38 CFR 36.4204 – Loan purposes, maximum loan amounts and terms
(a) A manufactured home loan may be guaranteed if the loan is for one of the following purposes;
(1) To purchase a lot on which to place a manufactured home already owned by the veteran;
(2) To purchase a single-wide manufactured home;
(3) To purchase a single-wide manufactured home and a lot on which to place such home;
(4) To purchase a double-wide manufactured home;
(5) To purchase a double-wide manufactured home and lot on which to place such home;
(6) To refinance an existing loan, including a previously refinanced purchase money loan, that was made for the purchase of and is secured by a manufactured home and to purchase a lot on which the manufactured home is or will be placed; or
(7) To refinance in accordance with § 36.4223 an existing manufactured home loan guaranteed, insured or made under paragraphs (a)(1) through (6) of this section provided the amount of the loan to refinance does not exceed an amount equal to 95 percent of the reasonable value of the manufactured home securing the loan, as determined by the Secretary.
(b) In the case of a loan to purchase a new manufactured home unit only, the loan amount shall not exceed the lesser of an amount equal to 95 percent of the purchase price of the property securing the loan or the amount computed in paragraph (c), of this section, provided the total loan amount does not exceed 145 percent of the manufacturer’s invoice.
(c) For all manufactured home loans, the maximum loan amount is as follows:
(1) In the case of a loan to purchase a new manufactured home unit only, the loan amount is to be computed as the sum of:
(i) One hundred twenty-five (125) percent of the figure produced by this computation:
Subtract from the manufacturer’s invoice cost the manufacturer’s invoice cost of any components (furnishings, accessories, equipment) removed from the unit by the dealer. To the remainder add the dealer’s cost for any components added by such dealer. The sum so obtained shall be the figure to be multiplied by the specified percentage; and
(ii) One hundred (100) percent of the actual amount of fees and charges permitted in § 36.4232.
(2) A loan to purchase a lot upon which a manufactured home owned by the veteran will be placed is limited to the reasonable value of a developed lot or the reasonable value plus such amount determined by the Secretary to be appropriate to cover the cost of necessary site preparation for an undeveloped lot.
(3) The maximum loan amount for a used manufactured home may not exceed the reasonable value as established by the Secretary, plus:
(i) Actual fees or charges for required recordation of documents;
(ii) The amount of any documentary stamp taxes levied on the transactions;
(iii) The amount of State and local taxes levied on the transactions; and
(iv) The premium for customary physical damage insurance and vendor’s single interest coverage on the manufactured home for an initial policy term not to exceed one year.
(4) In the case of an interest rate reduction refinancing loan (38 U.S.C. § 3712(a)(1)(F)) the maximum loan may not exceed the sum of:
(i) The balance of the VA loan being refinanced;
(ii) Closing costs as authorized by § 36.4232 or § 36.4254, as appropriate; and
(iii) Allowable discounts, provided that:
(A) The loan application is submitted to the Secretary for prior approval;
(B) The amount of discount is disclosed to the Secretary and the veteran prior to the issuance of the certificate of commitment by the Secretary. This certificate of commitment shall specify the discount to be paid by the veteran, and this discount may not be increased once the commitment has been issued without the approval of the Secretary;
(C) The discount has been determined by the Secretary to be reasonable in amount; and
(5) For a loan to refinance a purchase money lien on a manufactured home and to purchase a lot (38 U.S.C. § 3712(a)(1)(G)) on which the manufactured home is or will be placed:
(i) The loan must be secured by the same manufactured home which must be owned and occupied by the veteran as the veteran’s home; and
(ii) The amount of the loan may not exceed an amount equal to the sum of:
(A) The purchase price of the lot, not to exceed the reasonable value thereof, as authorized by § 36.4252;
(B) The amount determined by the Secretary to be appropriate to cover the cost of necessary preparation of the lot;
(C) The balance of the loan being refinanced; and
(D) Closing costs, as authorized by § 36.4232 or § 36.4254, as appropriate, and a reasonable discount with respect to that portion of the loan used to refinance the existing purchase money lien.
(iii) Allowable discounts may be charged to the veteran on the portion of the loan used to refinance the existing purchase money lien provided:
(A) The loan application is submitted to the Secretary for prior approval;
(B) The amount of discount to be paid on the unit portion of the loan is disclosed to the Secretary and the veteran prior to the issuance of the certificate of commitment by the Secretary. The certificate of commitment shall specify the discount to be paid by the veteran on the unit portion of the loan, and this discount may not be increased once the commitment has been issued without the approval of the Secretary; and
(C) The discount on the unit portion of the loan has been determined by the Secretary to be reasonable in amount.
(6) All powers of the Secretary under paragraphs (c) (4) and (5) of this section, except the authority to revise the discount after the commitment is issued, are hereby delegated to those officials designated by § 36.4221(b). The power of the Secretary to approve an increase in the discount on the unit portion of the loan after the commitment is issued is delegated to those officials designated by § 36.4220(a).
(d) The loan amount in an individual case shall not exceed the following:
(1) In the case of a loan to purchase a new manufactured home unit only, the loan amount shall not exceed the sum of the following:
(i) 120 percent of the figure produced by the following computation:
(ii) 100 percent of the actual amount of fees and charge permitted in § 36.4232.
(2) In the case of a loan to purchase a new manufactured home unit plus the cost of necessary site preparation where the veteran owns the lot, the loan amount shall be limited to the amount determined in paragraph (d)(1) of this section plus such costs of necessary site preparation as are approved by the Secretary.
(3) In the case of a loan to purchase a new manufactured home unit plus the purchase of an undeveloped lot on which to place such home plus the cost of necessary site preparation, the loan amount shall be limited to the amount determined in paragraph (d)(1) of this section plus the reasonable value of the undeveloped lot as determined by the Secretary plus such costs of necessary site preparation as are approved by the Secretary.
