What about safety?
Strict federal construction standards and a stringent inspection process insure that today's manufactured homes are safe and reliable. These standards have improved the fire and wind resistance for manufactured homes. A previous Georgia State Fire Marshal wrote the following regarding fire safety and manufactured homes:
"It is unlikely that any local jurisdiction enforces such stringent fire safety code requirements on conventional on-site single family homes as are imposed by the federal government on the manufactured housing industry."
As far as wind resistance is concerned, a properly installed manufactured home is built to resist winds of up to 100 mph, and for homes in high-risk Georgia coastal areas, this figure rises to 110.

Are manufactured homes a good appreciable investment?
Today's manufactured home is a good, sound investment. Like any home that is well maintained, a manufactured home will appreciate at comparable rates. A 1997 study by East Carolina University found that when a manufactured home is located on a permanent foundation and listed as real property, it will appreciate at a rate comparable to site-built homes. That same study found that manufactured homes do not affect the overall appreciation rate of site-built homes in close proximity.

What is the difference between the federal Manufactured Housing Construction Standards (HUD Code) and other types of residential building codes?
The HUD Code sets performance standards that a particular building component or system must meet. In industry terminology, the code is therefore referred to as "performance based." The HUD Code prescribes performance standards for heating, plumbing, air conditioning, thermal and electrical systems. State and local codes are "prescriptive based". This means that the codes specify the exact type or system to be used.

Do state and local governments regulate manufactured homes?
While the federal government regulates the construction code for manufactured homes, local governments regulate the actual installation of the manufactured homes--according to state law.

In 1993, a Georgia law became effective mandating that all new manufactured homes must be installed according to instructions supplied by every manufacturer. If the instructions are not available, then the home must be installed according to the standards developed by the Georgia Insurance and Fire Safety Commissioner.


Do manufactured homes come with a warranty package?
Many manufactured homes come with warranty packages. The type and extent of the warranty programs vary. A GMHA member retailer can help answer questions about the warranty plans available.