What is a "permanent foundation "

[Dave]

I've heard mention of a "permanent foundation" as a requirement for getting a conventional loan. Can somebody help me understand what options there are that qualify for a permanent foundation. Is that a slab, slab with footings, footings only, etc. I've seen some advertisements on the web for "permanent foundation " systems that are more like stands with poured concrete around them. I suspect these systems are cheaper than a slab but do they really meet lenders definition of a permanent foundation?

[David Oxhandler]

Your decision on a foundation system is an important one and should be dictated by local soil conditions rather than loan requirements. If your looking for a top of the line system that will work well just about anyplace in the country take a look at the latest trends in California, where earthquakes are a factor and the foundation is more critical than anyplace in the country. The current trend is towards the products of FOUNDATION WORKS. Their advanced systems were designed and engineered for manufactured homes. These foundation systems add a high level of structural stability and have proven most cost-effective for the manufactured home, buyer. The most effective way I have found to learn about the step by step process involved in properly installing a manufactured home is a great five-part video series with George Porter, the industry's most respected installation specialist. Mr. Porter leads you through a two hour viewing experience that will prepare you for the numerous operations and complexities involved in the installation of the modern manufactured home. If your reading this and you are about to purchase a manufactured home Don't assume that the retailer or the installer are watching out for your best interests. take this crash study course now Click Here for More Details   This will give you an edge when choosing sub-contractors and help you make sure the site preparation and installation is done right and to your expectation.

[WENDI RICHARDSON]

I JUST BOUGHT A HOME ON A LAND CONTRACT AND I AM CURRENTLY TRYING TO GET A CONVENTIONAL LOAN AND THE SAME QUESTION WAS ASKED OF ME BY THE LENDER. WHAT IS CONSIDERED A PERMANENT FOUNDATION I DONT THINK THE LAST ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION WAS AN ANSWER AT ALL JUST A PERSON TRYING TO GET YOU TO BUY SOMETHING ELSE FOR THAT ANSWER. WHAT IS THE ANSWER TO THE QUESTION : WHAT IS CONSIDERED A PERMANENT FOUNDATION?
-WENDI

[Maria Radford]

To answer the question as opposed to trying to sell you something, its when you have a permanant foundation...ok, ok, look, you have to have fairly level land. You will need to get the county to approve it, ussually there are metal struts(like big metal bars) under the home that stablize it onto metal pylons that are anchored in the ground with cement or concrete. Everything is bolted together, you need an enginner to plan this. This is a house that would take a lot of energy to move. A lot of times there is even a permanant skirting, such as cinder blocks, or poured concrete....sometimes there is JUST a poured concrete foundation that has a depression so the house just kinda sits inside it, anchored of course....but with a home in a park that isnt on a foundation it can be MUCH harder for a person to get even a FHA loan. There are certain requirements for FHA but for a much more affordable house. For FHA it also has to be a doublewide and there are other considerations. I hope that helped. Also of note, there are what are called ground set manufactured homes. These are actually inside a sunken foundation so the top of the skirting is flush to the ground. These tend to look really nice, more like a site built home.

[rmurray]

That person tying to forward you to a product that supports these public service blogs is the webmaster of this web site...He does recommend those that make this site possible...his advertisers...I hope you do not hold it against him for trying to help those that make this site possible so you and others can research information here without subscription fees or charges..

The term "permanent foundation" depends on who is making the requirement...Conventional mortgage companies rely on appraisers to declare if the foundation is permanent or not....In my area most accept a home set to the set up manual requirements, anchored to these specs and inspected by a local building inspector...Some accept ABS pads as footers and others require poured concrete footers under the piers...In our area most will accept vinyl skirting. All require the running gear to be removed and often the hitches as well..The FHA or VA have much more detailed definitions...They rely on FHA listed inspectors or engineers to verify the home is set to FHA specs...An experienced mortgage originator should have these specs available for you to review.....

Good luck with your refi....Candidly if you try the lender section of this web site you will find only lenders skilled and experience in manufactured home mortgages...They would know the answers to these questions..

Good Luck with your refi...

[Roy T. Bonney]

A permanent foundation can have different meanings, depending on who is asking.
A permanent foundation by HUD standards, HUD-007487(permanent foundations guide for manufactured housing) meets this definition. "Permanent foundations must be constructed of durable materials; i.e. concrete, mortared masonry, or treated wood - and be site built. It shall have attaachment points to anchor and stabilize the manufactured home to transfer all loads, here defined, to the under lying soil or rock. The permanent foundations shall be structurally developed in accordance with this document or be structurally designed by a licensed professional engineer for the following:
1. Vertical stability
2. Lateral stabilty.
So in different parts of the country, it can be different, but on the most part is will mean concrete footings below the frost depth, anchoring, and some type of skirt.

If you are interested in having one designed for your installation, your engineer can obtain the HUD Permanent Foundations Guide for Manufactured Housing HUD -007487 thru www.huduser.org. This is the guide that he will use to design the foundation system for your particular application.

[L. Dixon]

Help! I understand that they make a "permanent foundation" for a modular, double-wide home in sections. Is this true in CA.
I know NOTHINGG about these things, but my husband has above & was in process of selling home & intended seller put some type of a portable foundation which was cleared by county & 1) Buyer didn't like interest rate of loan, so cancelled it. 2) Lost job, 3) So it is my understanding that they have removed this portable foundation.....(they've moved)....
A) Are there portable foundation slabs, (whatever) that could be removed?
B) Apparently the slabs or whatever(portable pieces) are dumped nearby
C) If the portables are usable??? Could they be repositioned if county clears them?
Know these are obligated to all sorts of codes, etc., but could you simply give me guesstimateeeee....so I can understand this better when I talk with Contractor, etc. etc. etc. Thank you for your patience.....Weird!!!!!Sincerely, Linn

[rmurray]

So the buyer got fired and he lost his financing...Why would you allow him to move into a home before the closing....NOT a good idea..Your hubby should be glad he moved..If he had filed bankruptcy before he moved you would be in a huge pickle now....The foundation mentioned by the webmaster above comes in portable sections....More than a few do...Read Mr. Bonney's post above for a very correct process to make sure the home meets the lender requirements....Ask your contractor your question as well....

[mark]

i am currently installing an manufactured home ..i was told that in order to convert from personal property to real property, that there had to be a fully poured concrete footing and foundation wall....i am in california...please help....the contractor went behind my back and changed the foundation to a cinderblock wall with poured concrete footing...this could be a disaster for me and him if this property cannot be converted to real property with this system...

[rmurray]

What you heard means little..You should get your info from your local Clerk of the Courts and Tax Collector...There is a process in every state..The mannor in which it is set up usually has nothing to do with the process....