Northerneer can inspect and issue Permanent Foundation and Addition Certificates for HUD compliance of manufactured homes built after 1976. For all FHA and VA loans, an engineer’s foundation certification is required stating the home is placed on a permanent foundation that complies with the “HUD Permanent Foundation Guide for Manufactured Homes”, dated 1996 by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
The inspector looks to see how the home is made permanent to the ground. This can be as simple as a few 4-inch c-clamps welded into place holding the chassis to an anchor, or “hurricane straps” poured into a concrete slab, and sometimes we see chains in place that are clamped to a cement pillar. There are a lot of ways to secure the home, and it’s the engineer who decides if its compliant or not. We also document the HUD tag and serial number and the data sheet if it’s visible (usually under the kitchen sink or inside the electrical panel). Moving on, we evaluate any decks, porches or added living space and how they’re attached (or not) to the home. It’s important to know that manufactured homes cannot be altered nor support the weight of another structure.
Many buyers are convinced they will not be able to finance an existing manufactured home with an FHA or other government insured loan. Not only is this wrong, but as an inspection company that can help see these transactions through, we can advise on changes to bring the home into HUD compliance. Let’s learn about what manufactured homes are? Why the foundations and additions need to be certified? And how we can help buyers, sellers, agents and lenders close these loans?
Lenders and loan underwriters must receive a foundation and/or addition certificate from an engineer assuring the HUD compliance of the structure. This is a required part of getting an FHA (or similar) loan or for some types of re-financing. Being HUD compliant means the foundations is permanent, and that any additional structures like decks, garages and porches are built to the HUD code. The HUD code is different than the building code.
Northerneer Building Inspections provides home inspections, mold testing and HUD certifications of manufactured homes throughout Minnesota, focusing in Aitkin, Crow Wing, Itasca, Pine, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Cass, Carlton, St. Louis, and Kanabec Counties.
