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This is a modular home, looks nothing like a MH and is not one, the only thing they share in common is that they are not built at the lot and are brought to the site on a truck.
here is a 2 story modular home,
they don't make manufactured homes that are 2 story
This is the problem, there is no accepted definition for "manufactured house". The pictures you showed are what should be the definition, constructed in modules and assembled on site.
Unfortunately the mobile home/trailer makers have coopted the "manufactured" name and that's what people picture.
In this area modular houses sell for as much, and in some cases more, than comparable stick builts, you showed examples. I'm talking multiple 100s of thousands house prices.
we sold my MIL's 1960s doublewide in a nice park a few years ago; got far more than expected--$60K. New buyers towed it away and brought in a huge new home. The value was entirely in the (rented) lot.
There’s really nothing wrong with the structure of modern manufactured homes, the problem usually lies in cosmetic stuff. The vinyl siding they use is very cheap and tends to crack and fade quickly, and there’s also the cabinetry that’s usually made of particle board and non-standard sizes. HVAC equipment is usually specially made for mobile homes, and not the same that you would find in a stick built home.
If manufactured home companies would start using standard materials they could improve their reputation greatly. That’s why many things don’t get repaired properly, because you can’t just run down to Home Depot and pick up a new door that will fit.
This is the problem, there is no accepted definition for "manufactured house". The pictures you showed are what should be the definition, constructed in modules and assembled on site.
Unfortunately the mobile home/trailer makers have coopted the "manufactured" name and that's what people picture.
In this area modular houses sell for as much, and in some cases more, than comparable stick builts, you showed examples. I'm talking multiple 100s of thousands house prices.
They are called manufactured by the industry to try to stop the negative impact on mobile homes. I still call them mobile homes some call them trailers.
The definition only becomes muddy when people don't know the difference between manufactured and modular.
They are called manufactured by the industry to try to stop the negative impact on mobile homes. I still call them mobile homes some call them trailers.
The definition only becomes muddy when people don't know the difference between manufactured and modular.
As shown in this and damned near every other thread that discusses them.
Once again, folks are mixing up the terminology. A trailer is the same as a manufactured home. There are single wide and double wide, the latter being two same sized halves that are joined side by side at the resting site. There is a simple gable end and a single ridge line on the roof. The manufactured homes come in on axles with wheels and are towed by trucks. They are one or two pieces, each no more than 9 ft wide, the width of a traffic lane. Generally if the home is to become part of real property according to the town or county, the wheels and axles need to be removed. This allows there to be a mortgage on the property that includes the home.
A modular home is one that is made from 'cubes' that are built in warehouses. At the homesite, the foundation or basement is dug and the drainage for the home is prepared. Then a bunch of 'cubes' of different sizes and contents are brought to the site and arranged and joined as per a building plan. In the end it is not distiguishable from a stick built house. Those cubes are called modules, hence the term modular home. It is nothing like a manufactured/trailer home.
In this area there are many, many manufactured homes, from the old ones in the 70s to the newer ones costing over $100,000. If manufactured homes are pretty much all that's available to buy, they hold their value somewhat. And they do make them nice now. The one I bought was built in 2002 and had vinyl siding and double paned windows. It was also made to withstand stronger winds than most regular houses. I saw it a couple days ago when I was land hunting and it still looks fine. And when I bought it and the land, I got an FHA loan. Oh, yeah, it was almost 1000 sq ft, three bedroom, two full baths and it cost $22,000. Eat that, tiny home people!
Some communities here won't allow a manufactured home. Maybe they want to keep the snob factor, I don't know. But the only thing I don't like about a manufactured home is they look like manufactured homes. Designers and builders tend to keep things pretty simple to keep the price down, so there's not a lot of variation in roof line or trim or anything else. They look and are pretty generic.
Having said that, I've seen a few I really like. I would far prefer to live in a nice old house with lots of details (but none of the problems of old houses), but you can add a lot of stuff on to a manufactured home to make it look better, like porches and bay windows.
And if you do buy one, while you won't find them under $30,000 these days, when your mortgage is paid off in 10 years instead of 30 and you're saving all that money, remember that the land you put a MH on will still be there and if you don't have a house to pass down to the kids, well, they'll just have to fend for themselves.
Edited to add: Thanks, Crash, I had forgotten that. I bought the land and put the MH on it for $85,000. I sold the lot and MH a year and a half later: $120,000.
You got a great deal. The one in my neighborhood on private land looks old, is a 2000 square feet one and only has 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, a complete waste of space. You could fit a small 4 plex of 1 bedroom apartments in that space.
Once again, folks are mixing up the terminology. A trailer is the same as a manufactured home. There are single wide and double wide, the latter being two same sized halves that are joined side by side at the resting site. There is a simple gable end and a single ridge line on the roof. The manufactured homes come in on axles with wheels and are towed by trucks. They are one or two pieces, each no more than 9 ft wide, the width of a traffic lane. Generally if the home is to become part of real property according to the town or county, the wheels and axles need to be removed. This allows there to be a mortgage on the property that includes the home.
A modular home is one that is made from 'cubes' that are built in warehouses. At the homesite, the foundation or basement is dug and the drainage for the home is prepared. Then a bunch of 'cubes' of different sizes and contents are brought to the site and arranged and joined as per a building plan. In the end it is not distiguishable from a stick built house. Those cubes are called modules, hence the term modular home. It is nothing like a manufactured/trailer home.
A lot of mobile homes are 12 feet wide. Some single wide ones are as wide as 14 or 16 feet. I guess it depends on the roads in the area if they can get them there.
A lot of the double wides are 12 feet wide x 2.
the old trailer homes of the 60's that are more rv style are 8 or 9 feet wide, by maybe 30 feet long and only have one small bedroom.
All else being equal, the manufacture home is always less desirable than a stick built home.
The loan guidelines, FAnnei Mae, FHA, and other agencies, always have special rules and rates for manufactured homes. It will be more restrictive and the rate will be higher.
You might get a lower price when buying, but you will also get a lower price when selling.
The only way I would consider a manufactured home is if I were buying the property for the land, and there just happened to be a mobile home(pre hud guidelines) or manufactured home on the property. I would give little or no value to the home, just what is the land worth to me?
All else being equal, the manufacture home is always less desirable than a stick built home.
The loan guidelines, FAnnei Mae, FHA, and other agencies, always have special rules and rates for manufactured homes. It will be more restrictive and the rate will be higher.
You might get a lower price when buying, but you will also get a lower price when selling.
The only way I would consider a manufactured home is if I were buying the property for the land, and there just happened to be a mobile home(pre hud guidelines) or manufactured home on the property. I would give little or no value to the home, just what is the land worth to me?
If it's cash it's just what the land is worth to you, if you finance the land it's up to the appraiser's value, but land with a pre HUD home has value in the fact the home may be hooked up to city water and sewer or have septic and well and electricity connected so it's ready for another home.
I've also read problems people had with older MH and getting some kind of document to be able to buy it. Also some MHs especially on rented lots have to be registered with the local DMV. Those are the ones where you will see a square sticker near a front window and each year it's a different color.
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