The Process
Factory Built Homes on Private Land:
A Synopsis of What To Expect
This outline has been put together in order
to answer a few of the questions that people have concerning the
process of putting a manufactured home on their own land. Please
keep in mind that there are differences in the requirements in
the state, county and city or local building departments. Everything
we are providing should be considered to be "BallPark" estimates
in dollars.
1. BUILDING SITE
If you own or are buying your building
site, your ability to secure financing is greatly enhanced, your
equity determines the type of financing that will be available
to you. We do have lenders that put together the entire package
for the project. The terms and type of loans depend greatly on
your credit history and the amount of down payment. Our lenders
are prepared to offer financing with as little as 5% down to qualified
people.
Your land may be zoned for any number of uses. You can
determine through the county or city zoning department if it is
feasible to set a home on the property. We will assist you in
working with the building department in making any changes required
to make the site acceptable. Care should be taken to assure that
before you purchase land that the land can be used for your home.
Be especially aware for covenants that do not allow manufactured
homes or require special features such as 5/12 pitch roof or greater
or the use of UBC (Uniform Building Code) homes only. These changes
can be done but in some cases can add considerably to your costs.
We are presently finding sites with older existing homes and replacing
them with a new HUD or UBC home. We can help you in your search
for land, if necessary.
2. FINANCING
Financing is based on your credit history
and your ability to pay the payments. Usually the permanent loan
capabilities are determined first. This is the long-term loan
that will be on your home once the construction is completed.
Then based on what the appraised finished home, land and improvements
will be, a construction loan is structured to pay for the land,
order the home, excavate, pay tap fees, construct foundations
and do what is necessary to complete the job. Usually you will
pay interest on the construction loan. This is usually part of
the loan and will be paid off with the loan. When the Certificate
Of Occupancy is issued by the inspecting authority, the loan will
be converted to the permanent loan paying off the construction
loan. The term of the construction loan is usually 3 to 6 months.
3. THE HOME
The selection of the home should have
been covered before the financing section, but you would not be
able to buy the home if you could not pay for it. The home selected
is going to determine the type of foundation that can be used
under the home. Once the home selection is made, and options and
upgrades are decided upon, we can order "finance" or "bank" prints
of the home for the lender, inspection authority, contractor and
engineer. We are now on the way!
4. THE CONTRACTOR
As you can see by now there is no "locked-in-stone"
process to organize the purchase and installation of a manufactured
home on private property. Each application has its own unique
set of problems that must be solved. The financing is the determining
factor for the available options. The Contractor should be available
and involved very early in the process. His costs are going to
be a factor in setting the budget figures for the lender.
YOU can determine to be your own general contractor. If
you have sufficient knowledge of confidence in yourself that you
can hire and direct others to perform the tasks necessary to complete
the job, you can save considerable money. If not, we do have a
reputable contractor available or you may select one of your own
choosing. We insist that the foundation be designed by a Colorado
licensed engineer and the home is set by a Colorado licensed setter.
Both must work and comply to factory specifications. You will
be in charge of releasing draws from the lender to the contractor
and sub-contractors. We do assist you in assuring that the stages
of the work are complete prior to draws being released for payment.
5. SOIL SAMPLES
In most cases of new development, the
permitting authority is going to require that soil samples be
taken by an engineering firm that will test the soil's compactness
and its capacity to percolate water. With these tests and the
factory specifications, the engineer can design the type of foundation
you want under the home. These tests can be used to design the
septic and leach field if needed.
6. BUILDING PERMIT
The state, county, or city insist on
being fully aware of what is going on in their respective jurisdictions.
They will insist that you provide a set of plans that describe
what your intentions are for the subject property. They will review
your plans and the jurisdiction's requirements set forth by their
building department. At this point, the process is in the hands
of the governing body and may require further coordination with
the contractor. An advance should be made to the contractor to
cover the expense for building permits, engineering and tests.
The permit process should be stared as soon as possible. It can
take up to 4 weeks to obtain permits from some departments.
7. UTILITIES
Once we have our building permit, it
is time to apply for the utilities: gas, water, electricity, sewer
or septic. If you live in a municipality or water district, it
is pretty simple, yet time consuming. When you acquire the land,
you should find out what utilities are available for the property:
are there tap fees and what is the cost? Is there electric and
gas service available? These can be costly if they have to be
brought any distance. The costs should be predetermined to help
set the initial budget for the job. Do you need to drill a well?
If so, permits must be applied for from the state water resources
division. A well driller must be selected and contracted. Do you
need to install a septic system? If so, application must be made
to the controlling health department to determine size and design.
Again, this is time consuming and can be costly. Again, we repeat
the fact that the coordination of all these tasks are very time
consuming. If you are working as your own contractor, you must
be available when these jobs need attention.
8. THE FOUNDATION
THE MOST CRITICAL PART OF THE HOME
Manufactured homes can be set on a variety of types of foundations.
This ranges from blocks on caissons, reinforced ribbons with treated
lumber walls, cement or block crawl space founctions to full or
partial basement. All foundations must comply with the manufacture's
specifications and be designed by a Colorado registered engineer.
When installed under these conditions, the home will have a full
warranty by the manufacturer.
9. THE SET
Sometime during the previously outlined
activities, and after you have approved the design of your home
and made the appropriate deposit, the home will have been specked
out by you and the home will have been ordered. We can expect
up to 9 weeks scheduled delivery time. During this time, weather
permitting, we will be preparing the site for the home. That includes
the foundation, the utilities and making arrangements for the
setter. Based on the type of foundation, we will choose the method
of placing the home on the foundation. Setting the home involves
securing the home to the foundation, tying the home together and
assuring the home mates at the roof, floor and end walls. Finishing
work includes installing the interior trim or drywall and laying
carpet. The set is complete when all work is completed and approved
by the local authority and a Certificate Of Occupancy is issued.
10. OTHER CONSIDERATIONS
Some local authorities require other
commitments from you such as landscaping, garages, specific retaining
walls, sidewalks, partial brick, etc. These items should be covered
during the original permit process.
**ATTENTION**
When buying rural land, a state well
permit must be obtained. Before buying rural land, ensure that
you can obtain water for the property. The state, as well as local
authority can have unique requirements and restrictions. There
are a number of limitations that can be placed on water well usage.
The issuing of a well permit can take up to 90 days.
Some rural areas have community wells. Be
sure and examine the conditions and restrictions on the use of
the water. Without a doubt, water is the most critical item
when considering a land home project.
TIME OF CONSTRUCTION
We will try to finish a home land installation
within 90 days after the construction money is available. There
is no way we can plan for unseen weather delays or other "Act
of God" delays. We also have no control over delays caused by
government authority's issuance of permits or delays in inspection
procedures. We cannot be held accountable for labor stoppage or
material shortage.
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