Mobile Home Loans in the Economic Recovery

Posted by admin · Leave a Comment 

Mobile Home Loans in the Economic Recovery

In the current economic recession, it seems like the average American is able to afford less and less.

These unfortunate circumstances have placed affordable housing in quite high demand. It’s no surprise now that manufactured homes and mobile homes are paving the way when it comes to reasonably priced housing. With this increased demand, there will be more and more Americans living in factory built homes. As ownership of manufactured and mobile homes has increased, so has the demand for Mobile Home Loans.

At the introduction of manufactured and mobiles to the housing market, most of the average mortgage banks were uninteresed in offering Mobile Home Mortgages. Most mortgage banks lumped Mobile home loans in the same category with car or vehicle loans. Much like vehicles, manufactured and mobile homes were thought to quickly depreciate in value, unlike a traditional stick-built home or condo that typically sees equity gaining over time.

Due to the lack of equity appreciation, for many years it was improbable that a manufactured or mobile home refinance or equity loan would be made available to owners of factory built homes at all.
As time went on, home values skyrocketed faster than general income could keep up with. The depreciation of manufactured and mobile home owner’s equity started to slow down.  Eventually the equity losses  stopped altogether. Manufactured and mobile homes soon were actually increasing in equity, in part due to the increasingly superior quality and safety of manufactured and mobile housing, coupled with federal and state laws governing the factory-built process.  While mobile home owners invested in their homes and continued to maintain and improve them, they gained precious equity.

Today, rate-and-term mobile home refinance loans and cash-out equity loans have become readily available to eligible owners of manufactured or mobile homes. It has become reasonably easy to locate what was considered “non-traditional” and even undesirable financing for manufactured or mobile homes.

As the current real estate market begins to recover, the manufactured and mobile home market endures the same loss of value as the “stick-built” and condominium homes. In the midst of the recovery, manufactured and mobile homes still remain viable for financing at terrifically competitive interest rates. These loans should be eligible for rate-and-term refinancing in the not-too-distant future and perhaps even “cash-out” equity loans in the somewhat-near-future.
There was a time when a manufactured or mobile home loan was frowned upon as a mere “car loan”.
Those days have long passed as manufactured and Mobile Homes have emerged as the last affordable housing in America with competitive financing available to qualified buyers.

California Manufactured Housing Development on the Rise

Posted by admin · Leave a Comment 

So, is now a good time to buy a manufactured home in California?
The latest statistics say yes. In a recent comparison of home prices to rental agreements, the gap has closed to under $120 (msnbc). Therefore for just over a hundred dollars a month, you could own the house, condo, or mobile home you are renting. In the past, California´s past comparisons between renting and buying have normally been well over $1,000 per month difference.

California Manufactured Housing Development on the Rise

“Did you Know?” Mobilehome Edition

Posted by admin · Leave a Comment 

beautiful mobile home

Did you know… ?

if a manufactured home was built after September 1, 1958., alterations to the electrical, plumbing, or mechanical systems of a manufactured home require a permit and inspection from the Department of Housing and Community Development regardless of where the home is located.

Did you know… ?

a community park manager or management association must obtain permission from HCD or the local enforcement agency to move lot lines for individuals residing in the park, after obtaining a homeowner’s approval and meeting other requirements. See Title 25 California Code of Regulations section 1104(d) here.

Did you know… ?

the rules and regulations of a mobile home park must be given to the resident at the time of application for tenancy and with new leases/extensions. There is no requirement to post the park rules, however.

Did you know… ?

Mobile Home park management can require homeowners to correct violations of local and/or state regulations for the unit and accessory structures. Management generally cannot require a homeowner to make physical improvements to park-owned property or structures, including the lot.

See MRL sections 798.73.5 an 798.83 in the Civil Code for more information Here.

Did you know… ?

Contrary to popular belief, fixed rate financing IS available for mobile homes and manufactured homes built prior to June of 1976. Visit California Manufactured Home Finance’s website at  www.camhf.com for more information on financing a mobile home.

This concludes today’s Mobile home edition of  ”Did you know?”

Helpful Hints: Maintain the Condition & Value of your Manufactured Home or Mobile Home

Posted by admin · Leave a Comment 

The Manufactured Housing Institute has issued a helpful guide for Manufactured home buyers. This guide shows buyers what to expect from start to finish, when purchasing a new Manufactured Home. The guide even includes information about qualifications and information that buyers need to know when considering a Manufactured Home Loan.

Today we are sharing one aspect that was highlighted  in this guide;  Manufactured Home maintenance.

MHI believes that “All homes require a certain level of maintenance to protect your investment, maintain their beauty, and keep the home in good operating condition.