(4) In the case of a loan to purchase a new manufactured home unit plus the cost of a suitably developed lot on which to place such home, the loan amount shall be limited to the amount determined in paragraph (d)(1) of this section plus the reasonable value of the developed lot as determined by the Secretary.
(5) In the case of a loan to purchase a lot upon which will be placed a manufactured home owned by the veteran the loan is limited to the reasonable value of a developed lot or the reasonable value plus such amount as is determined by the Secretary to be appropriate to cover the cost of necessary site preparation for an undeveloped lot.
(6) In the case of a used manufactured home the maximum loan may not exceed the reasonable value as established by the Secretary, plus;
(i) Actual fees or charges for required recordation of documents;
(ii) The amount of any documentary stamp taxes levied on the transaction;
(iii) The amount of State and local taxes levied on the transaction; and
(iv) The premium for customary physical damage insurance and vendor’s single interest coverage on the manufactured home for an initial policy term of not to exceed 5 years.
(7) In the case of an interest rate reduction refinancing loan (38 U.S.C. § 3712(a)(1)(F)) the maximum loan may not exceed:
(i) The balance of the Department of Veterans Affairs loan being refinanced;
(ii) Closing costs as authorized by § 36.4232 or § 36.4254, as appropriate; and
(iii) Allowable discounts provided:
(A) The loan application is submitted to the Secretary for prior approval;
(B) The amount of discount is disclosed to the Secretary and the veteran prior to the issuance of the certificate of commitment by the Secretary. Said certificate of commitment shall specify the discount to be paid by the veteran, and this discount may not be increased once the commitment has been issued without the approval of the Secretary;
(C) The discount has been determined by the Secretary to be reasonable in amount; and
(D) All powers of the Secretary under this paragraph (d)(7) of this section, except the authority to revise the discount after the commitment is issued, are hereby delegated to those officials designated by § 36.4221(b). The power of the Secretary to approve an increase in the discount after the commitment is issued is delegated to those officials designated by § 36.4220(a).
(8) In the case of a loan to refinance a purchase money lien on a manufactured home and to buy a lot (38 U.S.C. § 3712(a)(1)(G)) on which the manufactured home is or will be placed:
(i) The loan must be secured by the same manufactured home which must be owned and occupied by the veteran as the veteran’s home; and
(ii) The amount of the loan may not exceed an amount equal to the sum of:
(A) The purchase price, not to exceed the reasonable value of the lot, as authorized by § 36.4252,
(B) The amount determined by the Secretary to be appropriate to cover the cost of necessary preparation of the lot,
(C) The balance of the loan being refinanced, and
(D) Closing costs, as authorized by § 36.4232 or § 36.4254, as appropriate, and a reasonable discount with respect to that portion of the loan used to refinance the existing purchase money lien.
(iii) Allowable discounts may be charged to the veteran on the portion of the loan used to refinance the existing purchase money lien provided:
(A) The loan application is submitted to the Secretary for prior approval;
(B) The amount of discount to be paid on the unit portion of the loan is disclosed to the Secretary and the veteran prior to the issuance of the certificate of commitment by the Secretary. The certificate of commitment shall specify the discount to be paid by the veteran on the unit portion of the loan, and this discount may not be increased once the commitment has been issued without the approval of the Secretary;
(C) The discount on the unit portion of the loan has been determined by the Secretary to be reasonable in amount; and
(D) All powers of the Secretary under paragraph (d)(8) of this section, except the authority to revise the discount after the commitment is issued, are hereby delegated to those officials designated by § 36.4221(b). The power of the Secretary to approve an increase in the discount on the unit portion of the loan after the commitment is issued is delegated to those officials designated by § 36.4220(a).
(e) A loan for any of the purposes described in paragraphs (a)(1) through (6) of this section may include an amount determined by the Secretary to be appropriate to cover the cost of necessary preparation of a lot already owned or to be acquired by the veteran, including the costs of installing utility connections and sanitary facilities, of paving, and of constructing a suitable pad for the manufactured home.
(f) The maximum permissible loan terms shall not exceed:
(1) 20 years and 32 days in the case of a loan to purchase a single-wide manufactured home or a single-wide manufactured home and lot;
(2) 15 years and 32 days in the case of a loan to purchase a lot on which to place a manufactured home already owned by the veteran;
(3) 23 years and 32 days in the case of a loan to purchase a double-wide manufactured home, or 25 years and 32 days in the case of a loan to purchase a double-wide manufactured home and lot; or
(4) In the case of a used manufactured home the maximum term set forth in paragraph (c)(1) or (3) of this section or the remaining physical life expectancy of the unit as established by the Secretary, whichever is less.
(g) An itemized list of all items included in the manufactured home loan as enumerated in § 36.4232 shall be provided to both the purchaser and the Secretary. At the time of loan origination an independent fee inspection shall be conducted to assure that all items included in the loan amount are accounted for and in place. A similar inspection will be conducted in the event of repossession immediately prior to repossession. The costs of the fee inspections may be included in the loan amount or the claim amount and charged to the borrower pursuant to the provisions of § 36.4232 (a) and (b).
(h) The cost of the transaction which cannot be paid from the proceeds of the loan must be paid by the veteran in cash from the veteran’s own resources. Except for interest rate reduction refinancing loans pursuant to paragraph (a)(7) of this section or loans to refinance a manufactured home and to buy a lot pursuant to paragraph (a)(8) of this section, closing costs and prepaid items incident to the real estate portion of any manufactured home loan must be paid in cash and may not be included in the loan amount.