Mobile Homes Can Be An Excellent Value Option
Mobile homes, also known as “manufactured homes,” are a sometimes-overlooked option for people considering a home purchase, though they offer excellent value. According to the US Census, 2020 saw more than 7.5 million homes manufactured for sale, with more than 5.1 million sold and placed for residential use. In 2017, the American Community Survey also said that at least 17.5 million Americans lived in mobile homes, which constituted greater than 6 percent of the country’s housing stock. In addition to value, many Americans live in mobile or manufactured homes for reasons that include the number of amenities they offer and their durability and stylish good looks. When one examines the acquisition and long-term ownership costs of a mobile home, it’s difficult to ignore just how attractive they are.
Modern Mobile Standards
Long gone are the days when the term “mobile home” stood for cheap or shoddy quality and materials. Because they’re built to exacting standards, including laser measuring, precision cutting, and premium materials manufactured or mobile homes are nearly always well-designed and constructed. The typical manufactured home or mobile home is comparable in quality and lifespan to any traditional home built on a site. Modern mobile homes go through an indoor assembly line process. They always benefit from the highest quality control standards possible, with all construction inefficiencies and weather delays eliminated. Plus, building a mobile home in such an environment helps ensure that its buyers also receive every production cost savings possible. Finally, federal construction regulations for mobile homes have been in place since 1976, and they mandate stringent safety and construction standards. Inspections of new mobile homes are also strict and rigorously enforced.
Potential Mobile Home Costs
Mobile home prices vary by square footage, size, and amenities. These homes are more cost-affordable than a comparable site-built home. As of Winter 2019, the average price for a manufactured or mobile home was $83,067, with single-wide models costing $52,700 and double-wide versions coming in at $105,667. All such homes can feature a stunning array of amenities. Besides the purchase cost, new mobile home buyers should include the cost of lot rent in a mobile home community unless they plan on placing their new home on land they own. Lot rent also varies by location. It may include utilities, cable TV and internet access, garbage pickup, general community maintenance, and infrastructure upgrades such as road repaving. In 2019, the Midwest’s average lot rents were lowest at $413 monthly, while West Coast rates saw an average of $716 per month paid to mobile home communities.
Finding a Mobile Home for Purchase
There are many mobile home communities and manufacturers that offer new mobile homes for purchase, with their websites often being the first stop for hopeful buyers. All reputable new mobile home dealers will assist purchasers in securing financing and a lot to rent. Dealers also ship their homes to their new locations and then ensure correct pad placement. Good dealers also help mobile home buyers arrange for gas, electric, and other service hookups. For those interested in a previously owned manufactured or mobile home, internet listings by private owners and mobile home communities are abundant. They may also appear in local newspapers and weekly shopper ads. Even in today’s internet age, supermarkets and community bulletin boards may also feature “for sale” listings for mobile homes being sold by their owners at sometimes impressively low prices. Before buying any used mobile home, though, have it inspected before handing over any cash or agreeing to any financing.