At least once a month:

Check/replace furnace filters

Clean range hood filter

Check weather stripping around door and window seals

Check AC A-coils to ensure they are not clogged

Clean vinyl floor coverings and vacuum carpets

At least twice a year:

Inspect shingle roofs for missing or damaged shingles. Vents and flashings and caulked joints should be resealed once a year or as needed

Check dryer vents to ensure they are working and free of debris and that they are not vented to or leaking moist air under your home

Check AC condensation drain to ensure it is working and not clogged

Clean out floor heat duct registers

Check the underside of the home and repair any openings in the special material that protects the home from moisture

At least once a year:

Wash exterior siding

Inspect roof; clean off debris; rinse off with water

Check exhaust fan systems

Check anchor ties for snug but not overly tight fit

Check heat tapes for proper operation

Clean/check furnace

Check/clean air conditioner

Inspect and replace, as necessary, caulking around windows, doors and other openings

Clean gutters

Lubricate window guides with a silicone spray and ensure window latches are adjusted as needed

Professionally clean carpets

Long-term absence from home:

Turn off water supply: during winter, add approved anti-freeze in kitchen, lavatory and toilet traps

Turn off water heater

Close and lock windows

Adjust thermostat accordingly for winter or summer months”

For More information, visit the Manufactured Housing Institute Website here.

Now may be a great time to refinance your Mobile home or Manufactured home, or pull out some equity, to perform these repairs and ensure that your home stays in great condition. This maintenance helps you to avoid costly damages or repairs down the road. Contact California Manufactured Home Finance for more information on accessing the equity in your mobile or manufactured home.

Manufactured Home Builder Clayton will pay mortgage if buyer loses job

Posted by admin · Leave a Comment 

According to The Daily Times, the manufactured home giant Clayton has plans to boost sales this year.

“We’re making this commitment: If someone buys a home and then loses their job because of the economic downturn, we will make payments on their home for three months,” said Kevin Clayton, president and CEO. “It won’t cost the buyer a dime.”

“We hope no Clayton homeowner ever needs this help, but we know by offering this benefit we can help ease some concerns and help more families become homeowners,” Clayton said.

The article reports that this program seems to have been manufactured with potential first-time home buyers in mind, who can also take advantage of the $8,000 tax credit passed as part of the Economic Recovery Act.

“Similar programs to help home buyers have given them a tax deduction, in effect reducing their taxable income,” said Clayton. “This program actually reduces the taxes they owe dollar for dollar over a three-year period. That’s a huge difference.”

The Daily Times reports that “Clayton’s Payment Protection Program, which will continue for 24 months, is applicable for new homes purchased between now and the end of June. If the monthly mortgage payment includes homeowners insurance and property taxes, Clayton absorbs those costs as well.

Chris Nicely, vice president of marketing, said the Clayton Homes program differs from some others that suspend payments after a job loss but add the missed payments to the back end of the loan.”

“The big difference is there is no cost to the consumer,” Nicely said. “If you happen to lose your job, even for a week, we will make three mortgage payments to help you get back on your feet.”

Foreclosure Rescue Scams You Need to Know About

Posted by admin · Leave a Comment 

Business Pundit posted a very informative blog today about 5 Nasty Foreclosure Resecue Scams to avoid.

“ According to RealtyTrac, a whopping one in 54 homes received a foreclosure notice last year. That’s 3.1 million foreclosure filings.

Scared yet? An ever-increasing pool of foreclosure rescue scammers are drooling at the prospect of capitalizing off your panic. And so far, they’re doing pretty well. From forgery to title transfer, these scamsters–some of them former real estate professionals–are making an art form of the foreclosure scam.

So far, a few pervasive scams have popped up enough times in the media to be dubbed endemic. Here they are, in no particular order. Do yourself a favor and avoid these five nasty foreclosure rescue scams:

1. The Pay Me First Scam

Some foreclosure rescue scammers ask customers to pay them fees in exchange for delaying a foreclosure. It’s actually illegal for foreclosure rescue companies to collect fees before performing a service. They should be paid after negotiating new loans or monthly payments.

Unfortunately, some homeowners find out the hard way that paying companies before they perform a service leaves them without money or a home. The Star-Telegram reports on one San Francisco-area mortgage broker advertised foreclosure avoidance workshops on Craigslist. For a $2,500 upfront fee plus a $2,000 monthly payment, Freedom Financial Solutions claimed it would halt foreclosures by finding legal violations in homeowners’ mortgage agreements.

