Updating Manufactured Housing Provisions
Published Date: 1/3/2025
Rule
Summary
Starting March 4, 2025, the USDA’s Rural Housing Service is updating rules for loans that help people buy or fix homes in rural areas. These changes give borrowers more choices when buying manufactured homes, making it easier and better to get affordable housing. If you’re looking for a loan through these programs, expect a smoother experience and more options without extra costs.
Analyzed Economic Effects
7 provisions identified: 6 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Finance Existing Manufactured Homes
Starting March 4, 2025, USDA Rural Housing Service loans under the Section 502 Direct and Guaranteed programs can be used to buy existing manufactured homes that were built in conformance with the Federal Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards (FMHCSS) on or after a date determined by the Agency. To qualify, the unit must have an affixed HUD Certification label and HUD Data Plate, be on a permanent foundation per HUD and 7 CFR part 1924, subpart A, exhibit J, and not have been previously installed on a different homesite or altered since factory construction except limited structures like porches or decks.
Program Expanded to All States
The final rule expands financing of eligible existing manufactured homes through the Section 502 Direct and Guaranteed programs to include all States. This change is implemented as part of the revisions effective March 4, 2025.
New Lease Term Rules for Land-Lease and Tribal Loans
For ownership requirements, the rule requires leases to generally have an unexpired term of at least 45 years from the date of loan closing, except on Tribal Trust land, individual Trust land, or Tribal restricted fee land where the lease term must be at least equal to the loan term (25-year renewable leases are permissible). Separately, for new energy efficient manufactured and modular home financing in nonprofit land-lease communities and on Tribal Trust land, the Agency will accept a lease with an unexpired term at least two years longer than the loan term.
Direct Loans Exempt from RHS Thermal Standards
The definition of 'Manufactured home' for the Direct program removes the reference to 'RHS Thermal Performance Standards' so Single Family Housing Direct loans are exempt from those RHS thermal standards under Sec. 3550.10.
‘New’ Manufactured Home Timingdefined
For the Guaranteed program, a manufactured home is treated as a new dwelling if the manufacturer's date is within 12 months of the date of loan closing and the unit has never been occupied or installed at another location. This definition is in effect as part of the amended Sec. 3555.10.
Dealer Approval Requirement Removed for Direct Loans
The rule removes the regulatory requirement that manufactured housing dealers be reviewed and approved by the Agency for Section 502 Direct loans (removal of paragraph (c) from Sec. 3550.73). This change streamlines the administrative requirements in the Direct program.
30-Year Maximum Loan Term Remains
The rule states that, for both the Direct and Guaranteed programs, the maximum financing term for manufactured housing cannot exceed 30 years. This requirement continues to apply to manufactured home loans.
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