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Mobile home loan – A less costly option to buy homes

Posted on: 28th Jun, 2005 04:53 am
If you're looking for a relatively less costly housing option than a traditional home, then one good choice available before you is the mobile or manufactured home. Mobile home, also called as trailer or caravan, is gradually becoming a popular housing option to many home buyers. Though a mobile home may look like a traditional home but it is comparatively little difficult to finance this type of home than to finance a traditional one. With little more effort, however, you can find out the required financing option too. If you want to know about mobile home loans, check out the following topics:

What are the types of mobile home loans?

Finding out the right mobile loan product can save a lot of money for you. Here is an outline of different financing options that may help you select the right product. These loan products are categorized on the basis of land ownership, lending authority and some other factors.

    On the basis of land ownership:


  • Personal property loan: If the manufactured property is not on a permanent foundation and if it is purchased separately, then you have to take out a personal property loan. When you own a land on your own, then personal property loans may be required to finance the purchase of a mobile home. In comparison to traditional home financing, the qualifying standards for personal property loans are relatively lenient.

  • Mobile home mortgage loan: If the manufactured property that you want to purchase is on a permanent foundation, then you have to take out a mobile home mortgage loan. These loans are relatively difficult to qualify than the personal property loans. These loans also require higher upfront costs than the personal property loans.

  • On the basis of lending authority:


  • Federal programs: Title I and Title II loans are offered by the lenders approved by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), to buy mobile homes. To qualify for these FHA-approved loans, mobile homes must conform to the HUD Code and must be located on approved foundations.

    Manufactured home loans, guaranteed by the Department of Veteran's Affairs (VA), are available for for the veterans. This 100% VA financing is available if the mobile homes are located on approved foundations. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) also offers financing for the purchase of manufactured homes.

  • State and local housing agency programs: Mobile home loans are offered by the State Housing Finance Authorities/Housing Agencies to the first time home buyers at relatively lower rates.

  • On the basis of other factors:


  • Construction loans: These are short term loans designed to help you build a mobile home on property you have already purchased. Short term, high interest construction loans may also be available to help you make improvements on your home or property.

  • Home improvement loans: This type of loan is designed to help you make improvements to your mobile home. An example of this type of loan is a Title 1 Home Improvement loan insured by the FHA. Some states offer special loan programs in addition to the Federal government's tax deduction for certain energy efficient improvements.
  • In addition to the options stated above, there are also mobile home refinance and equity loans available from specific lenders. All you need to do is decide why you want to take out the loan and choose the one that is right for you.

What are the requirements to qualify for mobile home mortgages?

Usually mortgage loans are not offered for the purchase of manufactured homes which were built before 1976. This is so because the lenders take a close look at the condition of the house before offering a loan. A manufactured home must comply with the building standards proposed by Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Here are the requirements to qualify for a manufactured home loan -

  1. The HUD Code requirements:
    • As per the HUD Code, the home must be built as 1/2/3 section homes at a protected place. Then the home has to be shifted to the site. Thereafter, the wheels and axles must be removed so as to give it a permanent foundation.
    • The home should follow the HUD Code pertaining to quality, design, transportability, durability, energy efficiency and fire resistance.
    • The manufactured home should pass the third party property inspections.
  2. Credit score:
    Mobile home lenders require a minimum credit score of 680 to offer a mobile home loan. With a credit score higher than that, you can get better rate.

  3. Ownership rights:
    • The mobile property that you are purchasing should be clear of any liens. The property under consideration may also be managed by a co-operative association.
  4. Down payment:
    • Depending upon several factors such as the type of loan, value of the home and your credit standing, you may be required to make down payment of 5-10% of the purchase price of the home.

What are the steps that you need to follow to obtain mobile home financing?

If you are planning to buy a mobile home, you need to follow some steps. Some of these steps are same as followed in the general home buying process, whereas some of the steps differ. Here are the steps that you need to follow:


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What tax benefits do mobile home loans offer?

If the loan is a mortgage, secured by the mobile home that is your primary residence, then the Federal government will allow you to deduct the interest and property taxes you pay from your income taxes, provided you have purchased the home before September of the tax year. In addition, some states allow you to deduct your property taxes from your state income taxes, provided the Federal timing requirement has been met.

Some states, like Indiana, may permit you to deduct all or part of the rent you pay for the lot your mobile home rests on. In order to determine whether your state will permit you to deduct the lot rent, you should consult a tax professional in your state.

