Manufactured home that's no longer in manufactured home

#1

I had an agent ask me for help on a listing and I’m going to it on Monday to try to help her so I have no pictures yet.

I did see a picture that the homeowner took of the crawl space and it’s very visibly a manufactured home frame with the typical jacks and the seller claims the axles are underneath as well.

There is a concrete or block around the exterior perimeter. I do not know yet if it’s a true foundation or just a skirting.

The problem is the top of the house is definitely not manufactured at all.

I actually sold these people this house years ago when I was a realtor and never ever ever would I call any part of this house a manufactured home. It is my belief they tore it down to the subfloor and rebuilt from there up.

The county now has this home classified as a standard single-family stick built dwelling.

When can a manufactured home no longer be a manufactured home? Any kinds of advice tips or things to look for to help in this situation will be greatly appreciated.

#2

A manufactured chassis will always remain a manufactured chassis. IMO, it’s a rebuilt/modified manufactured home. Could have had a fire and was rebuilt. The masonry foundation or skirting does not effect the status of the manufactured nomenclature as it is common practice to place manufactured homes on permanent foundations, such as modular homes are.

#3

In Montana a manufactured home can be set on a permanent foundation and become “de-titled”. It’s still a manufactured home but is taxed as real property.

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#4

I was trying to think of a way to say that!

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#5

Quite often a block skirting under a manufactured home will be considered by some lenders and some local building departments as a permanent foundation even though it is skirting. Folks can apply or appear to the county to have the home re-classified as a normal home. I have seen typical double wide homes identified as an industrialized manufactured home(fancy name for modular) even though the home is constructed as a double wide with no formal foundation supporting the exterior walls. Just the typical cantilever and diagonals. I always search for the data plates for confirmation. Provided reno hasn’t been done on the inside.
If the house has been rebuilt, my concern would be support of the exterior walls and roof. The original would have been designed/engineered to support the walls. If deeper walls or a significant change in the roof occurred, that could change the dynamics of the support beneath the exterior. However, unless you are an engineer, you cannot determine that.
If the county and other parties are considering it a stick home, then that is there call. Inspect it as such.
Some of the newer manufactured homes, depending on the company, that look very much like a normal home. Look closely. There are numerous areas that can tell you if it is a manufactured home or possibly a modular.

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#6

The attic typically being the easiest to determine.

#7

I talk to the agent yesterday The house was a 1970-ish supposedly and it was relocated to its current position. Supposedly remodeled and then roughly 10 years ago it was reclassified with the county and sold.

if this thing burned down and it was remodeled because of that then our fire department in this area sucks because the house is literally right in front of the fire station. When the fire trucks pull out they literally have to turn to avoid hitting this house

Why would somebody go through the steps to tear the entire house off the manufactured metal foundation add block foundation and reclassify. I know it’s cheaper to remodel than to get a new building permit but I would assume leaving subfloor only, does not count as remodel.

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#8

Go talk with the Chief. It could have been used for a training burn. Whatever transpired, (remodel/rehabbed/SWAT raid), they certainly would have some memory/ idea, given it’s location.