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Mobile Homes vs. Manufactured HomesWhat is a Mobile Home vs. a Manufactured Home? They are essentially the same. Mobile homes are simply pre-fabricated homes, somtimes called trailers, that are built somewhere other than the home site and then delivered and assembled. Trailer parks have gotten a bad rap as being cheap and run down. But many of todays manufactured homes are attractive, well-built, and comfortable -- and they are less expensive that a home built through traditional construction methods. The Dept. of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) officially changed the designation from mobile homes for houses built before 1976 to the new name of manufactured homes for models built since then. Reality is, these homes really are not mobile. Once set in place on foundations, they really are not meant to be relocated, which is why there is such an uproar when mobile home parks are closed since it is tough for low-income residents to find a way to move their house.
Buying a Mobile Home or Pre-fabricated homeWhen looking to buy the best mobile home, you need to understand first some of the terminology and language. Manufactured homes are divided into 2 main classes based on size. The single wide measures 16 feet or less in width, and can be shipped and located as a single, complete unit. The double wide trailer are 24 (or more) feet in width and must be transported in 2 or more pieces, then assembled and connected on site. Unlike normal houses that are subject to local, city and state building codes, mobile homes are regulated by the HUD and manufacturers must meet the building standards set by them. Traditionally, manufactured homes have been chosen because of their low cost and their ability to be set up quickly and easily in rural areas -- an instant home. Mobile homes tend to depreciate and lose their value, unlike traditionally constructed houses, so the property tax bill for this kind of housing is usually much less as well, again resulting in lower overall costs and expenses (though also without the appreciation and equity one would gain in a traditional house).There are many builders of manufactured homes - companies like Bonnavilla, Clayton Homes, Cavalier, Palm Harbor, Sweetwater, Gold Medal, Crest Ridge, Century, Sunshine, and more. The top manufactured home builders are: Champion Enterprises, Fleetwood, Oakwood Homes, Clayton Homes (Clayton.net), Cavalier Homes, and Skyline. Skyline (SkylineHomes.com) build about 1/4 as many homes as Champion (they built around 70,000 mobile homes in 2000). An example of a double wide made by Bonnavilla is the Bonnavilla model, 30 feet wide by 80 feet long, for a total of 2077 sq. feet of living space, including 4 bedrooms and 3 baths. The strict rectangular shape does make you feel a bit compartmentalized inside, with no hallways and rooms all interconnected. Clayton's largest homes are nearly 3000 square feet. The Karsten Estate is 2969sf, 40x66 in size, with 4 bedrooms and a porch You can visit the websites for these manufactures to check out the models and features they offer. Buying and Selling Mobile HomesWhere can I buy a used mobile home? How much does a mobile home cost? The internet makes it a lot easier to shop for things like manufactured homes. There are a number of sites that attempt to bring buyer and sellers together. MobileHomesBuyOwner.com is one. Sellers can pay $15-$30 to place "for sale" ads, with 1-6 pictures of their manufactured home. Ads are categorized by 1BR, 2BR, 3BR, and double wide. Unfortunately, you cannot search or view by city or state, so you have to browse the entire page of listings. There were about 40-50 double-wides listed when we visited, priced from $26K to $150K, depending on location and amenities. Almost all are in mobile home parks, but some have waterfront sites, some have nice fenced yards with landscaping and more. A sample listing featured a 28x70 double wide, 3BR 2BA, den with corner fireplace, built in pantry and eat-in kitchen, appliances included - $40K. With large windows, coffered ceilings, walk-in closet, and a modern looking kitchen, you may forget you are in a manufactured home. Normally your local newspaper will also offer a section in the house want ads for mobile homes. If you know of a certain mobile home park you are interested in, stop by and talk to the manager - almost all parks have a "for sale" board and information on available sites in the park.You can also find a number of sites that offer wholesale or factory direct prices on manufactured homes. Check out sites like WholesaleHomesNW.com (serving the western states) to see how you can save 30-40% off MSRP pricing when you buy a manufactured home.
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