Instead, Cheryl Ann Montero, owner of the company, took an ownership stake in her clients’ houses, then filed for bankruptcy, which suspended foreclosures. Montero, who ended up delivering nothing to her clients, made off with $52,000 before declaring bankruptcy herself.

2. The Title Transfer Scam

This scam involves transferring the title of your home to the foreclosure rescue company. This is a very, very bad idea. If your name is not on the title, guess who owns your home? Hint: It’s not you.

Rip-off Report reader Cheri had a scam like this happen to her. Facing foreclosure, she contacted a mortgage rescue company. The scammers executed a buyback scheme that would allow her to re-purchase her house at a different appraisal value. In order to finish the deal, they said they needed to put someone else’s name on the title of the home. Cheri would be a trustee, “guaranteeing” her that she would maintain control of the property while staying inside a renter.

It turned out Cheri’s name never made it to the title. She was paying down a mortgage on a home she no longer owned. The scammers made off with the title, possibly some equity, and the willingness to evict her from the house.

3. Sending Mortgage Payments to a Fake Address

Some scammers ask to receive your payment in place of the lender. They claim they have a special relationship with the lender, or can renegotiate your mortgage if you send them payments. This is sketchy, to say the least. One California scammer, for example, made $1.2 million by pretending to be a lender—then fled to his native Mexico.

If someone tells you to ignore your lender letters, or to send the payments somewhere else, run the other direction.

4. Fake Lender Letters

Some fraudsters have taken to forging major lenders’ letterhead and convincing homeowners to sign up for “official” loan modification services. Mail, envelopes, and letterhead may look exactly like the lender’s, but the content will be fraudulent.

The Lake County News reports that one Los Angeles ring even filed a fictitious business permit. The swindlers forged lender and government envelopes with “Final Notice” written on the outside. The letters inside told homeowners that if they sent in their mortgage information, they could apply for a home rescue program.

Once homeowners applied, they received a confirmation note and a set of forged lender documents. In the meantime, they were instructed to send their mortgage payments to a “Payment Processing Dept” located at a scammer’s PO box, where the money was stolen.

5. The Obama Rescue Plan Scam

The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that some rescue companies are charging as much as $3,000 to modify customer loans under the new Obama relief plan. The truth is that you can find out about rescue plan yourself, either online at MakingHomeAffordable.gov, through the Homeownership Preservation Foundation at 995hope.org, or by calling 1-888-995-HOPE.”

Mobile Homes, Smart and “Upwardly”

Posted by admin · Leave a Comment 

Mobile Homes are being seen in a new light all across the country.

This article in the New Jersey News publication highlights some of the new sentiments that are popping up in regards to Mobile Homes and Manufactured Homes.

“From the Depression to the recession, trailer parks have been reinvented. They’re now called manufactured housing communities, and belt-tightening buyers are giving them a second glance, even in New Jersey where the double-wide has long been an outcast. Within the past few months, two new communities have opened in the state, and some bankers say loans for mobile homes are up.”

According to our experience, the demand for financing in the mobile home loan and manufactured home loan market continues to increase.

“The manufactured housing industry has held up well in the recession compared to traditional real estate. Even with the flashiest new factory-built palaces, monthly payments rarely exceed $1,000, Salamone said.

The average price of a traditional single-family abode nationwide was $313,600 in 2007 while the median cost of a dwelling assembled off-site totaled $65,100.”

“Additionally, prices of mobile homes aren’t depreciating as dramatically as traditional pieces of real estate. A house that was $55,000 five years ago is worth $50,000 today he estimates, adding that his clients’ delinquency rate is 1 percent.”

It looks like, despite the recession and the troubled economy, it’s still an excellent time to consider purchasing a Mobile Home or a Manufactured Home and take advantage of the $8,000 Tax Credit.

UPDATE – Fleetwood Enterprises in loan talks with BofA

Posted by admin · Leave a Comment 

Update on Fleetwood Enterprises from Reuters

“By Chelsea Emery

NEW YORK, March 17 (Reuters) – Motor home maker Fleetwood Enterprises Inc (FLTWQ.OB) is negotiating with Bank of America (BAC.N) for bankruptcy financing and hopes to present a plan to a bankruptcy court as early as next week, according to court documents.

Company spokeswoman Rivian Bell was not able to specify the amount of debtor-in-possession financing being discussed. Such financing is a loan made to a company to help it fund operations while it restructures under bankruptcy protection.

Fleetwood, which also makes manufactured housing, has asked the court to approve emergency funding to pay workers’ compensation benefits to third-party administrators, according to the company’s filing with the Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of California in Riverside on Monday. A hearing was scheduled for 11 A.M. PDT today (Tuesday).

