Manufactured HUD Tags missing?

Manufactured Home HUD Tags or Data Plate Missing? Here’s What to Do

Buying or refinancing a manufactured home can involve a few extra requirements compared with a traditional site-built home. One common issue is discovering that the HUD certification labels—often called HUD tags or red tags—or the home’s Data Plate are missing.

Missing tags or documents don’t automatically mean the home can’t be financed, but they can create an underwriting issue that needs to be resolved.

What to know

1. HUD tags identify each section of a manufactured home. Double-wides normally have two tags, triple-wides three.
2. HUD tags are attached to the exterior of the home. They may be faded, covered by siding or paint, or missing entirely.
3. The Data Plate is different from the HUD tag. It’s usually a paper information sheet located somewhere inside the home.
4. Missing HUD tags may be verified through IBTS. A Letter of Label Verification may provide the certification label information needed by the lender.
5. A missing Data Plate can require additional research. The manufacturer, inspection agency, previous appraisal, title or loan records may help.
6. The home’s serial number is important. It can help identify the home and its individual sections.
7. Check for missing documents early. Waiting until appraisal or underwriting can cause additional conditions, costs and closing delays.
8. Missing information doesn’t automatically prevent financing. Requirements vary by loan program and lender, so the available documentation matters.

1. HUD Tags Identify Each Section of the Home

Manufactured homes built on or after June 15, 1976 are generally constructed under federal Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards administered by HUD.

Each transportable section receives its own HUD Certification Label, commonly called a HUD tag, HUD label, certification label or red tag.

A double-wide normally has two HUD tags, while a triple-wide normally has three. These labels help document that each section was manufactured according to applicable federal standards.

2. HUD Tags Are Located on the Exterior

HUD certification labels are small metal plates permanently attached to the exterior of each section of the manufactured home.

They were originally red, but years of weather exposure can make them faded or difficult to read. Tags may also be hidden by siding, paint or remodeling, and sometimes they have been removed.

HUD does not issue replacement metal certification labels when the originals are missing.

3. The Data Plate Is Different From the HUD Tag

Despite its name, the manufactured home Data Plate usually isn't a metal plate. It's typically a paper information sheet located inside the home.

Common locations include near the main electrical panel, inside a kitchen cabinet or in a bedroom closet.

The Data Plate can contain the manufacturer, manufacturing plant, serial number, model, manufacture date, HUD certification label numbers, and applicable wind, roof-load and thermal-zone information.

4. Missing HUD Tags May Be Verified Through IBTS

If the original HUD tags can't be found, financing may still be possible.

A Letter of Label Verification may be obtained through the Institute for Building Technology and Safety (IBTS), HUD's contractor for this service. This can provide documentation of the HUD certification label information associated with the manufactured home.

The lender can determine whether this documentation satisfies the requirements of the particular loan program.

5. A Missing Data Plate May Require More Research

If the Data Plate is also missing, additional documentation may be needed.

Information may potentially be available from the home's manufacturer or the In-Plant Primary Inspection Agency associated with the manufacturer. Previous appraisals, loans, title documents and property records may also contain useful information.

Missing HUD tags and a missing Data Plate are related issues, but they aren't the same problem and may require different documentation.

6. The Home's Serial Number Is Important

The manufactured home's serial number can be extremely helpful when trying to document the property.

The serial number is generally stamped into the home's structural frame. Multi-section homes commonly use section identifiers such as A/B for a double-wide or A/B/C for a triple-wide.

An experienced manufactured-home lender or appraiser may be able to help determine what documentation is available and what the loan program requires.

7. Check for Missing Documents Early

Don't wait until the end of the loan process to look for the HUD tags and Data Plate.

If you're buying a manufactured home, try to locate them as early as possible. If you're refinancing, check before the appraisal whenever possible.

Discovering missing information late in the transaction can result in additional underwriting conditions, expenses and closing delays.

8. Missing Information Doesn't Automatically Prevent Financing

A missing HUD tag or Data Plate doesn't automatically mean a manufactured home can't be financed.

The key is identifying the issue early and determining exactly what documentation the lender and loan program require.

If the home's identity, certification or other required information can't be adequately documented, the property may not qualify for a particular type of traditional mortgage financing. However, lender and loan-program requirements can vary.

The Bottom Line

Missing HUD tags or a Data Plate can complicate a manufactured-home loan, but there may be ways to resolve the problem.

HUD certification label information can often be verified through IBTS, while missing Data Plate information may require research through the manufacturer, inspection agency or existing property records.

The earlier these issues are identified, the more time there is to resolve them before they cause problems with the appraisal, underwriting or closing.

Need Help With a Manufactured Home Loan?

I've been originating home loans for more than 36 years and have extensive experience with manufactured-home financing and the unusual issues these properties can present.

If you're buying or refinancing a manufactured home and aren't sure whether the HUD tags, Data Plate, foundation, additions or other property characteristics could create a financing problem, contact me before you get too far into the process.

A little homework upfront can save a lot of time and frustration later.