The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) recently announced the publication of updated appraisal requirements for the valuation of manufactured homes (MH) certified under Fannie Mae’s MH AdvantageTM and Freddie Mac’s CHOICEHome programs. Federal Housing Commissioner Julia Gordon made the announcement at the Manufactured Housing Institute’s National Communities Conference Fall Leadership Forum in Chicago, FHA announced in a press release.

The updates align FHA appraisal requirements with those of other industry participants and will improve the valuation of these homes for borrowers seeking FHA-insured mortgages. These changes also contribute to FHA’s efforts to increase the availability and affordability of manufactured housing as part of the Biden-Harris administration’s Housing Supply Action Plan.

“Increasing the supply of affordable homes in this country will require us to use every tool available to us. That includes innovative solutions like manufactured housing,” HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge said in the release. “The critical step we’re taking today ensures HUD is in alignment with our industry partners, and it will make more quality affordable housing available to people across the country.”

Effective immediately, FHA’s updated policy for the valuation of MH certified under the Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac programs requires appraisers to use the most appropriate site-built-home comparable sales when there are less than two comparable sales of these certified MH available.

“Updating FHA appraisal requirements to align with the Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac certification programs supports our comprehensive efforts to increase both the supply and affordability of manufactured homes,” Gordon said. “We’ve removed another roadblock limiting the effectiveness of FHA programs in serving buyers of these manufactured homes. We hope it will facilitate the continued growth and adoption of this important source of affordable and energy-efficient housing.”

MH certified under the Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac programs, also known as CrossMods, include design features that make them nearly indistinguishable from many site-built homes and address regulatory barriers in effect in some jurisdictions that have historically restricted the placement of MH.