Are you looking to purchase a manufactured “mobile” home and finance it with an FHA loan? Looking to refinance your current loan with an FHA loan? If so, then your home’s foundation will need to be reviewed by a licensed structural engineer to ensure it meets HUD requirements as dictated by HUD Manual 4930.3 entitled “Guide to Permanent Foundations for Manufactured Homes” and updated by the Department of Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 (enacted July 30, 2008). New homes must meet the requirements of HUD Manual 4145.1, REV-2, CHG-1 titled “Processing and Architectural Inspections for Home Mortgage Insurance” and must be reported using HUD Form-92051 titled “Compliance Inspection Report” .
HUD-published foundation requirements are often more stringent than those required by the local building code. The intent of these requirements is to make your home safer by increasing its ability to withstand high winds and earthquakes, more resistant to moisture problems, and higher load-bearing strength to reduce the chance of foundation settlement.
Below is a list of the basic basic HUD requirements:
• Poured concrete foundations or approved engineered foundations must support the piers.
• If using concrete block (CMU) as piers, then the piers must be set in Portland cement mortar or dry stacked and coated with a fiber-reinforced surface-bonding cement. Steel jack stands are an approved spring substitute provided they are designed and stamped by a licensed engineer.
• The chassis must be anchored to the lugs (screw-in ground anchors are not allowed).
• Enclose the foundation with a durable baseboard. As of May 21, 2009, vinyl or metal baseboards are permitted.
• Provide adequate ventilation in the basement area. 1 square foot of net free area is required for every 150 square feet of crawl space around the perimeter of the home.
• The ground under the house must be covered with a minimum thickness of 6mil polyethylene vapor barrier.
• All equipment used to transport the home (lugs, axles, and wheels) must be removed from the site.
• All utilities must be permanently installed.
As you can see, the requirements are more stringent than those required by most building codes. I recommend contacting your local licensed structural engineer who can help you determine your home’s compliance and what steps, if any, are required to upgrade your home’s foundation.