FHA SFH HANDBOOK 4000.1 MANUFACTURED HOMES · II.D.4 REV. 03/2024 SCAPULAR ENGINEERING, P.E. · MO · (573) 275-7647
FOR LOAN OFFICERS & UNDERWRITERS MO · AR · IL · KS

PE structural reports, formatted for FHA underwriting.

HUD 4000.1 II.D.4 compliance, all six requirements addressed in the order FHA expects, photo appendix indexed by finding number. 98% first-submission approval rate across 996 reports in 2025. Pipeline-ready for loan officers and underwriters.

Issuing PEScapular Engineering, P.E.
ReciprocityAR · IL · KS
CoverageHUD REGIONS V · VII
Insurance$2M E&O
SECTION 01 / REQUIREMENTS REF · HUD 4000.1 II.D.4.b — MANUFACTURED HOMES

Six requirements / six findings.

FHA underwriters operate from a documentation checklist. A report that doesn't structure findings around that checklist gets sent back for revision — the single biggest reason FHA structural reports delay close. Every report we deliver hits every requirement, in the order FHA expects. Full requirements detail

REQ 01 OF 06 II.D.4.b.i

Permanent foundation

Per HUD PFGMH § 3

Engineering certification that the foundation system meets HUD's Permanent Foundations Guide for Manufactured Housing, § 3 — pier specifications, footings, soil bearing, frost depth, anchoring.

Compliant 996 / 996
REQ 02 OF 06 II.D.4.b.ii

Permanent utilities

Mechanical service connection

Verification that electrical, water, sewer, and HVAC are permanently connected to local utility infrastructure. No temporary or seasonal connections.

Compliant 996 / 996
REQ 03 OF 06 II.D.4.b.iii

HUD data plate

Manufacture verification

Photo verification of HUD data plate present and legible. Manufacturer, model, serial № and HUD label number matched against the certificate of origin or title.

Compliant 996 / 996
REQ 04 OF 06 II.D.4.b.iv

HUD certification label

Red metal data plate

Verification of red metal HUD certification label affixed to the exterior of each home section. Label number recorded and photographed. Absence is a condition; we document and report.

Compliant 994 / 996
REQ 05 OF 06 II.D.4.b.v

Permanent site work

Skirting, grading, drainage

Continuous permanent skirting installed and intact. Site graded for drainage away from foundation. No water ponding within 10 feet. Driveway/walkway permanent materials.

Compliant 988 / 996
REQ 06 OF 06 II.D.4.b.vi

Towing equipment removed

Hitch, axles, wheels

Hitch, running gear, and tongue removed at minimum. Axles and wheels removed in most jurisdictions. Verification per state-specific guidance and HUD 4000.1.

Compliant 996 / 996
SECTION 03 / REPORT STRUCTURE DOC FORMAT · 8.5″ × 11″ · PE-SEALED PDF

Four sections / one sealed signature.

Every report we deliver is structured identically. Underwriters know where to find what they need on the first scan — cover sheet, narrative findings indexed to the FHA checklist, photo appendix referenced by finding number, sealed certification page. Report detail

TABLE OF CONTENTS · Standard FHA Structural Report ~14–22 pages typical
01

Cover sheet & loan information

Property address, parcel ID, FHA case number, loan amount, borrower name, lender, target close date. HUD data plate verification block. One page; populates the underwriter's file index.

Pages1
02

Narrative findings · FHA checklist order

Six findings, in the order HUD 4000.1 II.D.4.b requires. Each finding cites the handbook reference, states the determination (Compliant / Conditional / Non-compliant), and provides the supporting observation.

Pages5–8
03

Photo appendix · indexed by finding

Photo documentation referenced by finding number — so an underwriter reading Finding 04 can flip to Photo Set 04 and see exactly what supports that determination. Indexed, not chronological.

