Mobile Homes

Mobile Home: The term Mobile Home was used for homes built prior to June 15, 1976, when the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) building code went into effect. Voluntary standards were previously in effect and because of that, some home manufacturers prior to June 15, 1976 built quality homes and others produced nothing short of junk. Again that all changed on June 15, 1976

Manufactured Homes & Modular Homes

Both Manufactured and Modular homes are built in a climate-controlled manufacturing facility. This provides minimal weather exposure to the materials and components along with the efficiency of factory assembly technology. As your home travels through the manufacturing facility it is inspected from beginning to end to insure consistent quality. Work is never delayed by weather or contractors which reduces construction timefrom start to finish.

Single and Multi-Sectional Manufactured Home Code

Constructed to the building standards of the Federal manufactured Home Construction Safety Standards. This code governs how manufactured homes are constructed, specific standards that must be met pertain to the quality, durability, safety, structural design, electrical, plumbing and energy efficiency of the home. This code also defines the requirements for transportation and system design. Single and Multi-Sectional homes are all manufactured with and shipped on a permanent steel chassis. Multi-section homes generally have a standard roof pitch of 3/12 with the option of a 4/12 or 5/12 roof pitch. Manufactured Homes have the option of being built with a perimeter floor system for placement on a basement or crawlspace. Utilities are connected within the home and are ready to hook to existing home site utilities. Furnace and water heater are standard and can not be omitted.

Modular Code

Construction of a modular home is based on the same codes as site-built homes. Various building codes set forth by local government and state requirements in which the home will be located, to include National Electrical Code (NEC), International Residential Code (IRC) and the Uniform Building Code (UBC). The home is transported on a Carrier; home is then taken off of the Carrier and transferred onto a foundation. Modular homes have to be placed on a basement or crawlspace. Modular homes have a standard 5/12 roof pitch with a 7/12 or sometimes greater roof pitch as an option. Water and drain lines are stubbed through the floor but not connected. Gas lines are not plumbed at all. Modular homes do not include a water heater, furnace or duct work as a standard feature. (Some manufacturers do have the water heater, furnace and most duct work as an option).

Where as the above covers the fundamental distinctions there are further differences and are subject to change wth future building code updates.

Financing

Financing is available for both Manufactured and Modular Homes. However Modular Home Financing is more readily available(most all lcal banks) and generally will yield a better interest rate than a Manufactured Home Loan. This is because the Modular has to be placed on a foundation which means almost always the home will be placed on private property and the bank can use the physical land as collateral.

If you do not know where to seek financing for either a Manufactured or Modular home sold by Ripley's Affordable Housing, Ripley's does work with specific lenders or can point you in the right direction for local lenders.