We are seeing a rise in Manufactured Home Sales as people trade down or opportunistic buyers jump on these low cost homes. If they happen to be using FHA they will want to check to see if the foundation are going to need to be upgraded before they make the offer

The most common problems found:

• Tie downs - insufficient numbers or inappropriate materials (I saw anchor chain resently!!)
  
• Tie downs - Inappropriate ties downs such anchors are stakes driven into the soil
• Skirting - Skirting is no longer allowed - HUD wants a foundation wall
• Piers - Stacked block cannot be on soil - they must be on poured concrete footer or plastic spread foot base

Wood Skirting - no allowed by FHA

Block on soil Not allowed by FHA

In most cases it is not difficult to upgrade the foundation to meet FHA/HUD standards but its still an obstacle that take time and funds to overcome

Rick Bunzel, CRI
Pacific Crest Inspections
NPSAR Affiliate of the Year 2006-2007
WWW.PacCrestInspections.com
360-588-6956
Fax 360-588-6965
Toll Free 866-618-7764

http://www.paccrestinspections.com/hud-fha-foundation-inspections.htm