Fleetwood filed for bankruptcy on March 10, hurt by high fuel prices and the U.S. economic recession that had limited sales of its motor homes. The U.S. housing market decline has also slashed demand for its manufactured homes.

It is shuttering its travel trailer division and seeking a buyer for its motor home and manufactured housing units.

“There has been outreach to strategic and financial buyers and there has been interest,” said Bell, adding that she was unable to clarify further.

The Fleetwood case is In re Fleetwood Enterprises, Inc, US Bankruptcy Court, Central District of California (Riverside), No. 09-14254. (Reporting by Chelsea Emery; editing by John Wallace)”

CertifiedGreen Modular Home Program™

Posted by admin · Leave a Comment 

CertifiedGreen Modular Home Program™ Guide, by NMHC and SBRA*

The National Modular Housing Council (NMHC) has introduced a dynamic new program called the CertifiedGreen Modular Home Program™,created by the NMHC in cooperation with the Systems Building Research Alliance (SBRA). This program was created to draw attention to the inherently green nature of factory building: the efficient way that modular homes are constructed, the use and reuse of materials and the general conservation of resources that are hallmarks of modular construction.

CertifiedGreen™ is a national program for new homes that qualify in compliance with the National Green Building Standard recently accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).The standard was developed by a housing industry consensus committee representing architects, site and factory built home builders, environmental experts and building product manufacturers formed by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and the International Code Council (ICC) to draft the actual standards documentation. The CertifiedGreen™ program was designed by and for the benefit of the modular industry, expressly to meet the needs of modular home builders constructing green homes.

According to the Manufactured Housing Institute, “With the National Green Building Standard as the program’s technical basis, CertifiedGreen™ homes meet a widely recognized benchmark for green building.”

The Program Guide contains additional information on what is required for participation in the program.

National Green Building Standard™, by ICC and NAHB (New Standard to be in stock beginning of March 2009)

A collaborative effort between the ICC and NAHB, the Standard provides the “green” practices that can be incorporated into new homes, including high-rise multifamily buildings, home remodeling and additions, hotels and motels, and the site upon which the green homes are located.

The green practices include lot design, preparation and development; resource, energy, and water efficiency; indoor environmental quality; and operation; maintenance; and building owner education. The four threshold levels, Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Emerald provide builders with a means to achieve basic, entry-level green building, or achieve the highest level of sustainable “green” building that incorporates energy savings of 60 percent or higher. The Standard can be used by any builder for their individual projects, or be the basis for a local community or state green building program.

*Information on CertifiedGreen Modular Home Program™ was obtained from the Manufactured Housing Institute.

Lending Fraud Hurts Consumers

Posted by admin · Leave a Comment 

In the world today, fraud in lending comes as no surprise to most Americans who read their daily newspaper or turn on the TV to catch the news. Unfortunately, fraudulent business practices have become a commonplace occurrence in corporate America.  Luckily there are several entities, both private & federal, that have stepped up in an attempt to minimize these crooked business practices & protect consumers from such underhandedness.

One of these organizations, called MARI or the Mortgage Asset Research Institute, Inc., has aligned itself with the manufactured housing industry. From an article entitled “Stamping Out Lending Fraud”, published by Modern Homes Magazine, the writer, Ann Parman, explains that “Recently, the Manufactured Housing Institute entered into an agreement with MARI with the goal of reducing the incidence of fraud in manufactured home loan transactions. Hopefully, the end result will be fewer loan defaults and, as a result, better loan terms for consumers. Higher defaults cost lenders more money, and that gets passed on in higher rates to consumers. In addition, the industry’s participation in MARI can help prevent consumers from obtaining loans that are too large for their budgets or for the homes they purchase, and therefore, increase their ability to build home equity.”

Essentially, MARI is an information service provider that collects reports of possible incidents of fradulent activities in the mortgage service industry MARI’s database collects & maintains two types of reports:

“1) non-public incidents of alleged fraud, material misrepresentations and other serious misconduct;
and

2) public sanctions against professionals and companies involved in the mortgage and financial services industries.”

The Manufactured Housing Institute has also created a Lender Best Practices (LBP) program, where participation in the MARI organization is mandatory. The article reports, “The members of the LBP Steering Committee felt it was important for industry lenders to become more diligent in both the detection and reporting of fraud,” said Don Scarmuzzi of DFS Consulting LLC who assisted in putting the LBP and MARI programs together.

If it wasn’t for organizations like MHI and MARI, the missteps of the past may have never been brought to attention , creating great strides towards corrections of these wrongdoings that only hurt consumers, in the end.

For more information on these organizations, please read the full article at:

http://www.manufacturedhousing.org/mhomes/images/lendingfraud.pdf