Mobile home insurance developed

American Association of Insurance Services This article appeared in the Summer 2004 Vol. 29, No. 1 issue of Viewpoint. BACK TO VIEWPOINT ARTICLES Manufactured Housing A new term does not eliminate old distinctions Precise use of language is essential in insurance underwriting. Unfortunately, people in other fields can sometimes adopt terminology that can be misleading for property/casualty professionals. Residential property insurers have long understood the distinction between site-built (or stick-built) homes constructed at permanent locations, and mobile (or trailer) homes constructed in factories and hauled to a site. That distinction in how homes are constructed leads to different property loss experience for site-built and mobile homes, and provides the basis for the separate Homeowners and Mobile-Homeowners insurance programs offered by AAIS. Beyond the loss experience, however, standardized homeowners and mobile-homeowners programs are very similar. AAIS uses largely identical forms in both. Confusion can arise, however, when the term manufactured housing is used to identify mobile homes, as the mobile home industry has done in recent years. That term was adopted by mobile home trade groups to improve the image of mobile homes and reflect the enhanced size and features offered in today's mobile homes. Manufactured housing, however, also refers to modular housing, residences constructed from modules that are assembled in manufacturing facilities, shipped to permanent locations, and permanently affixed to a foundation and adjoining modules. Modules can arrive at a site completely pre-assembled, with plumbing and wiring included. Manufactured housing, therefore, encompasses structures ranging from million-dollar estate homes to traditional trailers. Beyond that, virtually all new residential construction has some manufactured elements. What is happening is that all new dwellings have some degree of pre-assembly, says Tom Underwood, president and COO of Utility Body Works, Elkhart, Ind., a mobile home manufacturer. Even stick-built structures have trusses that are pre-assembled. It used to be that everything was either stick-built or a mobile home. Now there's more of a continuum. While that may be true for residential construction techniques, the old distinction between site-built and mobile homes still appears to be valid for property insurance purposes. The challenge is to make sure that residences are properly classified. Mobile homes stand apart Mobile homes have long been defined as a unique subset of owner-occupied residences, and that is still the case. For example, American Modern Insurance Group, a carrier that specializes in insuring manufactured housing, defines a mobile home to be a factory-built structure at least eight feet in length that is constructed on its own chassis. According to Jerry Wachter, vice president for manufactured housing, the requirement that the structure be built on its own chassis ensures that a mobile home policy cannot be written to cover other types of manufactured housing. The American Modern definition of a mobile home explicitly includes expansions and additions to mobile homes, as well as fixtures. The purpose, says Wachter, is to allow for the full range of possibilities in modern mobile homes, without applying mobile home coverage to structures that have different loss characteristics. A fire safety study conducted by Foremost Insurance, Grand Rapids, Mich., indicated that the fire rate for mobile homes was less than that for site-built homes. The better fire rate is attributed in part to implementation of a national building code by the U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in the 1970s. Mobile homes are more susceptible to windstorm loss, however. As the American Modern definition suggests, there are three characteristics that can be used to define a mobile home: Off-site construction in a factory setting; Construction on its own chassis; and Construction to HUD building standards, as opposed to local building codes. Does method matter? As for establishing other categories of manufactured housing for insurance purposes, there is little evidence of statistically significant distinctions in loss experience between modular and completely site-built homes. Modular homes are treated the same as site-built homes in terms of financing and insurance, says Bruce Savage, spokesman for the Manufactured Housing Institute. I'm not aware of any statistics showing they perform (in loss situations) differently than site-built homes. Also, modular housing must generally be built to standards in local building codes, even if the modules are constructed out of state. The growth in modular construction would not be possible without widespread use of standardized building codes. Thus, when a carrier receives an application for a manufactured home, the first order of business is to determine if it meets the characteristics of a mobile home. Many manufactured homes would be better classified with site-built homes. The construction of the residence--frame, masonry, etc.