| Q. |
How do Manufactured Homes stand up to strong winds,
earthquakes and other natural disasters? |
| A. |
Today's Manufactured Home will
withstand the same storms and natural disasters as its site-built
cousins. In fact, they are probably built stronger, inspected more
thoroughly and use better grade materials than some homes built on- site. |
| |
| Q. |
Are
Manufactured Homes safe? |
| A. |
Yes! Since June 15, 1976, all
Manufactured Homes have been built to the National Manufactured
Housing Construction and Safety Standards Code. This is a national
code established and administered by the U.S. Department of
Housing and Urban Development (HUD). |
| |
| Q. |
Can I install
my Manufactured Home on my own private lot? |
| A. |
Yes. Most communities in New York State will allow Manufactured Homes to be constructed in Residential Zones. However, zoning regulations vary with each municipality. Our Housing Consultants can assist you with many of the more common
zoning issues. |
| |
| Q. |
Can a
Manufactured Home be installed on a cellar? |
| A. |
Yes. While the most common type
of foundation for a Manufactured Home is a "floating" concrete slab,
many people choose to use "crawl space" or even full cellar
foundations. |
| |
| Q. |
What
heating, cooling and insulation options are
available? |
| A. |
Just as with a site-built home,
you can choose oil, gas or electric heat. While most manufacturers
offer only hot air type heating systems, hot water baseboard
systems are becoming more popular.
Air conditioning is also available either at the time of original
purchase of the home or at any future time.
Minimum insulation standards are established by the various
codes under which your new home will be built and the area of the
country where you will be placing your home. While the codes set
the minimum standards, it is always a good idea to request the
maximum insulation available from the
manufacturer. |
| |
| Q. |
Can I get
finished drywall interior walls in my Manufactured
Home? |
| A. |
Yes. Our manufacturers offer either pre-finished wall boards (wall paper already applied) or prime
painted finished drywall. |
| |
| Q. |
Are
thermopane windows available? |
| A. |
Yes. In fact most of our
homes include thermopane windows as a standard feature,
along with 6" walls with R-19 insulation. |
| |
| Q. |
What
is the difference in cost between a Manufactured Home and a
conventional home built on site? |
| A. |
A Manufactured Home can
save you as much as 50% of the cost of a site-built home, and
still include such amenities as vaulted ceilings, wall to wall
carpeting, thermopane windows, appliances and even
draperies. |
| |
| Q. |
What
is the standard down payment? |
| A. |
There is no "standard" down
payment. Credit history, time in your present job, income, etc.
are all factors that lenders use in determining down payments.
But as a general rule, you can figure between 5% and 20%. If
you already own your property, this can become part of your
down payment. Your Morning Star Housing Consultant can
discuss this in greater detail with you. |
| |
| Q. |
Are
there tax advantages to owning a Manufactured
Home? |
| A. |
Yes! The interest on your
mortgage is deductible, while rent payments are not. Precisely how much this will save you each year is a matter you should
discuss with your accountant or tax preparer. |
| |
| Q. |
How
long does it take to get a new Manufactured
Home? |
| A. |
Generally, it will take
between 6 and 8 weeks from the time your home is ordered
until you can move in. Obviously, there are many factors that
effect this schedule, but your Morning Star Housing Consultant
can give you a more accurate schedule when your order is
finalized. |
| |
| Q. |
What
sizes do Manufactured Homes come in? |
| A. |
Sizes range from 528 to over 3000 square feet. |
| |
| Q. |
If I
have ever filed bankruptcy, or have poor credit history can I
purchase a Manufactured Home? |
| A. |
A qualified yes. The Housing
Consultants at Morning Star Homes have years of experience
working with all sorts of credit histories. We review each
situation individually then we recommend the best approach to getting your application approved by one of our many
lenders. |
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