FHA Appraisal / Addition

[Yvonne]

I keep going two steps back for every one forward I take!

I am trying to get an FHA loan on a double wide mobile in California that had an addition built onto it in 1993. All county and building department permits were acquired for the addition. At the time the addition was built, a full perimeter foundation was also laid for both the mobile and addition (for which there was a county-required engineering report completed). Everything was finalized and signed off for the addition and foundation.

The appraiser is now wondering whether there should have been a Housing and Community Development (HCD) application/permit to validate the addition as living area (meeting the requirements of the Uniform Building Code for mobilehomes?). I understand this has come to be required in recent years, but it was not in effect at the time the addition was built. My appraiser feels that lacking the HCD form, he can only look at the addition as a "framed in porch" rather than "living area" (which significantly affects the appraisal). The addition was VERY nicely done, blends into the home as two additional rooms, including a laundry area, and could no way be construed as a "framed in porch"!

Our County offices suggest that since the law requiring the HCD application/permit did not come into effect until after the addition was completed, the home should be exempt from the requirement.

My question is whether anyone knows whether this app/permit is required for the appraiser to consider the addition as living space as opposed to a glorified porch?

Thank you for any input!!

[Jennifer]

You need to get this information to your appraiser and explain to him that this addition was "grandfathered" in. If you give him the documentation he will include it in his report to protect him from any future law suits. This is all he is concerned with. You should have an appraisal that reflects "true" value and not one that shows a framed in porch. Good luck