There is a lot of confusion and misinformation when it comes to manufactured home foundations and FHA loans.  Most loan officers don't know how to do manufactured home loans...and they give out bad information.  This is why so many of the loans I do are "rescue loans".....loans that started at another lender.

FHA requires an engineer's certificate in all purchase-money loans to certify that the home has a foundation that meets its guidelines.  This is required because until January 1st of 2009, AZ's building code for manufactured home foundations was not as stringint as HUD/FHA code.  So, buyers simply obtained conventional loans instead of FHA and avoided the extra expense of the "HUD foundation" when a home was installed.

Fast forward to today.  Lots of buyers do not have the credit needed for a conventional loan, but are fine going FHA.  So, FHA is back.  And for buyers and sellers, there is a simple/less expensive path to follow so that a most manufactured homes can be marketed FHA, and sold to an FHA buyer.  This improves the marketability of the home.

For more details, Call the Expert.....Eric North
                                                      602-524-2454

The HUD Data Plate (or Sheet) is a paper label that is affixed inside the manufactured home.  It is usually the size of a standard sheet of paper.  The HUD Data Plate is usually found in a kitchen cabinet, closet door, or electrical panel.  It has a map of the United States or inform the owner of the Wind Zone, Snow Load, and Roof Load of the home.  The HUD Data Plate has 1) the name and address of the manufacturer's plant, 2) the serial number and model of the home, and 3) the date that the home was manufactured.  It also has 4) the HUD Tag labels, 5) a list of factory installed equipment which includes a list of each appliance and its manufacturer. 

The HUD Data Sheet should not be removed from the home, though they often are during a remodel.  HUD regulations require that the HUD Data Sheet be affixed to the inside of the home to show that the home conforms to HUD's 1976 regulations.