What is a
manufactured home?
What is a modular
home?
What is a panelized
home?
Which do I own - a
mobile home or a manufactured home?
How safe are
manufactured homes?
How do manufactured
homes compare to site built homes?
Will I be happy with
owning a manufactured home?
What kind of
amenities can I expect from the community I place my home it?
What are the benefits
of a land lease over purchasing land?
What is the average
price of a manufactured home?
What fees can I
expect to pay as a resident of a manufactured housing community?
Are pets allowed at
communities?
Are rental homes
available within the communities?
Can residents have
their own lawn/garden design?
What is a manufactured home?
Manufactured homes are built in factories, transported to a site location and
installed. HUD Code federally regulates manufactured homes. HUD Code provides
the design and construction requirements for the complete production of the
entire home in the factory. Some modifications are allowed on-site for setup.
What is a modular home?
Modular homes are also built in factories, transported to a site
location and installed. Modular homes are governed the building code
enforced in the jurisdiction where the home is to be located. These
codes can be BOCA National Building Code, the ICBO Uniform Building
Code, the Southern Standard Building Code or the ICC One and Two
Family Dwelling Code.
What is a panelized home?
Panelized homes are flat factory-built panels that are transported
to the site location where they are assembled. Panelized homes are
governed by the building code enforced in the jurisdiction where the
home is to be located. These codes can be the BOCA National Building
Code, the ICBO Uniform Building Code, the Southern Standard Building
Code or the ICC One and Two Family Dwelling Code.
Which do I own - a mobile home or a manufactured
home?
The HUD Code defines manufactured homes. A factory-built home built
after June 15, 1976, is commonly called a manufactured home. A factory-built
home built before June 15, 1976 is commonly called a mobile home.
How safe are manufactured homes?
The building materials in today's manufactured home are the same as
those used in a site-built home. The homes are engineered for wind
safety and energy efficiency based on the geographic region where
they are sold. Manufactured homes may be one of the safest housing
choices available today because of federal laws requiring smoke
detectors, escape windows, and limited combustible materials around
furnaces, water heaters and kitchen ranges. Properly installed homes
can withstand 120-130 mph 3-second wind gusts in areas prone to
hurricanes.
How do manufactured homes compare to site built homes?
The quality and amenities of modern manufactured homes has
dramatically increased. Modern manufactured homes have many of the
same features as site-built homes. A manufactured home is a
single-family house constructed entirely in a factory rather than at
a home-site, with generally the same materials found in site-built
homes. Homes range from 500 square feet to 2,000 square feet or
larger and can be both single-section or multi-section. Manufactured
homes are available in a variety of architectural styles and floor
plans, just like traditional housing, and offer a variety of
amenities and custom options including, among other things:
• Spacious floor plans
• Vaulted ceilings
• Drywall throughout
• Walk-in closets
• Fireplaces
• Brand name appliances
• Customization packages
• Jacuzzi tubs
• Shingled roof
• Vinyl, hardboard, stucco or wood siding
Will I be happy with owning a manufactured home?
Studies have shown that homeowners are happy with manufactured
housing. According to a 1999 study by Foremost Insurance Company,
88% of manufactured homeowners report satisfaction with their
housing choice. The 1999 Owens Corning study, conducted by National
Family Opinion, found that 93% of manufactured homeowners are
satisfied with their housing choice.
What kind of amenities can I expect from the community I place my
home it?
Communities vary from place to place. Often times, modern
manufactured home communities contain a variety of amenities to
offer the residents, including:
For more information, visit
our community pages.
What are the benefits of a land lease over purchasing land?
Many people ponder the buy or lease decision when choosing where to
live. Some of the advantages of a land lease are:
1. Retirees desiring to preserve capital appreciate the safety
net that the land lease provides. The resident is free to
invest his/her capital in other ventures and is able to have
a more flexible savings program.
2. The lessee's time horizon for living in a particular
community is often unpredictable, making leasing advisable.
The cost of buying and selling a piece of land (commissions,
closing costs, title searches, surveys, etc.) can take a
significant time period to recoup. When buying your own
land, the costs of necessary site preparation needs to be
factored into your decision making process.
3. Land ownership brings exposure to real estate taxes and
volatility in the land market.
4. Owning a home in a community owned by a national company
with a professional management team can also increase the
liquidity of your home.
5. Community living offers individuals an opportunity to share
common interests among those living in their own
neighborhood. An abundance of activities and resort-style
amenities combine to offer residents a fabulous lifestyle.
What is the average price of a manufactured home?
With an average new price of around $70,000, new manufactured homes
offer a tremendous value in today's housing market. Depending on the
region of the country, construction cost per square foot for a new
manufactured home averages anywhere from 20 to 50 percent less than
a comparable site-built home, excluding the cost of land.
What fees can I expect to pay as a resident of a manufactured
housing community?
Some of the typical fees associated with living in a manufactured
housing community (MHC) include site rental, utilities such as
water, sewer, electric and gas, trash collection and cable
television service.
Are pets allowed at communities?
Each community has its own guidelines concerning pets. Contact the
property manager of the community you are interested in for
specifics.
Are rental homes available within the communities?
Both long-and-short-term rental programs are available to our
community residents.
Can residents have their own lawn/garden design?
Residents are responsible for their individual lawn and/or garden
design. We encourage our residents to take pride in their
landscaping and many produce carefully maintained home sites with
beautiful landscaping.
