Looking to buy a manufactured “mobile” home and finance it with an FHA loan? Looking to refinance your current loan with an FHA loan? If so, your home’s foundation will need to be reviewed by a licensed structural engineer to ensure it meets HUD requirements dictated by HUD Handbook 4930.3 titled “Permanent Foundation Guide for Manufactured Homes” and as required. updated by the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 (enacted July 30, 2008). New homes must meet the requirements of HUD Manual 4145.1, REV-2, CHG-1 titled “Architectural Inspections and Processing for Home Mortgage Insurance” and must be reported using form HUD-92051 titled “Compliance Inspection Report “.

HUD published foundation requirements are often more stringent than those required by local building code. The intent of these requirements is to make your home safe by increasing its ability to withstand strong winds and earthquakes, more resistant to moisture problems, and increased bearing strength to reduce the possibility of foundation settlement.

Below is a list of basic basic HUD requirements:

• Poured concrete footings or approved engineering foundations must support the piers.

• If using concrete block (CMU) as piers, then the piers should be set in Portland cement mortar or dry stacked and coated with a fiber-reinforced surface adhesive cement. Steel jack stands are an approved spring substitute as long as they are designed and sealed by a licensed engineer.

• The chassis must be anchored to the shoes (screwed ground anchors are not allowed).

• Cover the base with a durable skirting board. As of May 21, 2009, vinyl or metal baseboards are allowed.

• Provide adequate ventilation in crawl space area. 1 square foot of net free area is required for every 150 square feet of crawl space floor area around the perimeter of the home.

• The floor under the house must be covered with a minimum 6 mil thick polyethylene vapor barrier.

• All equipment used to transport the home (tongues, axles, and wheels) must be removed from the site.

• All utilities must be permanently installed.

As you can see, the requirements are more stringent than those required by most building codes. I recommend contacting your local licensed structural engineer, who can help you determine your home’s compliance and what steps, if any, are required to update your home’s foundation.