Stay Informed!

FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions about Manufactured Housing

• What is the difference between manufactured housing ("HUD-Code homes") and modular housing?
• Why does the I'M HOME initiative focus on manufactured housing rather than modular housing?
• What is the difference between manufactured homes and mobile homes?
• Will I’M HOME have another funding round in 2010?
• Can I’M HOME help me purchase a manufactured home?
• Where can I find information about purchasing my manufactured housing community?

For additional information about manufactured housing, please see Fast Facts About Manufactured Housing.


What is the difference between manufactured housing ("HUD-Code homes") and modular housing?

Both manufactured and modular housing are built in a factory, transported to a site and then installed.  The key difference between the two types of housing is how they are regulated.

Manufactured housing is regulated by the HUD Code, which was established in 1976 and significantly upgraded in 1994. At is the only federal building code.  The HUD Code sets standards for heating, plumbing, ventilation, air conditioning and electrical systems, design, construction, transportation, energy efficiency, wind resistance and fire safety.  Every manufactured home that leaves a factory bears a metal plaque certifying its compliance with the HUD Code.  Another characteristic distinguishing manufactured homes from modular homes is that each manufactured unit is built on a metal chassis.

In contrast, modular housing is built to the standards of the regional, state or local building code of the area where the home will be sited.  Both manufactured and modular housing may have site-built structures (garages, porches, etc.) added to them after installation; these structures are built to local, state or regional code.

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Why does the I'M HOME initiative focus on manufactured housing rather than modular housing?

Although construction techniques for manufactured and modular homes are nearly identical, negative stereotypes, exclusionary zoning and financing constraints related to manufactured housing in particular are quite strong.  At the same time, the efficiencies achieved by building to a single national standard offer high potential for cost savings. The initiative seeks to increase evidence-based understanding of the true challenges and opportunities that this sector offers to the affordable housing field. 

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What is the difference between manufactured homes and mobile homes?

The term "mobile home" refers to housing built before June 1, 1976, when the HUD Code went into effect. "Mobile" is a misnomer for today's manufactured housing, the vast majority of which serves as permanent housing and is never moved from its original site once installed. For more information on common misperceptions about manufactured housing, see Top 10 Truths about Manufactured Housing.

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Why should affordable housing providers consider using manufactured housing?

Manufactured housing can be a valuable addition to an affordable housing developer’s toolkit, as many I’M HOME partners can attest. Despite pervasive stereotypes, today's homes are of generally high quality. Partnering with an experienced nonprofit like Frontier Housing or a reputable manufacturer can ensure that homes are built to the right specifications and offer the right amenities for a particular market. Developers may choose to use manufactured housing for a variety of reasons, such as faster turnaround time, construction quality control offered by the factory environment, design flexibility, or price per square foot. Many I’M HOME partners deliver manufactured homes that are built to ENERGY STAR standards to help homeowners save on energy costs, and the factory building process also minimizes the amount of scrap and waste that is sent to landfills.

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Will I’M HOME have another funding round in 2010?

At this time, we do not anticipate issuing an open request for proposals (RFP) in 2010 to provide grant support for organizations. As opportunities for focused funding become available, they will be publicized via the I’M HOME Web site and targeted emails.

In less than five years, the I’M HOME community has grown from less than five organizations to more than 30. I’M HOME has provided more than $4.5 million in financial support, infrastructure and capacity building for new and replacement development, manufactured housing policy, finance, and resident ownership of manufactured housing communities. With successful seeding, growth and development of the manufactured housing “field,” I’M HOME continues to build on, expand and develop our community of partners and experts, working to ensure that manufactured homeowners receive the same treatment and benefits as owners of any other type of home.

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Can I’M HOME help me purchase a manufactured home?

I’M HOME provides technical assistance and other capacity-building support to other nonprofit organizations and facilitates peer learning among those organizations. Unfortunately, we are not set up to provide direct assistance to individuals. We encourage you to visit the For Homeowners section of our Web site for resources that might be helpful to you in your search for home, as well as reviewing the I’M HOME Network to check if one of our partner organizations, which do serve homeowners and homebuyers directly, is located in your area.

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Where can I find information about purchasing my manufactured housing community?
I’M HOME partners with ROC USA and its national network of certified technical assistance providers (CTAPs). For more information about how to work with a CTAP to purchase your community, please visit www.rocusa.org.

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