Frequently Asked Questions

How do I Buy a Manufactured or Modular Home?

By visiting the website for the Wisconsin Housing Alliance, you’ve already taken the first step in purchasing a quality home. Just like a car, you cannot purchase a new home directly from the manufacturer. New manufactured homes and modular homes can only be purchased through licensed retailers. As you browse through the websites of our members or visit their on-site sales locations, start thinking about your current and future housing needs. Begin the though process with the number of bedrooms and bathrooms you’ll need and continue with amenities, upgrades, and finishes.

Get through that process, and our members’ professional sales teams can help you choose the perfect home for your lifestyle and budget.

HOW DO I FINANCE A HOME?

Once you have found your dream home, you have multiple financing options available to you. There are two common ways of financing. When you are financing the land on which you’re placing the home along with the home itself, you’re likely to use a conventional land or land construction loan. If you’re financing just the home itself, you’ll probably use a chattel loan.

Our member business housing professionals can further explain the differences between the two types of loans and how things like a stronger credit score may help in your ability to find the right loan for you.

WHERE CAN I PUT MY HOME?

Here again, you have two choices:

You can place a manufactured home in a manufactured home community, where you own the home, but rent the land underneath. These communities may offer lifestyle amenities and location preferences that suit your needs. A big advantage of moving your new home to a manufactured home community is that the site work is already done. But make sure to check the terms of any lease and the community’s rules and regulations before you sign on the dotted line.
Or, you can place a manufactured home or modular home on land you already own or are looking at purchasing. Before you buy a home to place on your own land, make sure to check things like local zoning ordinances, utility access, deed restrictions, and the slope and grade of the land.

WHEN DO I MOVE IN?

The process does not stop when you sign a contract to purchase a home from a retailer. If it is a new home, the manufacturer will give the retailer an approximate delivery date.

And if there are any changes in that date, the retailer will contact you immediately.

And whether the home is new or preowned, the site where it will be installed has to be prepared for its placement. That means vegetation has to be cleared. Retailers may have to grade the slope of the land. If you’re going to use a septic tank, that has to be installed. Footers may be poured.

Once the site is ready, the home is shipped and installed on the site. After a final inspection is completed, pack up the moving truck. It’s time to move in.

As always, the retailer will be there to walk you through every step of the move in process.