FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
In general, manufactured homes will appreciate at the same market rate as other homes in the same neighborhood, but, as with all housing, it is subject to the same market factors that affect appreciation, including:
- The housing market itself – are homes in general increasing in value?
- The community in which the home is located – is it a rising or declining neighborhood or community?
- The initial price paid for the home – some price ranges are more sought after.
- The age and how the home has been maintained.
- The inflation rate experienced.
Homes built using quality materials and construction methods weather the years better.
Building materials found in manufactured housing are equal to that used in site-built construction. Unlike on-site construction, the lumber, insulation, siding and other materials used to build manufactured homes are never exposed to and potentially damaged by rain or other moisture. Manufactured homes must satisfy a stringent federal building code. These standards cover structural design, construction, fire safety, energy efficiency and performance of heating, plumbing, air conditioning, thermal and electrical systems. Regional differences are taken into account for such considerations as snow load, wind tolerance, and insulation. The result is a home of great structural integrity and durability.
You have a wonderful array of choices for how your home is designed, equipped and constructed both inside & out. You may even order a home stretched in length and/or width. Your floor plan may also be flipped end to end or side-to-side . Just ask and we will see how we can customize the home to meet your specific needs and desires.
- Factory built construction is much more efficient than site built with assembly line construction, no weather constraints, and year round construction.
- Building materials are purchased in mass volume which drives down the cost, and there are less delays waiting for building materials.
- Labor costs are less for experienced company employees versus independent contractors who must each carry their own insurance coverage, independent licensing, and bonds.
Manufactured homes may go almost anywhere these days; In-town lots, subdivisions, rural settings, planned communities, and developments are all potential locations for your new manufactured home!
Just as there are choices when you buy a site-built home, there are a variety of financing options when you purchase a manufactured or modular home. If you are buying the home and land together, or plan to place the home on land you already own, financial institutions offer land/home packages loans with similar interest rates including VA, FHA and USDA loans. This type of loan includes the purchase price of the home, land, as well as site improvements. Buying a home with land increases both its original value and its ability to appreciate over time.
Manufactured homes can be financed in much the same way as a personal loan. This personal property loan is designed for customers who are going into manufactured home communities where they will be leasing their lot rather than buying/owning it or going on their own lot where the home will be taxed separately from the lot. The home is the only collateral on this type of loan.
You can still finance your exterior improvements (carports, decks, steps, etc.) as part of this style loan. Because this is a personal loan and not a real estate loan, interest rates are slightly higher than a regular real estate loan. However, there are few or no closing costs and generally no prepayment penalty for early pay-off in part or whole.
This also makes an excellent ‘bridge’ loan for those customers who need only short term financing. There are several ‘industry lenders’ who fund these loans.