We encourage you to Contact
a Retailer in your area in order to provide you with the most detailed
answers to any questions you may have. Or, you may complete our on-line
form to request information.
Check
out our Facts and Fiction section for
more information!
What
is the HUD Code?
The HUD Code
regulates the home's design and construction, strength and durability,
transportability, fire resistance, energy efficiency, and quality control.
It also sets stringent performance standards for the heating, plumbing,
air conditioning, thermal, and electrical systems.
The United
States Congress laid the foundation for the HUD Code in the National Manufactured
Home Construction and Safety Standards Act of 1974 by directing the Secretary
of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to establish appropriate
manufactured home construction and safety standards that "...meet the
highest standards of protection, taking into account existing State and
local laws relating to manufactured home safety and construction."
Every HUD
Code manufactured home is built in a factory, under controlled conditions,
and has a special label affixed on the exterior of the home indicating
that the home has been designed, constructed, tested and inspected to
comply with the stringent federal standards set forth in the code. No
manufactured home may be shipped from the factory unless it complies with
the HUD Code and receives a certification label from an independent third
party inspector.
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How
do I find out the regulations and codes monitoring manufactured housing
in Nebraska?
A
retailer will be able to provide you with specific information on
Nebraska's regulations for installation, modifications and other state
specific information pertaining to manufactured housing.
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How
much do Manufactured Homes cost?
The price
of manufactured homes is determined by its size, the amount of sections,
the floor plan, and features or amenities.
The
sales price for a new manufactured home ranges from under $20,000 for
a single-section home with basic features to prices in excess of $100,000
for a deluxe multisection home. Depending on the region of the country,
construction cost per square foot for a new manufactured home averages
anywhere from 10 to 35 percent less than a comparable site-built home,
excluding the cost of land. At an average cost of $43,800 (1998), it is
clear that a manufactured home is much more affordable than a site-bulit
home at an average cost of $136,425 (excluding land price).
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What
types of Homes are available for purchase in Nebraska?
Single- or
multi-sectioned homes with the latest amenities, floor plans and options
are available. Contact a retailer
in your area to learn more about the floorplans and models they are currently
featuring!
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What
features do Manufactured Homes include?
Manufactured
homes have the same amenities that homeowners are seeking in site-built
homes. Choose from features such as bay windows, sky lights, fireplaces,
custom cabinets, state-of-the-art appliances and more.
The choices
in architectural designs, floor plans, interior decors and exterior finishes
are virtually limitless in today's manufactured homes.
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How
do I buy a Manufactured home? What should I know?
Check out
"How
to Buy a Manufactured Home" on the Manufactured Housing Institute's
website.
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How
do I finance my home?
Real estate
terms are comparable to single family, site constructed housing. FHA,
VA and FMHA loan programs are also available for manufactured home buyers.
Contact
a retailer or a financial institution in your area for more specific
information on obtaining financing.
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Can
I place Manufactured Housing anywhere?
You can site
your manufactured home on land you own or intend to purchase, in a land-leased
community, or in a planned subdivision. Currently 65 percent of manufactured
homes are located on private property, while the remaining 35 percent
were placed in residential land-lease communities.
With the
passing of LB511 in 1994, manufactured housing that is a double or multi-section,
with a pitched-shingled roof, and conventional siding may not be restricted
by zoning laws.
Talk
with a retailer to determine which option will best fit your needs
and lifestyle.
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How
is my home installed? Can I add on or modify the structure of my Manufactured
Home?
Installation
of you manufactured home involves seven steps. It is best to consult with
a retailer regarding the specifics for each of these steps.
- Transportation
of your home from the retailer's sale center to your home site
- Constructing
a foundation for home placement
- Leveling
your home
- Securing
your home to the foundation
- Finishing
your home
- Connecting
your home to utilities
- Additions
and alterations to your home
Some modifications
may be accepted. Contact the manufacturer, the State Administrative Agency,
or your local building department for assistance on additions and/or alterations
to your manufactured home. Without doing so, the home warranty can be
jeopardized.
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Do
Manufactured Homes appreciate in value?
Yes. Recently
a study conducted by East Carolina University (ECU) concluded that permanently
sided manufactured homes appreciate at a rate close to site built homes,
and higher than condominiums. The newer the home, and the more complex
the structure (multisection etc.) the better the appreciation rate. Those
listed as real property, or those with a fixed foundation even appreciated
at a higher rate in some cases.
The appreciation
is subject to the same factors as all other forms of housing: The market
of the location, the community, the initial price paid, the age and maintenance
of the home, the inflation rate, the availability and cost of community
sites, and the extent of an organized resale network.
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Are
Manufactured Homes more likely to be damaged in a natural disaster such
as a tornado? What about in a fire?
No. Manufactured
homes are built to requirements that allow them to withstand the same
wind speeds as a site-built home.
Manufactured
homes may be the safest homes available today because of federal laws
requiring smoke detectors, escape windows, and incombustible materials
around furnaces and kitchen ranges. Many site-built homes are built without
these safety features.
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How
is my Home inspected? Will it be under Warranty?
Before a
manufactured home may be shipped from the factory, it must first receive
the red and silver certification label from an independent third-party
inspection agency, which verifies compliency with the HUD Code.
Most manufacturers
offer a warranty that covers the performance of the structure and factory-installed
plumbing, heating, and electrical systems during a specified warranty
period. Your retailer
will be able to offer you more specific information regarding warranties.
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