Entry On The 1004c Form

[VolcanoLvr]

On page 2 of the form, there is a question requiring a response [ ] Yes [ ] NO, which is:

"Is the manufactured home attached to a permanent foundation system? If no, describe the foundation system and the manner of attachment."

I know this seems silly, but what does this really mean? (I have my own opinion, but wonder what my peers think.)

Does it in any way relate to whether or not the home is considered 'real property?'

 

[miktay]

Yes, that is exactly what they want to know. Also, in some markets, it can be attached and still be considered "personal property" if not "purged" from the tax assessors roll.

 

[VolcanoLvr]

With all due respect to responders and readers here, the form is asking about a SYSTEM. A system can be a physical structure, in this case, the foundation assembly.

The SYSTEM has nothing at all to do with whether or not a home is Real or Personal property. The SYSTEM applies to either. It is my contention that appraisers who misinterpret the question are incorrect. It’s a semantics problem an appraiser friend in CA and I have been discussing.

And in fact, the form already states which form of ownership it is….on page 1 – Fee Simple or Leasehold. Page 2 has info about the various attachments….the systems, etc.

I’ve seen the two CA inspection forms. These are used by local county inspectors to verify if the home’s FOUNDATION is proper per installation requirements. Once that is determined, one form and tag applied to the home is used for Real Property (i.e., title elimination or surrender), the other for Personal Property (i.e., home in a MFH park). This determines how the home (and site) will be taxed.

One issue in CA (and perhaps elsewhere) is misapplication of terms by RE Agents who write in the listing the ‘home is on a permanent foundation,’ when what they really should say is the home is ‘Real Property with the land.’ So due to the confusion, appraisers adopt inaccurate phrases and apply those incorrectly to the form that is asking about a supporting SYSTEM.

In my home county, when a MFH title is surrendered, the site legal description is re-written to include the MFH. And the assessor shows both the home (improvements) and the site taxed together on one page. Other counties don’t do it that way, but the assessor either taxes together (Real Prop), or separately (home only, no land)…so that’s how we know which is which.