Silver Sticker

[Jim Massnick]

Inspected a property for a purchase...doesnt look manufactured, maybe an older modular, but it has a worn out sticker where the HUD plates are on the newer manufactured homes. I took a pic of it, but didnt turn out or I would post it here.
I could not get into the crawl space because at the time of inspection, it was locked. I do plan to go back out to the property when the crawl is accessible. Anyone know what the sticker is? I will attach a pic of the home. Thanks, Jim

 

[Jo Ann Meyer Stratton]

What was the wording on the sticker? Did it refer to any state? Or did it refer to Housing and Urban Development? HUD labels lose their red coloring and sometimes are very silver colored because the bare aluminum is exposed. A HUD sticker has the following statement:

"As evidenced by this label No.----------------- The Manufacturer certifies to the best of the manufacturer's knowledge and belief that this manufactured home has been inspected in accordance with the requirements of the Department of Housing and Urban Development and is constructed in conformance with the federal manufactured home construction and safety standards in effect on the date of manufacture. See Data Plate."

If that exact wording is not on that silver sticker--it is not a manufactured home constructed to the HUD building code. If the wording refers to some other agency, it is probably a modular home or panelized home. Then the next question becomes--does it have a steel undercarriage? If not constructed to the HUD building code and has a steel undercarriage it will not be eligible for Fannie Mae financing.

 

[Jim Massnick]

What was the wording on the sticker?

Jo Ann, the sticker was partially gone and very faded, so I couldn't read it. It just looked like faded writing. When I go back to check the crawl space, I'll take another real good look at it. The assessor is out of town til Friday and no one else has access to his cards. Just wondering what the property card says. Also, it wasn't riveted on like the normal HUD tags.
Everything (interior, 2 x 4 construction, drywall, joining walls were typical, roof pitch, etc) is pointing at modular or panelized.
Well...thanks a lot for the quick response and I'll update after the next trip out.
Thanks again.

 

[Jo Ann Meyer Stratton]

You might take some thin paper with you and lay the pager against the sticker and then try to lightly shade with your pencil, if the wording was etched into the metal like the HUD number it might appear on the paper. Look in every cupboard, closet, under sinks, by the furnace, etc to see if you can find a data plate. Ask the owner lots of questions--have they ever seen a piece of paper with a map of the USA? Were they the original owners? Had they ever heard any history from former owners or neighbors regarding the house? etc, etc. The assessment, taxation and ownership records in Arizona do not have any information about the HUD building code. They only have the year of manufacture, name of manufacturer, serial number. With the serial number the owner or lender can contact HUD and verify that it was or was not constructed to the HUD building code. See my sample FHA VC sheet, it is the info on how to do that.

 

[Jim Massnick]

Jo Ann,
Attached is a picture of the "sticker". I was able to access the crawl space and there is no frame. I am assuming that this is a sticker for a modular home? Thanks for any response. Jim

 

[Jo Ann Meyer Stratton]

Does not look like a HUD label. So it could be a state or local entity's building label for a modular home.

 

[Jim Massnick]

Thanks again Jo Ann. By the way, this is a purchase and the first time I went out to the home, no one was home and I couldn't access the crawl....When I called the home owner to gain access, he told me that of all the homes he has purchased and sold, no other appraiser ever needed to check the crawl space. I must be imagining that area on the 1004 where I indicate if the crawl has dampness etc.
Thanks again. Jim