Mortgages & Home Loans Homeowner Guide What Is a Manufactured Home? Manufactured Homes Explained By Janet Wickell Janet Wickell Janet Wickell is a mortgage and home loans expert who has written about topics including real estate/real estate resources and financing your home purchase. She co-owned a real-estate agency in North Carolina and is the author of "The Everything Real Estate Investing Book." learn about our editorial policies Updated on April 13, 2022 Reviewed by Doretha Clemon In This Article View All In This Article Definition and Example of a Manufactured Home How a Manufactured Home Works How a Home Data Plate Works Frequently Asked Questions Can I move my manufactured home to another location? Is a new manufactured home covered by a warranty? What if I encounter problems with a manufactured home? Photo: Big Stock Photo Definition Manufactured homes are homes built in a factory according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) standards that were passed in 1976. They are built on a steel chassis and transported to the homeowner's building site, rather than being built on a foundation on location. Definition and Example of a Manufactured Home Manufactured homes are simply homes that were built in a factory rather than at the home's final location. Older manufactured homes were called mobile homes because they were built on wheels and could be transported. However, this term has fallen out of use since the HUD implemented its modern standards for manufactured home construction on June 15, 1976. The HUD regulations cover design, construction, materials, building strength, energy efficiency, appliances, systems, and more. These standards have been updated several times, most recently in the Manufactured Housing Improvement Act of 2000. Once a home is constructed according to these standards, it can be purchased and transported to its final site for assembly and installation. How a Manufactured Home Works The components of a manufactured home are created in a factory. Those pieces are then shipped to the home site, where the home is then assembled. People who purchase a manufactured home lease or buy the land where the home will be put together. Many manufactured homes are financed with a retail installment contract, available through the retailer that sells you the home. Some lenders will grant a conventional mortgage for manufactured homes, but they will likely require that the home be placed on a permanent foundation. Manufactured homes are eligible for FHA and VA home loans. Some communities and developments do not allow manufactured housing, so this should be taken into consideration when choosing a home site. People who wish to purchase a manufactured home should be aware of local zoning ordinances, deed restrictions, restrictive covenants, and other similar documents before purchasing land for a manufactured home. You can find this information at your city zoning office. Note Never move a manufactured home to a zone with more restrictive wind, thermal, or roof load requirements than the zone for which it was built. Check the data plate for zoning information. Each home or segment of a home is labeled on the outside with a red "HUD label," which is the manufacturer's guarantee the home was built to conform to the HUD code. There will also be a "data plate," which is actually a detailed paper certificate with full manufacturing information, inside the home. It's usually located on the main electrical panel, inside a kitchen cabinet, or in a bedroom closet. The manufactured home's data plate will show details including where it was constructed, its serial number and manufacturing date, a list of factory-installed equipment, and a map of the U.S. with information about the type of climate and load for which it was designed. Requirements for a Manufactured Home The data plate, along with the HUD label, is required to certify that a manufactured home was built according to HUD standards. If a manufactured home was built after June 1, 1976, it must have this information. Mobile homes built before that date cannot have these certificates, even if they have been updated. Note If you are planning to purchase a manufactured home, always ensure it has a HUD plate on the outside of the building, and a data plate inside. Sometimes people might remove the date plate in a manufactured home. If the data plate is missing, you might be able to order a replacement from the Institute of Building Technology and Safety. The IBTS is a nonprofit established to provide unbiased building code compliance and assistance to government agencies and on behalf of the federal government. This service can provide you with a label-verification letter or a performance verification certificate, depending on your needs. It cannot find data plate information for manufactured homes built prior to 1976, and there is a fee for this service. Key Takeaways Manufactured homes are built in a factory and then moved to their final site for assembly and installation.Since 1976, these homes have been constructed according to strict federal government standards.There are restrictions and requirements regarding financing of manufactured homes and where they can be built. Each manufactured home built since 1976 will have a data plate with all details about its manufacturing and certification inside. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Can I move my manufactured home to another location? Yes, but make sure you use a transport company that is familiar with the laws for moving such structures. You should also consider the type of zone or climate for which the manufactured home was originally constructed. Climate differences and the cost of moving your manufactured home might make it more practical to sell it and purchase another at your new location. Is a new manufactured home covered by a warranty? Most manufacturers offer a warranty that covers the home and its systems during a stated warranty period. Some appliances may be covered by their own warranties. Before you purchase a manufactured home, find out which items are covered by warranty, who offers it, and how warranty repairs are performed. What if I encounter problems with a manufactured home? HUD recommends that you first contact the retailer who sold you the home. This is why you might want to make sure you purchase your manufactured home from a reliable and well-respected retailer. If problems cannot be resolved, contact the manufacturer. If you still have complaints or concerns, contact HUD or a related state agency. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit Sources The Balance uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Mobile Home Living. "Manufactured Home Facts Everyone Should Know." Accessed June 30, 2020. International Association of Certified Home Inspectors. "Manufactured Housing and Standards." Accessed June 30, 2020. FDIC. "Manufactured Home Mortgage." Accessed June 30, 2020. U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. "Hud Labels (Tags)." Accessed June 30, 2020. U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. "Manufactured Housing and Standards—Frequently Asked Questions." Accessed June 30, 2020. Institute of Building Technology and Safety. "Manufactured Home Certifications." Mobile Home Living. "Manufactured Home HUD Tags, Labels, Serial Numbers, and Data Plates." Accessed June 30, 2020.