Related Readings
Related References:
I am wanting to borrow the money to pay a contract off because my original contract date is up and I am wanting to finance with bank.
Posted on: 13th Mar, 2013 07:35 pm
Hi!

Welcome to the forums!

To terry,

You can contact the private lenders and check out if they can help you in this regard.

To Bklynbill,

You can contact the local lenders and apply for a home improvement loan using the mobile home as collateral. The lenders will take a look at the property and your financial situation and let you know whether or not you can qualify for a loan.

To Lewis,

You should contact the local mobile home loan lenders and check out if they can refinance the loan. It will be the lender's discretion as to whether or not he will consider refinancing the loan.

Feel free to ask if you've further queries.

Sussane
Posted on: 14th Mar, 2013 12:28 am
I do not quilify for a home mortgage due to poor credit. I am getting about 60k inheritance in a few months could I get approved for a mobil home inadvance by signing over a portion of inheritance?
Posted on: 16th Mar, 2013 05:00 pm
Hi tiggsy,

Unless you get the inheritance, you won't be able to sign it over to buy a mobile home.

Thanks
Posted on: 18th Mar, 2013 01:12 am
Why wont a lender lend on 2 modular homes on land? :(
Posted on: 27th Mar, 2013 09:37 am
Hi Guest!

Welcome to the forums!

It is the lender's discretion. You can ask for a clarification from the lender himself in this regard.

Feel free to ask if you've further queries.

Sussane
Posted on: 27th Mar, 2013 11:29 pm
I have a double wide in a mobile home park and am interested in buying/purchasing land to move it to. Do u give loans to consolidate my already mortgage as well as purchasing the land, cost of moving my home and any cost to ready the land for the home. I live in Kansas.
Posted on: 30th Mar, 2013 09:42 am
Hi Jackie,

Well, this is a mortgage community which offers help and suggestions to people who are facing mortgage and financial issues. This community does not offer loans.

Thanks
Posted on: 31st Mar, 2013 10:30 pm
After a Ch.7 filing 1 yr. ago, I'm being offered either 1/2 share
(1 of 2br) or outright sale in an older mobile home in a park in Easton MA.
While outright sale is preferred, Owner offered to `finance' at `good' rates... Is a "1/2 share" an actual real thing; negotiable product/instrument?
I'd prefer to own outright but... Price is 15K, park fees of about 450,
pretty sure my credit score is sub 620, so I may be clearly challenged in typical financing, hoping for info, ideas n options.
Posted on: 01st Apr, 2013 02:22 pm
My fiance and I have found a manufactured home that is a foreclosure and says it is approved for HomePath Mortgage Financing. It is on 2 acres of land. My credit score is 603, but my fiance doesn't have a social security number and no credit. I make about 33,000 - 35,000 a year and he makes about 32,000. I have been on my job almostr 3 years, and he has been on his 6 months. I know we wouldn't have any problems making the payments, but I am having trouble finding lenders for manufactured homes. Can anyone help me find lenders that will finance them, and if some of them participate in the HomePath financing would be great. Thanks.
Amy
Posted on: 01st Apr, 2013 08:53 pm
Hi!

Welcome to the forums!

To JonM,

I personally feel that the outright sale in an older mobile home is a better option. As far ahare is concerned, it will be better to get in touch with a real estate attorney and take his opinion in this matter.

To achamt,

Your credit scores are quite low. In such a situation, I will suggest you to improve your scores before you apply for a mortgage. Once your scores have improved, there will be a higher chance of you qualifying for a mortgage.

Feel free to ask if yofurther queries.

Sussane
Posted on: 01st Apr, 2013 11:46 pm
My husband and I are looking to buy a 02 double wide that sits on approxamitly 2 acres of land. I am a stay at home mom. My husband is the only one who works. I have no credit and his is poor. Also his job pays cash which means he gets 1099....he's worked here for 7 years now. Is there a possible way for us to get a loan??
Posted on: 12th Apr, 2013 11:21 am
Hi Jehnnie,

A query similar to yours has been replied to in the given page: http://www.mortgagefit.com/Mortgage-Basics/Can-we-get-a-loan.html . Please take a look at it.

Thanks
Posted on: 14th Apr, 2013 10:15 pm
Can someone please tell me some lenders who finance manufactured homes attached to land ? We are in Texas .
Posted on: 24th Apr, 2013 04:50 pm
Can someone please tell me some lenders who finance manufactured homes attached to land ? We are in Texas .
Posted on: 24th Apr, 2013 05:00 pm
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