Mobile homes have been classified as real estate. Hence, one who wants to buy a mobile home may seek mortgage loan from companies that give home loans. But here, one must be aware that the conditions for these loans differ from those that are normally applicable to loans for immovable homes.
But of course, availing a mobile home loan is not without its hurdles. A few companies expect you to convert your mobile home into an immobile one prior to sanctioning the loan. This calls for taking out all those accessories which formerly made it mobile. Such conditions are called foundation necessities. May be the companies draw consolation from the fact that the home is now rooted to the ground! The companies go as far as asking you to erect the entire mobile home on a concrete support. This is a common condition imposed by mortgage lenders.
There are two kinds of mobile home loan. The first kind is extended for the home. The second kind is given for home as also the area on which it is installed. The first kind bears the building expenses and the cost of materials that go into it. This loan does not cover the shifting cost or the taxes levied on it. This kind of loan is normally availed by those who reside in mobile home society layouts or any such transitory stay.
Financial companies are very doubtful in granting loans for mobile homes. The major primary reason is that their insecurity increases due to homes are in movable state. Many financial companies like banks and other lending companies have banned loans for mobile homes without land.
If the mobile home has been fixed to the ground, it is far simpler to avail a loan for it. The quantum of loan happens to be more in this case as it is inclusive of land cost too. Here too, the loans do not take care of taxes that are levied on the land.
HUD code of construction and credit rating of the borrower are the two important check points while sanctioning the mobile home loans. If the mobile homes does not qualify and meet HUD code of construction, loans are not given. If the credit rating of a borrower is very low, then also loans are not sanctioned by financial institutions.
Mortgages on mobile homes typically cover between 75% and 90% of the final construction costs. The duration of such loans usually run more than 10 years, with various time limits available.
Graham McKenzie is the content coordinator for a leading South African leading Homeloans and Bond Origination portal which provides access to Nedbank Homeloans.
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