Manufactured or Not?

[Tim Hicks (Texas)]

Does the prior deed(s)/mortgage(s) show a transfer from an existing or out of business local mobile home dealer?

Had to buy it from somewhere back in the beginning of it's existence.

County records only show ownership back to 2016. The home address is not on the TDHCA site which registers manufactured homes since 1982, but that can happen. The preliminary title work only shows the current owner, the buyer and the original buyer of the land in 1981. As I said, I found an archived 1981 Detroiter certificate on the TCHCA site by the original owner's name or somebody with the same name, but there is no proof that is the property because there is no address.

 

[JTip]

If it is manufactured, the vin number will be engraved on the metal frame, either stamped, hammered, painted or scratched.

Hope your friend is skinny or has a long selfie stick.

 

[DWiley]

In my part of the country, I would agree. However, I took Rich Heyn's Appraisal Institute class in Corpus Christi years ago and he showed us pictures of on-frame modular dwellings which looked exactly like that. He stressed that the only way to know for certain is to find out what building code they were constructed to.

That is a great course. And one of the key takeaways is that one cannot tell what category the structure is by physical examination. Two properties may be physically identical, but one if MH and one is not - because that classification depends on the code it is certified to, not by its physical characteristics.

 

[Bobby Bucks]

Many times I’ve been able to find a HUD number in public records, deeds of trust/mortgage. Another source is old MLS listings and docs of the subject property, sold, expired, withdrawn, etc. often times they have the HUD number there. As far as crawl spaces go, I remember a guy at an update course who was bragging about how he “inspected” the crawl space of every assignment and scowled at the rest of us like we were all slovenly individuals for not doing the same. B. Bucks Esq. has never done the “worm crawl” to look for numbers on the frame of a “house trailer”, although it isn’t directly addressed in the USPAP, somehow worm crawling doesn’t seem dignified.

 

[Tim Hicks (Texas)]

Update. Now that the assessor's office is open. Two tax cards (2025 & 1980 with updates scribbled in 1995) that clearly state bricked over manufactured home on both cards. However, no serial number or tag numbers provided.

 

[J Grant]

Update. Now that the assessor's office is open. Two tax cards (2025 & 1980 with updates scribbled in 1995) that clearly state bricked over manufactured home on both cards. However, no serial number or tag numbers provided.

The tax cards would be enough for me to call it a manufactured home. It looks like it from the undercarriage. - maybe the codes were sanded off or rusted who knows.

I suppose the OP can make it subject to the owner producing the HUD code/serial number. I know as an appraiser that I would not want to guess either way and be wrong. Some assignments just don't; have the information necessary to proceed.

 

[JTip]

Give me $200 and I would pay someone $100 to crawl under and get the serial number off the frame.

 

[Mike Ault]

Give me $200 and I would pay someone $100 to crawl under and get the serial number off the frame.

Maybe last year, now they will think you're an ICE agent.

 

[Dublin ohio]

If it is manufactured, the vin number will be engraved on the metal frame, either stamped, hammered, painted or scratched.

Hope your friend is skinny or has a long selfie stick.

As long as it is just skirted it's usually visible. They are usually on the front member where the hitch attaches. I have seen the put on with a welding rod. If they are on a concrete block foundation, good luck being able to see that front member

 

[Bobby Bucks]

As long as it is just skirted it's usually visible. They are usually on the front member where the hitch attaches. I have seen the put on with a welding rod. If they are on a concrete block foundation, good luck being able to see that front member

I like appraising manufactured homes and the product, but haven’t gotten intimate with one of their “members” before.