HUD engineering report
The foundation certification FHA lenders require: a Utah PE inspects the foundation and states, on a signed and sealed letter, whether it meets HUD's Permanent Foundations Guide for Manufactured Housing.
HUD engineering report · Engineer letter · PE structural inspection
FHA Manufactured Home Foundation Inspections in Utah. The Engineer Letter Your Lender Needs.
A Utah-licensed professional engineer inspects the foundation and issues the signed, sealed HUD foundation certification for FHA, VA, USDA and conventional loans. From $400, with the letter typically 5–10 business days after the inspection.
Ludlow Engineering1451 S. Main · Nephi, Utah 84648 · (435) 623-0897
RE: Foundation Certification, Manufactured Home
Property: [property address] · HUD label(s): [label numbers] · Serial: [data plate]
Inspected 2026 for [lender / loan number]. Observations:
- Footings, piers and support spacing
- Anchorage and tie-downs to the chassis
- Perimeter enclosure and crawl-space access
- Running gear removed · site drainage
Finding: the foundation [does / does not] meet the Permanent Foundations Guide for Manufactured Housing (HUD-4930.3G).
J. Brett Ludlow, PEUtah Professional Engineer
[license no.]
[license no.]
PE SEAL
& SIGNATURE
& SIGNATURE
The short answer
What an FHA Foundation Inspection Is.
For an FHA loan on a manufactured home, HUD requires a foundation certification: a licensed professional engineer (or registered architect) in the state where the home sits inspects the foundation and certifies, in a signed and sealed site-specific letter, that it meets HUD's Permanent Foundations Guide for Manufactured Housing (HUD-4930.3G).
Lenders call it a HUD engineering report, an engineer letter or a foundation cert. It's not a general home inspection: it covers the foundation, piers, anchorage and enclosure.
- Who signsA Utah-licensed PE or registered architect
- StandardHUD Permanent Foundations Guide (HUD-4930.3G)
- Price$400–$750 for most homes
- TimeLetter typically 5–10 business days after inspection
01 · The names
HUD Engineering Report, Engineer Letter or PE Structural Inspection?
Your lender may use any of these. Send us their exact condition and we'll make sure the letter answers it.
Engineer letter
Loan officers and underwriters often just ask for "the engineer letter" or "foundation cert." It's the same site-specific, PE-sealed letter, written for your lender's condition.
PE structural inspection
Some lenders, appraisers or buyers want more than the foundation: sagging floors, roof framing, additions or damage. We quote that as a structural inspection and report, separately.
02 · Loan programs
Which Loans Need an Engineer's Foundation Certification?
FHA always does. Other programs vary, and the lender's written condition is what counts.
| Loan | Engineer letter | What applies |
|---|---|---|
| FHA (HUD) | Required | Site-specific certification by a PE or registered architect licensed in Utah that the foundation meets the Permanent Foundations Guide for Manufactured Housing (HUD-4930.3G). |
| VA | Often required | Many lenders and appraisers ask for the same PE foundation certification. The lender's condition decides. |
| USDA Rural Development | Required | USDA requires manufactured homes to be on a permanent foundation and requires certification of a proper foundation. |
| Conventional (Fannie Mae / Freddie Mac) | Lender decides | The agencies require a permanent foundation and removal of the hitch, wheels and axles; many lenders still order an engineer letter. Fannie Mae's MH Advantage allows an engineered foundation certified by a PE or architect. |
| Refinance | Sometimes reused | A prior FHA certification can be accepted if the foundation hasn't been altered or damaged. If anything changed, a new inspection is needed. |
03 · The inspection
What the Engineer Inspects
The engineer crawls the home, checks the foundation against HUD's guide and records what's there.
- Identification: HUD certification labels and the data plate (serial number, wind and snow zones).
- Footings and piers: type, spacing, bearing and depth below frost.
- Chassis support: how the steel beams bear on the piers, including the marriage line on multi-section homes.
- Anchorage: tie-downs, straps and ground anchors resisting wind uplift and sliding.
- Perimeter enclosure: a permanent wall around the crawl space, with access and ventilation.
- Running gear: towing hitch, wheels and axles removed.
- Site: drainage away from the home and any visible settlement or damage.