--will, of course, be a key factor in determining the premium, but there is no indication to date that the method of construction, in itself, alters the risk. (As a practical matter, most manufactured homes that are not mobile homes will be frame construction.) Enduring distinction Property/casualty professionals accustomed to using identical forms to write homeowners and mobile-homeowners coverage may be surprised to learn how differently the two lines started out. Mobile home insurance developed from the identity of mobile homes as chattel property rather than real property, says Wachter of American Modern. Early trailer homes had axles with wheels and could be literally hauled away at a moment's notice. Given the character of early mobile homes, the insurance policy [covering a mobile home] was really a takeoff on auto physical damage coverage, Wachter says. That steadily changed as mobile homes came to be permanently affixed at locations and developed risk characteristics similar to those of site-built homes. For decades now, the basic, broad, special, and limited perils forms, as well as the personal liability sections, have been largely identical in the AAIS Homeowners and Mobile-Homeowners Programs. The persistence of distinct homeowners and mobile-homeowners programs lies in two related factors: rating and valuation of structures. Perhaps the last vestige of the original auto character of mobile homes is the fact that their structures depreciate faster than they accumulate real estate value, if they accumulate any real value at all. With mobile homes, the depreciation is greater than the growth in replacement cost, says Werner Kruck, executive vice president of American Superior Ins. Co., Plantation, Fla., a company that specializes in residential property insurance. With traditional site-built homes, replacement cost usually grows faster than the depreciation of the home. Replacement cost Every student of insurance learns that the market value of a home should not be confused with replacement cost, but it frequently is because mortgage lenders often insist that residential property insurance be written to cover the balance on a mortgage loan. Also, the appreciation in market value has often been considered a factor in calculating replacement cost, the assumption being that the cost of living drives the cost of construction. Whatever the reason, depreciation is rarely a major consideration in home owners insurance, except for older homes in areas with relatively low real estate values. For that reason, replacement cost loss settlement, with a coinsurance requirement, is a standard feature of most homeowners policies written in the U.S. Standard homeowners forms explicitly state, however, that replacement cost terms do not apply to mobile homes, whether or not on a permanent foundation, but without otherwise defining the term mobile home. Actual cash value loss settlement automatically applies to mobile homes; replacement cost settlement, if desired, must be added by endorsement. 'Gap' coverage In practice, the underwriting of a replacement cost endorsement on a mobile home policy is analogous to the underwriting of gap coverage on a personal auto, says Jeffrey Holaway, AAIS manager of personal lines pricing. According to Holaway, car owners frequently buy coverage that will pay what it costs to replace a vehicle that has been effectively destroyed, even if the amount of insurance exceeds the book value of the vehicle being insured. Replacement cost coverage for a mobile home is written on a stated value basis in some states, says Kruck. This raises the possibility that an owner can collect an insurance payment for a total loss, replace the damaged home with a used one at less cost, and pocket the rest of the money. Apart from the settlement terms, the distinction between homeowners and mobile-homeowners insurance lies in the distinction between loss costs for the two lines, and subsequently the information used to rate policies. Insurers should be cautious about applying loss costs derived from mobile home experience to manufactured housing that may be more appropriately classified with site-built housing. Joseph Harrington Editor Christi DeBrock Design Reprinting Viewpoint Articles Articles generally may be reproduced, provided the appropriate credit is given and a copy is sent to the Editor. For details, please call or write. Viewpoint welcomes your comments. Write us at: American Association of Insurance Services 1745 S. Naperville Road | Wheaton, IL 60187-8132 630-681-8347 | 800-564-AAIS | Fax 630-681-8356 Phone: 630-681-8347 | Fax: 630-681-8356 e-mail: info@aaisonline.com Top

