buying a home...

[Andrew H.]

Hi all...

I am currently working on buying a home, and I am having some real weird things I have to do. I was told I need to have an engineer do an inspection of the mounting and tie down of the home. Is this a normal thing?

I have already had it inspected, but not the tie down, or axles or anything like that. The home has been in place for over 10 years, so I don't know why they are doing this. It is the underwrite requesting this from the apprisal company, who in my opinion does not know what they are doing. Is there anything else I should expect to come up? Man, what an adventure this has been, mobile home in south Florida are a lot more work to get then a stick home.

Thanks...

Andrew

[rmurray]

Your lender is using the FHA...FHA insured homes REQUIRE that the home be permanently set to FHA specs...Either a FHA registered engineer...or FHA register inspector can do this...This is NOT a function of a FHA appraisor..

This trouble is nothing to do with the home being a manufactured home...if it was a 10 year old stick home..FHA would require even more including a lead analysis that checks the dust in the home for lead...geez..The problem is the type of finance your lender is doing..

If the home is 10 years old...it probably will not pass an FHA inspection without substancial changes...For instance..the anchors must be concreted into the ground...Not common 10 years ago..All axles and hitches MUST be removed from the property...All piers must be on permanent footers and mortared or surewalled.....Skirting must be of permanent materials...block, brick or wood...The list goes on..

Talk to your lender about changing the type of finance they are offering is the home does not meet the specs...If it does...move forward..a FHA engineer or inspector charge about $ 350..Your lender should be able to give you a list of locally approved companies..

With FHA..you can expect many other hoops to jump through...This is the nature of this program..

[Andrew H.]

Thanks for the information. I sent a copy to the mortgage broker to find out what is going on there.

Hopefully this will all work out...

Andrew

[Andrew H.]

Strange thing though, re-reading the loan form it is not an FHA Loan. It is a conventional loan. Could it be they just want to ensure that it is anchored and not a truley "Mobile" home, for sure not on wheels and able to roll around? I am really getting confused on this...

Thanks again for your help...

Andrew

[rmurray]

Conventional lending does NOT require an engineer statement..Homes must be on "permanent" foundations...but appaisors make this determination..The definition requires the wheels and axles be gone and the home anchored to the ground..It must have some sort of skirting..that is it......

An underwriter would not normally requre and engineer statement unless it was a FHA loan....Again..take this up with the broker...maybe the appraisor put somesort of statement in the appraisal that the underwriter does not like...If this is so...most likely it can easily be changed...or another appraisor could be called...I would try to avoid the engineer...Most likely they will be tough to deal with....If you need a new appraisor...call a dealer in the area and ask for a refferal..It is true that some appraisors are not familier with the laws and rules concerning manufactured homes..Good Luck

[Dennis]

I am a Loan Officer and I'm also having problems understanding all of this. As I see it, a manufactured home that is not on a permanent foundation can not get financing from any lender. Is this true?