Comparing Double Wides To Single Wides For FHA Appraisal

[Mr Rex]

"Nick" are you certified yet?

I don't call this type of construction "double wides" or similar. I refer to them as one section, two section, etc. More professional, less pejorative.

PC run amok. the folks that live in these "single or two section" homes refer to them as singlewides or doublewides. Riding the high horse seems so elitist, perhaps pejorative...

 

[CANative]

"Nick" are you certified yet?

I don't call this type of construction "double wides" or similar. I refer to them as one section, two section, etc. More professional, less pejorative.

FTR... I prefer to use the more technically correct terms for factory built structures. It displays to my clients a more competent understanding of the property under appraisal.

 

[Raven59]

I usually go with HUD-Code Unit (Single or Multi-Section). BTW, let's not leave the triple wides (multi-section) out of this discussion.

 

[CANative]

I usually go with HUD-Code Unit (Single or Multi-Section). BTW, let's not leave the triple wides (multi-section) out of this discussion.

 

[J Grant]

PC run amok. the folks that live in these "single or two section" homes refer to them as singlewides or doublewides. Riding the high horse seems so elitist, perhaps pejorative...

You might seem elitist to some of the folks whose homes you appraise because of your profession and license. You are not a country hick even though you like to play that card. I agree, we can better use market vernacular when taking to people in the field but in an appraisal we switch hats and are talking to our clients. I may say deferred maintenance in a report, out in the field I might the property needed a repair .

 

[CANative]

IMO, appraisers who use terms like "double-wides" "trailers" "wobbly boxes" etc, show an implied bias and likely a deep understanding of this type of housing. It's not a matter of PC and hurting feelings. It's a matter of rejecting a personal bias towards a type of housing. And it's just my opinion. I'm entitled to have an opinion. I like my opinions a lot better that other peoples opinions.

 

[gregb]

It seems the image of mobile home parks has improved lately with less use of the pejorative "trailer park" and in some market areas, its a big step up over renting an apartment. The mobile home parks in my area are the blood pressure gauge that reflect first a change in market conditions. When investors are buying the pull outs and replacing with new manufactured homes, its a sign of a strong, upward market trend.

 

[CANative]

It seems the image of mobile home parks has improved lately with less use of the pejorative "trailer park" and in some market areas, its a big step up over renting an apartment. The mobile home parks in my area are the blood pressure gauge that reflect first a change in market conditions. When investors are buying the pull outs and replacing with new manufactured homes, its a sign of a strong, upward market trend.

Yep. Made a lot of money for my employer using that metric. I was the "mobile home park" guy for the tax appeal company. I liked doing them because it was easy to tell if they were over assessed or not. The $/Pad measurement was easy to work with and present at AAB hearings.

 

[Mr Rex]

IMO appraisers that use terms that the typical market participant would not use are just posturing to make themselves look or feel smarter. Folks that live in doublewides call them doublewides. I typically use the term doublewide HUD code manufactured home in my reports. If I'm feeling particularly PC, I'll also use multi-section HUD code manufactured home. I don't think I've every heard one of the homeowners refer to them as HUD code manufactured home, or a multisection HUD code home but almost all call a doublewide a doublewide.

 

[Raven59]

Around here locals call them trailers no matter how many sections.