mobile home parks "

Sun Communities - Manufactured Home Communities and RV Resorts (Mobile Home Parks) Find A ... Find A Community Find A Manufactured Home Find An RV Resort CO - Colorado DE - Delaware FL - Florida GA - Georgia IL - Illinois IN - Indiana IA - Iowa KS - Kansas MI - Michigan MO - Missouri NV - Nevada NC - North Carolina OH - Ohio OR - Oregon PA - Pennsylvania TN - Tennessee TX - Texas VA - Virginia -- Sun Communities is committed to improving the quality of life for our residents. We offer exceptional amenities which compliment your lifestyle and provide superior recreational opportunity. If you have not visited a Sun manufactured home community or you still call them " mobile home parks " then it's time you do. No matter which Sun community you choose to call home, you will find a welcoming environment reflecting the pride of ownership of our family of residents. Our goal is simple: to help you fulfill your lifelong dreams. CO - Colorado DE - Delaware FL - Florida GA - Georgia IL - Illinois IN - Indiana IA - Iowa KS - Kansas MI - Michigan MO - Missouri NV - Nevada NC - North Carolina OH - Ohio OR - Oregon PA - Pennsylvania TN - Tennessee TX - Texas VA - Virginia Whether you are looking for a new manufactured home, a pre-owned mobile home, or a park model RV, Sun Homes is committed to providing you with the perfect home at an exceptional value. Our customer service department is second to none and our experienced sales team has made us one of the top 10 manufactured home retailers in the United States! Sun Homes - simply no better value! Search by State or Region: DE - Delaware -- Rehoboth Beach FL - Florida -- Central Florida -- Daytona -- Ft. Myers -- Miami -- Naples -- Sarasota -- Tampa TX - Texas -- Rio Grande Valley Select Your Favorite RV Resort: -- Arbor Terrace - FL Buttonwood Bay - FL Casa del Valle - TX Gold Coaster - FL Groves - FL Indian Creek - FL Kenwood - TX Lake San Marino - FL Orange City RV Resort - FL Sea Air Village - DE Siesta Bay - FL Snow to Sun - TX Tampa East - FL Our RV Resorts are the finest destination resorts in the nation! Sun Communities offers unsurpassed quality, an outstanding array of amenities, and large sites with full hook-up for today's RVers. Count on our experienced, friendly staff to attend to your every need to make your stay exciting and memorable, and remember: your best memories are just ahead of you! Find a Community | Find a Manufactured Home | Find an RV Resort Investor Relations | Join Our Team | Mobile Home Park Acquisitions | Contact Us Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Site Map ©2004 Sun Communities. All Rights Reserved.

