Is it true that manufactured homes are now safer than they used to be?

If you own or are thinking about purchasing a manufactured home, then you should be happy to know that manufactured-home safety has improved dramatically. Congress saw the need to regulate the design of manufactured homes and their construction to improve overall quality and reduce personal injuries, property damage and deaths when they noticed that more and more people began using manufactured homes as permanent residences. However, insurers still consider conventional homes being safer than manufactured homes.

You see, manufactured homes are simply more vulnerable to wind damage. In fact, insurers and many states require that manufactured homes should be attached to a permanent foundation or secured to the ground with anchors, tie-downs, etc... Recent studies have evaluated that manufactured homes are more likely to suffer serious damage when a fire breaks out. In order to protect yourself when purchasing a manufactured home, buy a homeowners or manufactured homeowners policy that will cover both liability and property damage. Your lender may require it, if you are financing your home.

You should try to purchase a policy through a reputable company that specializes in manufactured home insurance. These types of insurers might be more familiar with the special hazards associated with owning a manufactured home. The Department of Housing and Urban Development was able to enact national manufactured-home safety standards because of a legislation that was passed by Congress in 1974. All manufactured homes built after June 15, 1976 had to conform to the Housing and Urban Development (HUD), also known as the National Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards.

These standards claimed that homes had to be able to withstand certain wind speeds, had to be built using fire-resistant materials, and must satisfy various other safety standards. When purchasing a manufactured home, keep in mind that even though it is now dramatically safer to live in, you still need to make sure that it is able to withstand certain weather and climate changes. To find out more, contact your home insurance agent and find out more.