04 · Before you order
FHA Eligibility Checklist for Manufactured Homes
A foundation certification can't fix these. Check them first; if one fails, the home may not qualify for FHA no matter what the foundation looks like (24 CFR 203.43f).
- Built to the federal HUD code, with the HUD certification label(s) and data plate present (homes built after June 15, 1976).
- At least 400 square feet of floor area.
- Towing hitch and running gear (wheels, axles, brakes) removed.
- Home and land classified and taxed together as real estate.
- Anchored to and supported by permanent footings.
- Crawl space properly enclosed.
- Utilities permanently installed and protected from freezing.
- Finished grade under the home at or above the 100-year flood elevation.
Missing HUD labels? HUD's Office of Manufactured Housing Programs can issue a label verification letter. Ask your lender whether it will accept one.
05 · Repairs
If the Foundation Doesn't Pass
The report becomes the repair list. Most fixes are routine and a contractor can usually complete them quickly.
Common deficiencies we see
- Missing, loose or corroded tie-downs and ground anchors
- Dry-stacked or shimmed piers, or piers too far apart
- Skirting instead of a permanent perimeter enclosure
- Footings too shallow for frost, or settled supports
- Water ponding under the home
How the reinspection works
Your contractor makes the listed corrections. We reinspect the items, typically for $200–$400, and issue the certification once the foundation meets the guide.
Already have a certification?
HUD allows a prior foundation certification to be used for a later FHA loan if the foundation hasn't been altered and there's no observable damage. Send it to your lender first. If they won't accept it, we can inspect and issue a current letter.
Modular, not manufactured?
Modular homes are built to the local building code rather than the HUD code. Some lenders still want an engineer letter for one; we provide those too.
06 · Cost and timing
FHA Foundation Inspection Cost in Utah
Fixed fees quoted up front. Travel is listed separately for rural and out-of-area homes.
| Service | Typical price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Single-section home | $400–$600 | Foundation certification letter, PE-sealed. |
| Multi-section (double- or triple-wide) | $500–$750 | Includes the marriage line and added supports. |
| Modular home engineer letter | $450–$700 | Written to the lender's condition. |
| Reinspection after repairs | $200–$400 | Checks the listed corrections, then certifies. |
| PE structural inspection and report | Quoted | Beyond the foundation: floors, framing, additions, damage. |
| Rural or remote travel | +$100–$300 | Depends on distance from Nephi. |
The letter typically follows 5–10 business days after the inspection. Give us your closing date when you order. More detail: manufactured home structural inspection costs.
07 · Our record
Manufactured Home Foundations Across Utah
Our project records hold nearly 70 manufactured-home foundation inspections and certifications, in 14 Utah counties from Ogden to Kanab.
~70Foundation inspections & certifications
14Utah counties
1975Serving Utah since
By county: Sanpete (21), Juab (14), Utah (12), Salt Lake (10), Millard (2), Summit (2), Wasatch (1), Weber (1), Sevier (1), Grand (1), Wayne (1), Iron (1), Washington (1), Kane (1).
Towns we've inspected in
Nephi, Levan, Mona, Mount Pleasant, Fairview, Moroni, Spring City, Ephraim, Gunnison, Indianola, Wales, Provo, Orem, Spanish Fork, Payson, Santaquin, Genola, Goshen, Sandy, Murray, Herriman, West Jordan, Magna, Ogden, Kamas, Heber City, Scipio, Annabella, Torrey, Moab, Parowan, Hurricane and Kanab.
Buyers, sellers and their lenders
Most letters are ordered by the buyer, the seller or the loan officer to clear an FHA, VA, USDA or conventional loan condition. We send the letter to whoever you tell us to, including the lender directly.
Survey and engineering in one office
If the lender also needs a boundary survey, flood elevation certificate or engineered foundation plans for a new placement, we can do those too.
08 · Sources
The HUD and Agency Standards Behind the Letter
Requirements change, and your lender's written condition controls. These are the standards we work from.
- HUD: Manufactured Homes, Foundation ComplianceWho may certify, site-specific requirements and reuse of prior certifications (HUD reference guide, archived).
- HUD Mortgagee Letter 2009-16FHA's foundation-certification requirements, now carried into the Single Family Housing Policy Handbook 4000.1.
