Frequently Asked Questions

Manufactured homes are homes built after June 15, 1976, that are largely assembled in a factory and then transported to site. They are built to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) building code standards. The code covers everything from design to durability and energy efficiency.

You may still hear people refer to them as mobile homes, but there is a difference.

Although people still often use the terms interchangeably, a manufactured home is not a mobile home.

Mobile homes were built before June 15, 1976, often with fewer regulations and less strict safety standards than manufactured homes. No uniform standards exist for structural integrity, wind resistance, and fire safety like they do for manufactured homes after that date in 1976.

Also, mobile homes are generally placed on temporary foundations, while manufactured homes can easily be placed on permanent or temporary foundations.

Manufactured homes are built on a permanent chassis allowing for placement on a temporary or permanent foundation, while modular homes are delivered in sections, assembled on site, and placed on a permanent foundation. In many cases, a modular home may be more expensive than a manufactured home.

Yes, they certainly can be! Manufactured homes typically have a lower price point than traditional homes of their comparable age and size. Manufactured homes that are placed on the individual’s owned land and affixed to a permanent foundation, in desirable areas, may appreciate in value. And newer manufactured homes come with energy efficient features and stylish design.

Yes, a double wide is a type of manufactured home consisting of two sections joined together. Monroe Home Center offers double wides from manufacturers such as Jessup, Kabco, Titanium Homes, and Deer Valley.

Yes, there sure is. A triple-wide manufactured home consists of three sections and often boasts living space of more than 2,000 square feet. These spacious homes often come with premium finishes.

Yes, manufactured homes generally have a steel support chassis and can be placed on temporary (such as pier and beam) or permanent (such as concrete slab) foundations.

Manufactured homes placed on permanent foundations are considered real property, much like traditional site-built homes.

Yes, modern manufactured homes must be designed to HUD energy-efficiency standards. These standards include installing insulation in locations such as ceilings, walls, and floors, using energy- efficient windows, and providing sealed ductwork.

A reputable manufactured home dealer such as Monroe Home Center can guide you on what insulation levels are appropriate for the Southern climate in places such as Louisiana, Mississippi,
Arkansas, and Texas.

This type of manufactured home is built in two (double-wide) or more (triple-wide or quadruple- wide) sections that are then joined. This allows for larger floor plans and more traditional home layouts.

Absolutely, these double-wide and above models are perfect for people looking for room to stretch out, for larger families, and multi-generation households.

The materials that manufactured homes are made of may vary by company, but often include wood framing, steel chassis for foundational support, and siding choices such as vinyl, LP Wood Siding, Hardi-Plank, and Cedar Shakes. Roofs are often commonly covered with asphalt shingles and interior walls made of dry wall or vinyl over gypsum (VOG). Vinyl flooring is common in manufactured homes.

Qualification depends on a mix of factors. These include items such as type of manufactured home loan, your credit score, and your current income versus your debt. Our knowledgeable team at Monroe Home Center can walk you step-by-step through the process considering your individual needs.

Manufactured home loan types include conventional mortgage and government-backed loans (home and land). Government-backed options include loans from sources such as the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), Veterans Affairs (VA), and USDA. Another option available is a Chattel Loan, where the manufactured home that you are taking the loan out on serves as your collateral.

In some cases, you do not need a downpayment. VA and USDA loans may be offered with no down payment depending on individual qualifications. Other types of loans may require a downpayment.

Yes. In many cases, you can use owned land as part or all of a downpayment on a manufactured/mobile home. This is called “land-in-lieu”.

If the home is to be permanently affixed to the land and thereby classified as real property, it is possible to get a conventional mortgage or a government-backed option. This option allows for a single loan on both the land and the home.

Yes, it is possible with the understanding that a mobile home is different from a manufactured home. Although many people use those terms interchangeably, they are actually legally very different. Mobile homes are homes that were built before mid-June 1976 when the Department of
Housing and Urban Development (HUD) made significant updates to the building codes. Manufactured homes have been built after mid-1976.