Pages6–10
04

Certification page · PE seal & signature

PE-sealed determination of FHA structural compliance. Engineer name, license number with state of issuance, expiration date, contact information, $2M E&O carrier name. One page; closes the document.

Pages1
SECTION 04 / LOAN PROGRAM ACCEPTANCE FORMAT OPTIMIZED FOR FHA · ACCEPTED BY ALL PE-STAMP PROGRAMS

Built for FHA / accepted everywhere.

Report format is optimized for FHA underwriting — but conventional, VA, and USDA programs accept the same documentation. Order whichever loan product you're closing; the report works.

Loan program
Requirements coverage
Status
Notes
FHAHUD 4000.1 II.D.4
All 6 HUD requirements, structured per handbook checklist order. Photo appendix indexed to findings.
Primary format
Default delivery format. 98% first-submission approval, 2025.
USDA RDHB-1-3555 Ch. 13
FHA format meets USDA Rural Development requirements; same six structural findings.
Accepted
Add a USDA-specific cover page on request — same underlying report.
VAVA Pamphlet 26-7
PE structural report meets VA appraiser requirements for permanent foundation cert.
Accepted
VA Notice of Value (NOV) cross-references the same six findings.
ConventionalFannie / Freddie
MH Advantage and standard conventional both accept PE structural compliant with HUD 4000.1.
Accepted
Selling Guide B5-2-04 references same foundation requirements.
Portfolio / non-QMvaries by investor
Most portfolio lenders accept FHA-format structural reports as their permanent foundation verification.
Investor-dependent
Confirm with your investor's MH product matrix before quoting.
SECTION 05 / JURISDICTIONAL COVERAGE 7 STATES · HUD REGIONS V & VII · 41 RECORDER OFFICES

Seven states / one engineer.

Our P.E. holds active PE licenses in seven states. Same engineer signs every report regardless of state — no subcontracting, no per-state firms, no quality drift. Full coverage detail

MOActive
Missouri
MO Active
Renews 04/2027
Reports 2025587
ARActive
Arkansas
PE № 22-148-PE
Renews 12/2026
Reports 2025198
ILActive
Illinois
PE № 062-071882
Renews 11/2027
Reports 2025132
KSActive
Kansas
PE № 27815
Renews 07/2026
Reports 202579
IAActive
Iowa
Iowa licensed
Active
SECTION 06 / FREQUENTLY ASKED LOAN OFFICERS · UNDERWRITERS · OPERATIONS

Common questions.

Three of the most common questions from loan officers and underwriting teams. Full FAQ

5 business days from intake to PE-sealed PDF in your file. Day 1 — intake, quote, scheduling. Day 2 — field visit. Day 3–4 — drafting and photo appendix. Day 5 — PE seal applied, sealed PDF delivered.

Rush track delivers in 3 business days for a 40% surcharge — fits files with rate-lock expiration or active closings.

We document the specific deficiencies in writing with photos and HUD 4000.1 handbook references. Common deficiencies are remediable: insufficient pier footings can be re-poured, missing skirting can be added, drainage can be regraded.

Once remediation is complete, we revisit and re-certify. About 8% of 2025 foundations needed remediation before certifying; all certified after corrections.

Yes. The report format is optimized for FHA underwriting (HUD 4000.1 II.D.4 compliance), but the same six findings satisfy USDA Rural Development (HB-1-3555 Ch. 13), VA (Pamphlet 26-7), and conventional Fannie/Freddie (Selling Guide B5-2-04).

Submit the file under whichever loan product you're closing; the report works without modification.

READY FOR YOUR NEXT FHA FILE

Submit a file today.
Quote returned same business day.

Drop the property address, FHA case number, and target close. Acknowledgment within an hour. Written quote returned same business day. Sealed PDF in your underwriting file in five business days.

Engineer of recordScapular Engineering, P.E.
Reciprocal activeAR · IL · KS
CoverageHUD V · VII
Insurance$2M E&O · A+
Direct line(573) 275-7647