Manufactured Homes - Consumer Guide
Manufactured
Homes Guide for Consumers. HUD, the U.S. Department of Housing and
Urban Development, publishes a guide to consumers thinking about purchasing
a manufactured home. The complete guide can be found at the HUD
web site. To check out the complete guide, check out the Manufactured
Homes - Consumer Guide at the HUD site. Here are a few excerpts:
Q. May the retailer make alterations to a new home?
A. A manufactured home (formerly known as a mobile home) is built to the Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards (HUD Code) and displays a red certification label on the exterior of each transportable section. Manufactured homes are built in the controlled environment of a manufacturing plant and are transported in one or more sections on a permanent chassis.
Q. May the retailer make alterations to a new home?
A. Retailers may make alterations, but must carefully ensure that the change complies with the HUD Code. If an alteration does not comply with the HUD Code, the home cannot be sold or offered for sale. If you have a question about an alteration to your home, contact the home manufacturer, the SAA, or HUD for assistance. An alteration is defined as the replacement, addition, modification, or removal of any equipment or installation, after sale by a manufacturer to a retailer, but prior to sale by the retailer to a purchaser, that may affect the construction; fire safety; occupancy; or plumbing, heating, or electrical systems.
Q. Am I permitted to relocate my home to another site or even another State?
A. Yes, when a home is going to be relocated , it is crucial to check with the appropriate authorities having jurisdiction regarding transportation of manufactured homes and applicable zoning regulations regarding placement of the home. There are State laws that regulate the weight, size, running gear, and width of homes being transported on State highways. Also, the data plate zone maps located in the home indicate the zones for which the home was constructed. A manufactured home should never be placed in a more restrictive wind, thermal, or roof load zone than that for which it was built.
Q. What are my options for financing the purchase of a manufactured home?
A. There are many alternatives for financing your home, including a growing number of lending institutions that are providing conventional and government-insured financing plans for prospective owners. The most common method of financing a manufactured home is through a retail installment contract, available through your retailer. Some lending institutions that offer conventional, long-term real estate mortgages may require the homes to be placed on approved foundations. Manufactured homes are eligible for government-insured loans offered by the the Veterans Administration (VA) and the Rural Housing Services (RHS) under the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
For additional assistance, you may wish to contact HUD's Housing Counseling Clearinghouse. HUD-approved housing counseling agencies provide housing counseling to renters, first-time buyers, and homeowners. Homeowners with problems that could result in default of their mortgage or foreclosure on their property need to contact a HUD-approved housing counseling agency immediately. HUD's Housing Counseling Clearinghouse operates a toll-free 24-hour-a-day automated voice response system that provides referrals to local housing counseling agencies, at 1-800-569-4287. Households seeking additional information may call 1-888-HOME-4-US. Referrals are also available to Spanish-speaking consumers.
Q. What is involved in the installation of a manufactured home?
A. Installation is one of the most important elements of purchasing a new manufactured home. The following items must be considered: (1) locality's requirements for zoning, septic, electrical and/or building permits; (2) site preparation and access to the site; (3) stable soil and proper foundation system, including the anchoring system, that is approved/listed for use in the proper class of soil (this information may be available in the manufacturer's written instructions or obtained from State or local building officials); (4) a perimeter enclosure may be either recommended or required; and (5) utility hook-ups and dryer vent discharge, as addressed in the installation manual provided with the home. You should always check with the retailer and State or local building officials concerning the installation of a manufactured home.
Q. How should I choose a site for my new home?
A. Site selection is critical to the performance of your home. Make certain that your home site is properly prepared and that water drains away from the foundation. Easy access to the site ensures that the transporter will not be impeded by trees or branches that may cause damage to your home.
Q. Who should install/set up my home?
A. Normally, an installer may be either the retailer, through the sales agreement, or someone under contract with the retailer to perform the installation. You should make sure the contractor hired to install the home will do so in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions and, if applicable, State installation regulations. Some States license and/or certify manufactured home installers.
Q. Whom do I contact if my home was damaged during installation?
A. Retailers may contract with their customers for the installation of their homes, in which case the retailer is your first contact for installation-related problems. If the retailer does not arrange for the installation and you choose the installation contractor, you should contact the installer who performed the work. If you are not satisfied with the repair, contact the local authority/SAA having jurisdiction. It is important that all services related to the installation be listed separately in the contract.
Click for HUD's complete Consumer Guide to Manufactured Homes.
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