Do you have any of these questions or concerns?
January 9, 2024CSLB Clarifies Licensing Requirements for Work on Manufactured Homes, Mobilehomes, and Multifamily Manufactured Homes.
June 7, 2024Some retailers specialize in the sale of existing manufactured homes. Since few manufactured homes are ever moved once delivered to an original foundation site, manufactured homes, even in land-lease communities, are sold on site and the space lease is transferred to the new homeowner.
Financial Institutions
A number of California financial service companies and their branch offices have loan programs for factory constructed homes. These institutions include banks, credit unions, mortgage corporations and commercial finance companies. These companies provide all types of consumer, conventional and government-backed financing for factory constructed homes.
A common method of financing manufactured homes is through a personal property installment loan. This can be arranged by the homebuyer directly with the financial institution. Terms range from 15 to 30 years.
Conventional real estate mortgages are also available for manufactured and factory-built homes when they are properly affixed to real property. Factory constructed homes are eligible f or insurance under government backed programs offered by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), the Veterans Administration (VA) and the Farm Home Loan Administration (FMHA).
A High Value Housing Option Comes of Age in California
Even though California manufacturers and regulatory agencies have led the way in the development of factory constructed housing many are still puzzled by the term "manufactured housing."
Through the Duty to Serve initiatives, Freddie Mac will promote the manufactured housing market as a viable source of more sustainable, energy-efficient, and affordable homeownership. To achieve this they'll increase loan purchases to enhance current products and create new offerings, conduct ground-breaking market research and expand borrower education.
July 1, 2022Step One: Determine if you are eligible. You may be able to waive past due fees and taxes if: Your mobile home/manufactured home was registered with the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) in the past by another owner
July 3, 2018A partir del 1 de enero, 2017 hasta el 31 de diciembre, 2019, propietarios de casas móviles o prefabricadas que actualmente NO están registrados pueden ser elegibles para obtener una exención de ciertas cuotas e impuestos atrasados y solicitar el registro para su casa móvil.
December 13, 2018Effective January 1, 2017 through December 31, 2019, owners of manufactured homes and mobile-homes who are NOT currently the registered owners may be eligible to obtain waivers from certain fees and back taxes and apply to register their homes with HCD.
December 13, 2018A High Value Housing Option Comes of Age in California
Even though California manufacturers and regulatory agencies have led the way in the development of factory constructed housing many are still puzzled by the term "manufactured housing". Just what is a manufactured home and how does it differ from other forms of housing built in a factory?
CONSUMERS INTERESTED IN PURCHASING MANUFACTURED HOMES SHOULD USE EXTREME CAUTION WHEN CONSIDERING A MANUFACTURED HOME ORDERED OVER THE INTERNET OR FROM AN OUT-OF-STATE SELLER.
Out-of-State and Internet Sellers. California law requires manufactured home salespersons, dealers, and manufacturers doing business in California to be licensed by the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD). If a person or company solicits for purchasers of manufactured homes in California by letters, telephone calls, or other direct advertising or communications, that seller is violating the law because only licensed dealers and salespersons may advertise or solicit in California.
Consequences of Unlicensed Sales Activity. Generally, home buyers’ interests, rights and funds are not as well protected unless they are dealing with licensed in-state dealers and manufacturers. Buyers also lose some rights when trying to enforce their rights or correct defects against out-of-state parties. Consider the balance between saving a few dollars on the home price in exchange for potential problems with the sale, the home, the installation, the accessories or amenities, or loss of your funds.
What are some specific problems with Internet or Out-of-State sales?
Advertising: Unlicensed sales operations may not disclose all costs, and/or may participate in predatory sales practices. The California sales form requires listing of all costs, expenses, fees, and taxes. For instance, the true price may be concealed by not disclosing that a homeowner will have to pay a California use tax on goods purchased outside the state; for example, a $150,000 manufactured home may cost the buyer about $7,000 in California state taxes which normally would be disclosed in the itemized purchase price. Similarly, costs related to transportation, installation, local permit fees, etc. may not be disclosed.
Missing/Wrong Features: California law requires that all amenities and features be listed with their prices, or be included in the purchase price, and that this information be provided before signing the purchase agreement. Purchasing online may result in the buyer never seeing the final order sent to the factory, or all prices.
Loss of Funds/Payments: California law requires that dealers obtain buyer checks made payable to an escrow company and that they promptly deposit these funds into an escrow account. Dealing with an out-of-state or internet seller means not knowing whether 2 of 2 11/1/07 the seller or its operation even looks reputable, not knowing whether funds are deposited into insured accounts or reputable escrow companies, or whether the funds even get paid to the manufacturer upon the factory’s release of the unit.
Reduced Warranty Rights: The warranty for homes purchased from California licensed dealers provides more consumer protection than the minimum federal warranty: it holds both dealers and manufacturers responsible for warranty repairs, and enforcement usually does not require a lawyer or lawsuit. With an out-of-state home, there is no California warranty or enforcement, and any lawsuits or administrative actions must occur in the state or states of the dealer and manufacturer. In addition, California also has special warranty rights for homes sold where the purchaser is responsible for hiring the installer.
Lack of Local Information: California licensed dealers are in business in or near your local community. They should know any special issues involved in the siting of a manufactured home, whether there are special park requirements, who are reputable installers, and other critical information. Generally, they are in business for the long term and rely on referrals and positive Better Business Bureau recommendations. Internet and out-of-state sales operations may be thousands of miles away, and neither know about or care about special circumstances unique to you, your park, or your community. Also, if a seller is merely an email address or Internet URL, and if a buyer has problems with a permit, installer, appliance, or other feature, how responsive will that email address or URL be, in comparison to a local business operation?
BENEFITS OF CALIFORNIA LICENSING
California licensing includes criminal background reviews, consideration of other past bad business dealings, and educational training and an examination. California licensees must obey various state and federal laws and regulations regarding sales practices and advertising, documentation and disclosures, escrows and protection of funds, compliance with federal and state construction standards, and responding to complaints about defects or warranty issues. If solicited by an internet or out-of-state solicitor, ask for proof of California licensing. Use HCD’s website (click HERE) or call HCD’s Occupational Licensing Program at (916) 323-9803.
Other persons licensed and regulated by the State of California who are involved in manufactured home sales include licensed contractors (who perform installations and related construction), real estate licensees (who may act as agents for used manufactured home sales), and California-licensed escrow companies. The purpose of this licensing is consumer protection! Dealing with out-of-state parties usually deprives consumers of California protections, and they must rely on whatever protections exist in other states. California does license some out-of-state manufacturers, who agree to be bound by California laws.
It is not illegal to purchase a home from an out-of-state operation or an Internet site, although it is illegal for those operations or sites to advertise or solicit directly in California without obtaining a license from HCD. CAUTION: Unlicensed manufactured home dealers and sellers are active because of recent natural disasters such as the Southland fires and the public may fall prey to a perceived need to purchase homes urgently. A buyer may be dealing in cash, may be in a hurry to obtain a replacement home, and may not exercise normal caution in this situation; this “Alert” is intended to remind those buyers that the consequences of not exercising reasonable care in this important and expensive transaction may result in consequences far more serious than the expected few dollars or days saved by dealing with the out-of-state business.
November 7, 2007