The A B C's of buying a mobile home now available online (May 2003).

Consumers looking to purchase a manufactured home will have a new valuable resource at their fingertips on issues ranging from sales practices to financing, and plumbing to warranties as a result of Consumers Union's new "Tips on Mobile Homes," now available online.

The buying guide is a comprehensive update of CU's highly popular, nationally distributed 1997 brochure. The brochure can be downloaded from http://consumersunion.org/other/mh/tips.htm. A Spanish version will also be available online in a few days at http://www.consumersunion.org/other/mh/espanol.htm.

"Our research indicates that manufactured homes can be a good investment for consumers, but only if the consumer carefully considers every aspect of the deal," said Kevin Jewell, policy associate with CU's manufactured housing project. "We attempt to cut to the chase in this guide by offering clear advice that takes prospective owners from planning for and buying a home through post-purchase home maintenance."

Readers will also note an emphasis on home quality issues. "The quality of the structural components of a house has everything to do with ultimate owner satisfaction," Jewell said. "A good manufactured home sits on a solid foundation built on a proper lot, complemented by quality plumbing, heating and air-conditioning, and electrical systems. Our guide shows consumers what to look for."

Consumers Union also announced the release of two separate online publications for nonprofit housing practitioners. "Raising the Roof, Raising the Floor: Raising our Expectations for Manufactured Housing" guides developers, lenders, counselors and general housing advocates through the problems faced by consumers who purchase manufactured homes and offers advice on how to improve industry practices. "Manufactured Housing Appreciation: Stereotypes and Data" is a technical report adding data to the debate over the appreciation of manufactured homes over time.

These reports are available at http://www.consumersunion.org/other/mh/policy.htm.