- 24 CFR 203.43fFHA eligibility of manufactured homes: HUD label, 400 sq ft, permanent foundation, real estate and flood elevation.
- Fannie Mae Selling Guide B2-3-02Conventional requirements for manufactured homes and MH Advantage.
- USDA Rural Housing final rule (2025)Permanent foundation and foundation certification for existing manufactured homes.
09 · Direct answers
FHA Foundation Inspection Questions, Answered.
What is a HUD engineering report for a manufactured home?
It's the foundation certification FHA lenders require. A professional engineer licensed in Utah inspects the home's foundation and issues a signed, sealed, site-specific letter stating whether it meets HUD's Permanent Foundations Guide for Manufactured Housing (HUD-4930.3G).
What is an engineer letter for a manufactured home?
"Engineer letter" is the name most loan officers use for the same document: the PE's foundation certification for that specific home and site, written to satisfy the lender's condition.
What is a PE structural inspection?
A broader inspection by a professional engineer of the home's structure beyond the foundation, such as floor sag, roof framing, additions or damage. We quote it separately from the standard foundation certification.
How much does an FHA foundation inspection cost in Utah?
Most single-section homes are $400 to $600 and multi-section homes $500 to $750. Rural travel can add $100 to $300, and a reinspection after repairs is typically $200 to $400.
How long does the engineer letter take?
We usually inspect within days of your order, and the signed letter typically follows five to ten business days after the inspection. Tell us your closing date when you order.
Who can certify a manufactured home foundation for FHA?
Only a professional engineer or registered architect licensed in the state where the home is located. In Utah that means a Utah-licensed PE or architect. A home inspector or foundation contractor can't sign the certification.
Can I use the foundation certification from a previous sale?
Often, yes. HUD allows a prior certification to be used for a later FHA loan if there have been no alterations to the foundation and no observable damage. Your lender decides whether to accept it.
What happens if the foundation doesn't pass?
The report lists what needs correcting, such as missing anchors, inadequate piers or an incomplete perimeter enclosure. After a contractor makes the repairs, we reinspect and issue the certification.
What makes a manufactured home ineligible for FHA?
Common problems: no HUD certification label or data plate, less than 400 square feet, the towing hitch or running gear still attached, the home not classified and taxed as real estate, or the finished grade below the 100-year flood elevation.
Do you inspect double-wide and triple-wide homes?
Yes. Multi-section homes add the marriage line and additional piers and anchors to the inspection, which is reflected in the price.
Is a modular home the same as a manufactured home?
No. Modular homes are built to the local building code, not the HUD code, and usually sit on a conventional foundation. Some lenders still ask for an engineer letter for a modular home, which we can provide.
Does the inspection cover plumbing, electrical or HVAC?
No. The foundation certification covers the foundation, piers, anchorage and enclosure. For a general condition inspection, hire a home inspector.
Related: structural inspection costs · engineer-stamped plans · house plan drafting · our project record
Utah-licensed engineering · Since 1975
Send Us the Lender's Exact Condition.
Include the property address, your closing date and the lender's wording. Attach the condition or the data-plate photo to the quote form and we'll confirm the price and schedule, usually within one business day.
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Who's behind this page
Licensed Utah Surveyors & Engineers Since 1975.
Ludlow Engineering has surveyed and engineered Utah property for 51 years. Every survey and plan is prepared under a licensed professional, not handed off.
J. Brett Ludlow
Professional EngineerState of Utah
Stamps our site plans, foundation designs and civil engineering.
Daryl Penrod
Professional Land SurveyorState of Utah No. 5331527
Directs our boundary, topographic, ALTA and subdivision surveys.
Travis Ludlow
Partner & Managing MemberMBA
Managing Member of Ludlow Engineers and Associates
Since 197551 years, family-run in Nephi
5,606projects tracked since 2000
1,200+survey maps filed with Utah counties
19 countiesacross Utah where we've worked
Our foundation inspection record
67 foundation inspection projects since 2000, in 7 Utah counties.
Most recent: Aug 2023.
Recent projects
- Foundation inspectionMount Pleasant, Sanpete County
Counts come from Ludlow Engineering's project records (2000–present, updated Oct 2026). Client names are never shown.