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How
to Purchase a Manufactured Home and other Frequently Asked
Questions |
Want to
learn more about manufactured homes?
Interested in purchasing a manufactured home?
We'd like to help. We
have put together a few commonly asked questions about manufactured
homes, to help point you in the right direction. |
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1.
How
can I learn more about buying a manufactured home?
To learn more about manufactured housing and purchasing a manufactured
home, contact a GMHA member retailer in your area.
They will be happy to show you that today's manufactured home is
"Built for Living. Built
for life.®" [Click here for a GMHA retail member in your
area. ] |
2.
What's
the difference between manufactured homes, mobile homes and modular
homes?
All
of these structures are built in a factory.
The main difference is in the codes that these homes are
constructed under. A manufactured
home is a residential structure
built to the federal Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards
(commonly referred to as the HUD Code).
A mobile
home is a residential structure
built before June 15, 1976, when the HUD Code went into effect.
A modular
home is a residential structure
built to state or local codes. |
3.
How
long will manufactured homes last? Are they durable?
A manufactured home that is well maintained and properly cared for will
last just as long as a site built home.
In fact, a University of Georgia study found that the average
habitable life of a new, year round occupied manufactured home to be in
excess of 55 years.
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4.
What
about safety?
Strict federal construction standards and a stringent inspection process
insure that today's manufactured homes are safe and reliable. These standards have improved the fire and wind resistance
for manufactured homes. A
previous Georgia State Fire Marshal wrote the following regarding fire
safety and manufactured homes:
| "It
is unlikely that any local jurisdiction enforces such
stringent fire safety code requirements on conventional
on-site single family homes as are imposed by the
federal government on the manufactured housing
industry." |
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As
far as wind resistance is concerned, a properly installed manufactured
home is built to resist winds of up to 100 mph, and for homes in
high-risk coastal areas, this figure rises to 110. |
5.
Are manufactured homes a good appreciable investment?
Today's manufactured home is a good, sound investment.
Like any home that is well maintained, a manufactured home will
appreciate at comparable rates. A
1997 study by East Carolina University found that when a manufactured
home is located on a permanent foundation and listed as real property, it will
appreciate at a rate comparable to site-built homes.
That same study found that manufactured homes do not affect the
overall appreciation rate of site-built homes in close proximity. |
6.
What is the difference between the federal
Manufactured Housing Construction Standards (HUD Code) and other types
of residential building codes?
The HUD Code sets performance standards that a particular building
component or system must meet. In
industry terminology, the code is therefore referred to as
"performance based." The
HUD Code prescribes performance standards for heating, plumbing, air
conditioning, thermal and electrical systems. State and local codes
are "prescriptive based".
This means that the codes specify the exact type or system to be
used. |
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7.
Do state and local governments regulate manufactured homes?
While the federal government regulates the construction code for
manufactured homes, local governments regulate the actual installation
of the manufactured homes--according to state law.
In 1993, a Georgia law became effective mandating
that all new manufactured homes must be installed according to
instructions supplied by every manufacturer.
If the instructions are not available, then the home must be
installed according to the standards developed by the Georgia Insurance
and Fire Safety Commissioner. |
8.
What sort of lending options are available for
manufactured homes?
All sorts of programs and lending options are available for manufactured
homes. However, two main rules of thumb typically apply with
manufactured home structure lending : 1-When
purchasing land with a manufactured home, one can expect to receive a
conventional real property loan with a 30-year fixed or variable rate.
2-Purchasing a home without property will fall under a
"chattel loan" (not connected to real property) , which can also be
fixed or variable.
A GMHA member retailer is an excellent source to
help obtain the best finance package for a prospective buyer. [Click here for a GMHA retail member in
your area.] |
9.
Do manufactured homes come with a warranty package?
Many manufactured homes come with warranty packages.
The type and extent of the warranty programs vary.
A GMHA member retailer can help answer questions about the
warranty plans available. [Click here for a GMHA retail member in
your area.] |
10.
Where
can manufactured homes be placed?
If
I purchase a new home, what are my options for placement?
Over 60% of the new homes sold in Georgia are placed on private
property. Individually
owned lots, planned developments, subdivisions, and land lease
communities are all options for the new homeowner to consider.
Following
is a detailed explanation of placement options: |
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Manufactured Home Subdivision: A single family residential
development which is a parcel of land divided into individual lots, and
sold for manufactured home residency.
covenants before placing a home. Restrictive covenants are
limitations in a property deed that control how the land can be
used. A good way to check for any such restrictions is to request
a copy of the deed where the home is going to be placed. 