit that the liens have been paid.
What private buyers get wrong here
- A converted home is taxed as real property from that point, because the clerk forwards a copy to the Property Valuation Administrator. That changes the buyer's tax position, not just the paperwork.
- An unreleased lien stops the conversion outright, and the cure is an attorney's sworn affidavit rather than the lender's word.
- Because the affidavit goes in the miscellaneous record book rather than with the deeds, it is worth asking the clerk directly instead of assuming a deed search would have surfaced it.
Verified 2026-09-24 against KRS 186A.297 — Filing of affidavit of conversion to real estate and Kentucky DRIVE — Mobile Homes . Rules change — confirm before you sign.
Is a mobile home bill of sale required in Kentucky?
In Kentucky the question that decides everything is whether an Affidavit of Conversion to Real Estate has been filed. Filing it surrenders the Kentucky certificate of title to the county clerk and moves the home onto the real property tax rolls — after which there is no title left for anyone to sign over.
Does a Kentucky mobile home bill of sale need to be notarized?
Check the instructions for the specific title and bill-of-sale form. A requirement to notarize a title assignment does not automatically mean the separate bill of sale needs notarization. If notarization is required, wait to sign until the notary instructs you.
What to include on a Kentucky mobile home bill of sale
- Buyer and seller full legal names and addresses
- Year, make, model, and type (single/double-wide)
- Serial number / VIN and HUD label number
- Size (width × length) and current location
- Price, date, and signatures of both parties
Official sources
Requirements change and can vary by county. Confirm with the Kentucky DMV before you sign. Not legal advice.
Kentucky Mobile Home Bill of Sale — FAQ
Is a mobile home bill of sale required in Kentucky?
In Kentucky the question that decides everything is whether an Affidavit of Conversion to Real Estate has been filed. Filing it surrenders the Kentucky certificate of title to the county clerk and moves the home onto the real property tax rolls — after which there is no title left for anyone to sign over.
Does a Kentucky mobile home bill of sale need to be notarized?
Check the signing requirements for the specific title and bill-of-sale form. Notarization of a title assignment and notarization of a bill of sale are separate questions; a car rule does not establish the rule for this item.
Do I need a bill of sale to sell a mobile home?
In most cases, yes. A mobile home bill of sale documents the price and terms and supports the title transfer. If the home is titled as personal property you will also sign over the title; if it has been converted to real property, the sale is handled more like real estate.
Is a mobile home titled like a car?
Often, yes — when classified as personal property, a manufactured home is titled through the state motor-vehicle agency, similar to a vehicle. Once permanently affixed to land you own, it may be converted to real property and recorded with the county instead.
Is a bill of sale proof of ownership?
Generally no. For titled property like a car or boat, the title is what proves ownership. A bill of sale proves that a sale happened and records the price, date, and terms — it supports the title transfer but does not replace it. For untitled property (furniture, equipment, electronics), the signed bill of sale is usually the main proof of ownership.