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Purchasing
and Relocation
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By an act of Congress in 1974, the U.S. Department of Housing and
Urban Development (HUD) was designated as the government agency
to oversee the Federal Manufactured Housing Program. The area within
HUD responsible for the oversight function is the Office of Regulatory
Affairs and Manufactured Housing, Office of Manufactured Housing.
Most States have a State Administrative Agency (SAA) that administers
the HUD program in that State. A listing of the SAAs can be found
in the homeowner's manual that is provided with each new home.
What is a Manufactured Home?
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.
May the Retailer Make Alterations to a New
Home?
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.
Am I Permitted to Relocate My Home to Another
Site or Even Another State?
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.
What Are My Options for Financing the Purchase
of a Manufactured Home?
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 Federal
Housing Administration (FHA), under two separate programs with different
requirements, Title I
and Title II. One
is a loan and one is a mortgage. The Veterans
Administration (VA), and the Rural
Housing Services (RHS) under the U.S. Department of Agriculture
also insure loan.
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 (800)
569-4287. Referrals are also available to Spanish- speaking consumers.
Para localizar el centro de consejeria sobre vivienda mas cercano
y aprobado por HUD, lIame al (800) 569-4287. Siga las instrucciones
para personas de habla hispana.
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