Yes, if you meet the FHA home loan criteria and use an FHA-approved lender, you certainly can apply for such a loan on a manufactured home.

Financing comes from a variety of sources including specialty lenders, credit unions, local banks, and national banks. On Monroe Home Center’s website, find information about a variety of lenders that they work with.

Loan terms vary by type of financing and whether the loan includes the manufactured home being classified as real property. Loan terms can run up to 30 years depending on the financing.

Yes, generally manufactured homes do have titles. Depending on the circumstances, the title will be either a personal or real estate property title. A personal property title applies when the manufactured home is not affixed to the land.

At Monroe Home Center, we sure do. In fact, we pride ourselves on helping make your home ownership process as easy as possible. We can partner with you on transportation of your new home to site, arranging placement on site, permitting, and utility hookups.

Yes, at Monroe Home Center, we do accept trades!

A couple days, depending on weather and the type of home and loan. We aim for the process to be smooth from start to finish.

Yes, manufactured homes typically include a manufacturer’s structural warranty which covers materials and workmanship. In many cases, appliance and extended components warranties for items such as the roof are available.

Modern manufactured homes are quite safe as they must meet HUD safety standards including federal wind, fire resistance, and energy efficiency codes. Also, an anchoring system helps prevent overturning and shifting during high winds when properly installed.

The safety transition happened in two major steps:

1976: HUD Code established federal safety standards for construction, fire resistance, and other — homes built after this are officially “manufactured homes,” not “mobile homes.”

1994: The HUD Code revision after Hurricane Andrew added stronger requirements for wind resistance, especially in designated Wind Zones II and III (many coastal areas which our Deep South region has many of).

Homeowners can maintain the safety of their manufactured or mobile home by keeping smoke and CO2 detectors (if any of your appliances use fuel to power) in good working order. Also, by regularly looking around your home inside and out to ensure that roofing, siding, skirting, and appliances are in good working order.

The lifespan depends on the material and the most common type of roofing material on newer manufactured homes is asphalt shingles (15-25 years). Older homes or replacement roofs may have metal or composite materials (30 plus years).

Modern manufactured homes require maintenance like a site-built home and costs may be a little less or comparable for heat and air, electrical, and plumbing. If your manufactured home has skirting that may require some regular inspection and maintenance.

Yes, they can. Newer models on permanent foundations especially have been known to appreciate if they are permanently affixed to a foundation on owned land and titled as real property. That assumes that the manufactured homes are properly maintained and that the surrounding area remains attractive to buyers.

Modern homes offer many options such as high R-value insulation in the ceilings, walls, and floor, and energy efficient windows and appliances. HVAC ductwork is sealed to prevent hot or cool air from escaping before it reaches the interior of the home.

Louisiana, due to its proximity to the Gulf Coast, is a high-wind area and has specific, mandatory requirements based on the HUD Wind Zones. Louisiana is divided into Wind Zone II and III.

Wind Zone III: Applies to the immediate coastal parishes. Homes here must be constructed and installed to withstand extremely high sustained wind speeds (e.g., up to 110 mph or greater wind loads).

Wind Zone II: Applies to most other areas of the state. Homes here must be built to withstand high wind speeds (e.g., up to 100 mph wind loads).

These requirements help enhance the safety of modern manufactured homes.

The great news is that new and recent model manufactured homes come with a surprising number of upgrades already built into the homes. For example, depending on the model, you may find features such as dedicated ensuites, double sink vanities, kitchen islands with bar, walk-in closets, built in entertainment centers, and pantries.

• Dress up your couch, bed, and other furniture with some throw pillows.
• Rugs in your bedroom, living, and dining spaces can be a great option for adding coziness, and texture.
• Framed pictures and art, as well as books give a polished look to shelves.
• Paint can be used to create accent walls or customized spaces.

You can find inexpensive, yet stylish pillows, rugs, pictures, art, and books at thrift stores, estate sales, and local budget and online retailers. Watch retailers and paint stores for sales (especially around holidays) and carefully measure the spaces that you are going to paint to ensure that you do not overbuy.