Can I get a mortgage on a manufactured home in Arizona?

Often yes, but the available options depend on whether the home is affixed and titled as real property, its age and construction certification, and whether the land is owned or leased. Talk with a lender experienced in manufactured housing early.

What is the difference between a mobile home and a manufactured home?

In common use the terms overlap, but the construction date relative to federal HUD standards matters to lenders and insurers. The specific home's documentation will tell you which category it falls into.

Manufactured & mobile homes

Manufactured & mobile homes in Northern Arizona

Manufactured housing is a real and often sensible part of the Northern Arizona market. It also has its own rules — and the single most important question is whether the home sits on land you own or a lot you lease.

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Land-owned versus leased land

If the home is on land the owner owns, the transaction looks much more like a conventional home sale. If the home sits on a leased lot in a community, you are buying the home and entering into an agreement for the site — which affects financing, monthly cost, rules and resale.

Establish which situation you are in before anything else, because nearly every other answer depends on it.

Lot rent

Lot rent is the monthly amount paid to the community for the site. What it includes varies widely — some utilities, common area maintenance or amenities in some communities, very little beyond the site in others. Rent can also increase over time under the terms of the agreement.

Request the current rental agreement, rules and fee schedule for the specific community and read them before you commit.

Park approval

Many communities require prospective residents to apply and be approved before a sale can close. Criteria, documentation and timelines are set by the community, and they can affect your closing date. Start the application as early as the community allows.

Financing considerations

Whether the home is titled as real property (affixed) or personal property changes the loan options available.
Age of the home, foundation type and HUD certification can all matter to a lender.
Leased-land homes typically use different loan products than land-owned homes.
Not every lender handles manufactured housing — find one who does before you shop.

Inspections

General home inspection, with attention to skirting, tie-downs and leveling
Roof, windows and insulation — important at 7,000 feet
Plumbing protection and winterization
Heating system type, age and service history
Additions or enclosed porches and whether they were permitted

Resale

Community rules can affect how and to whom a home may be sold.
Rising lot rent can affect what future buyers can afford.
Affixed, land-owned homes generally reach a wider buyer and lender pool.
Condition and documentation carry real weight with this buyer group.

Common questions

Can I get a mortgage on a manufactured home in Arizona?: Often yes, but the available options depend on whether the home is affixed and titled as real property, its age and construction certification, and whether the land is owned or leased. Talk with a lender experienced in manufactured housing early.
What is the difference between a mobile home and a manufactured home?: In common use the terms overlap, but the construction date relative to federal HUD standards matters to lenders and insurers. The specific home's documentation will tell you which category it falls into.

Requirements and costs vary by community, lender, insurer and property. Everything on this page is general information — verify the specifics in writing for the home you are considering.

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