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Motor Home

Winnebago Rialta Motor Home RV Winnebago/VW Rialta Motor Home If you plan on buying one of these, READ THIS FIRST I bought mine on 4-28-2000. So far as of May 25,2000 I haven't beenable to use it at all. On the way home from the Winnebago Dealership that I bought it from,the check engine light came on. I looked in the warranty pack that comes withthe new home and found that this was a problem for the Volkswagen people. Thewarranty states I could go to any Volkswagen dealer in the U.S. to have thewarranty repairs done. DON'T YOU BELIEVE IT!!!! I phoned all the VW dealerships in the Capital District(Albany NY) and none of them would work on the vehicle. After getting in touch with VW customer relations, the closestdealership was 125 miles away, that's a 250 mile round trip to have the problemchecked. I complained to both VW and Winnebago about this, and they just didn'tseem to care. The Winnebage stooge even told me that is not what the warrantysays, like I can't read!!!. I finally got an appointment with the VW dealer inOneonta NY (125 miles each way) on May 17, 2000, that's right, 20 days from thetime I bought the vehicle. I left the vehicle there on May 17, 2000 to have thefollowing problems fixed. Check Engine Light Engine Overheating light blinking with coolantloss in my driveway The power door locks didn't work at all Thewindshield rubber seal was coming off and inside the window the plastic waspoping off The right side running board feels and sounds like it is about tocrumble. The screen in the entrance door is coming apart Thepanels under the doors and just behind the doors had paint runs that lookedlike something my 12 year old had painted. Missing door seal near thelatch On May 22, 2000 I picked up the vehicle. The door lock wiring hadbeen burned beyond recognition, they fixed that. They replaced the O2 sensorwhich shut off the check engine light. They repaired leaking coolant lines atthe transmission. The rest of the stuff was either on order, or needed to beapproved by Winnebago. I was kind of satisfied that at least it was driveablenow. Well not quite. On the way home from the dealership, about 25 milesup the road, the check engine light came back on. We also noticed an odor and apst - pst - pst noise when we stopped for coffee. Seems like now the vehiclehas an exhaust leak, wonderbar!!!!. In the meantime I called the VW repairshopin Oneonta, and hopefully will be able to bring it back down in a week or twoto have it checked out and the other warranteed items replaced. For now it sitsin my driveway, 4 or 5 weekends gone without being able to use it. The customer relations gal at VW at least seemed to care, and did getme a VW dealer to work on it, but the winnebago people are simply fools. Theycould give a darn less about my problems. I phoned them on May 24, 2000 andasked if I could simply get a replacement vehicle (Read Lemon). The answer waswe don't replace vehicles. I now have about 500 miles on it, all driving fromthe selling dealer, and to and from the repair shop. I am now contacting alawyer concerning the lemon law. The vehicle has been basically out of servicesince the day I bought it. Counting today May 25, 2000, that's 28 days. By the way, I hold no ill against the VW dealership in Oneonta, theyhave been more than helpful in at least trying to work on the vehicle for me. Isimply dread driving all that way every time I have a warranty problem, majoror minor. I will continue the saga in the next few days, after I talk to anattorney. In the meantime, think twice about buying a Rialta. Call all your VWdealerships locally and make sure they can work on it. Get a list ofdealerships that can work on it nationwide if you plan on going anywhere otherthan to the local market. June 7, 2000 Update: VW sent a tow truck to my house on June 2nd. Thedriver never saw a Rialta before and said they would guarantee damage freetowing. He suggested it be flat bedded to the dealer, but he didn't want to doit as he thought it may be too tall for the underpasses. Hmmm I thought theywere sending a flat bed in the first place, so did VW. On June 6th they finallysent another towing company to see if they could tow it to Oneonta, N.Y. Thisguy is a heavy equipment mover, so he suggested it be put on a low boy trailer,the same type of trailer they mover heavy equipment with. The only problem is,they are too busy during the week, so they hopefully will pick it up on Fridayevening June 9th and bring it to the dealers on June 10th. Well maybe I willget to use this thing for 4th of July with much luck. In the meantime I received a list of VW dealers that will actuallyperform warranty service on the Rialta. There are only about 40 in the entireU.S. - Remember the warranty states "Any Volkswagen Dealer" This reallygives me confidence for a long trip huh?. Some states don't have any!!!. Sad thing is, if I lived in Oneonta NY, I never would have found thisout until I was in the middle of that long trip to Colorado. I bet there arequite a few owners out there who are lucky enough to be living close to aservicing VW dealer that don't know about this. All along Winnebago is the oneat fault here. June 9, 2000 - The Rialta was picked up and towed to the VW dealer inOneonta, NY June16, 2000 - Still waiting for the repairs to be made and theRialta returned to me. June 18, 2000 - Still waiting, it has been 9 days since it was towedto Oneonta, NY The saga will continue when (if) the Rialta is returned to me inrunning order. June 21, 2000 - The Rialta was delivered to my house. Everything thatwas broken, seems to be fixed. The VW Dealer in Oneonta, NY is excellent. Wehave only taken it on local trips, but the check engine light seems to bestaying off, so far. We will be taking it on a 4 day trip (about 1500 miles)next week. I just hope that if it breaks down, there will be a VW dealer thatwill work on it with a few miles (Ha Ha!!) June 25, 2000 - We decided to make the trip shorter, no confidence ingetting it repaired if had a breakdown. Put about 700 miles on it. Thank God,no breakdowns. I will keep everyone informed on a weekly basis. August 24, 2000 - Still in a holding pattern -- Went to GloucesterMA. this weekend. Checked the list of VW repair centers, but found no VW shopscapable of doing any repairs in NEW ENGLAND. So the Rialta sits in thedriveway. We took to car and stayed at a motel. We are seriously considering doing some planters and maybe some mulcharound the outside of the Rialta. What the hell, if it is going to become apermanent fixture in the driveway, we may as well make it look like it belongsthere. September, 2000 THE END !!!!! VW has refunded the entire purchase price including taxes andlicense fees and Attorney fees .. Questions or comments can beentered on our Rialta Bulletin Board Click here for the Message Board withcomments from owners Any comments on Rialta or Winnebago, you can email me at mailto:dscott2@nycap.rr.com Trail - Lite seems to have a great floor plan andreliable service Check it out at: http://www.trail-lite.com/b+floorfr.asp

Fleetwood RV Download Library

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