DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HOMES

[Paula]

Hi Mark-

Can you please explain to me the difference between a Double Wide Mobile Home, a Modular home & a Manufactured home?

I am having a hellish experience with the buying of my home. The bank claims it is a Mobile Home and wont finance the seller.(My boyfriend and I are buying my ex out). The appraiser states it is a double wide mobile home, and I have always been under the impression it was a manufactured/modular home.

I know I have steel underneath and believe 2 elongated concrete slabs. I have no wheels-
The house was put down in 2 parts.

HELP PLEASE-

Thx again,
Paula

[Mark Bower]

Really, the difference between mobile and stick-built is in the construction. 'Mobile,' 'singlewide,' 'doublewide,' 'triplewide' and 'manufactured' all mean the same thing. The industry would like to think that everyone refers to the above as 'manufactured homes.' Modular means whatever the builder wants it to mean as some of those homes are built to stick-built standards and moved to a permanent foundation.

Although the home you are trying to buy is a doublewide, it's still probably considered a mobile home.

Best advice I can give is to try a lender who specializes in mobile homes.

Mark
You gotta see my repair manual!

[rmurray]

The problem here is the use of terms...I would be VERY suspect of an appraiser who does not know the legal terms..this one does not unless the home is very old..pre 1976...

Modular does NOT equal manufactured home..your bank has to use the specific legal terms...it might be that they do not do manufactured home...hardly no bank does mobile homes..You need a lender that specializes in manufactured homes...call a local dealer for a referral to an originator they use..

The following is a good explanation of the various factory built homes..

Factory-Built Homes

Many types of structures are built in the factory and designed for long-term residential use. In the case of manufactured and modular homes, units are built in a factory, transported to the site and installed. In panelized and pre-cut homes, essentially flat subassemblies (factory-built panels or factory-cut building materials) are transported to the site and assembled. The different types of factory-built housing can be summarized as follows:

Manufactured Homes: These are homes built entirely in the factory under a federal building code administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The Federal Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards (commonly known as the HUD Code) went into effect June 15, 1976. Manufactured homes may be single- or multi-section and are transported to the site and installed. The federal standards regulate manufactured housing design and construction, strength and durability, transportability, fire resistance, energy efficiency and quality. The HUD Code also sets performance standards for the heating, plumbing, air conditioning, thermal and electrical systems. It is the only federally-regulated national building code. On-site additions, such as garages, decks and porches, often add to the attractiveness of manufactured homes and must be built to local, state or regional building codes.

Modular Homes: These factory-built homes are built to the state, local or regional code where the home will be located. Modules are transported to the site and installed.

Panelized Homes: These are factory-built homes in which panels - a whole wall with windows, doors, wiring and outside siding - are transported to the site and assembled. The homes must meet state or local building codes where they are sited.

Pre-Cut Homes: This is the name for factory-built housing in which building materials are factory-cut to design specifications, transported to the site and assembled. Pre-cut homes include kit, log and dome homes. These homes must meet local, state or regional building codes.

Mobile Homes: This is the term used for factory-built homes produced prior to June 15, 1976, when the HUD Code went into effect. By 1970, these homes were built to voluntary industry standards that were eventually enforced by 45 of the 48 contiguous states.