Frequently Asked Questions
What is a manufactured home?
A manufactured home is the proper term for any home built to HUD Code standards that was adopted by Congress in 1974 and went into effect on June 15, 1976. It is a factory built home built after June 15, 1976.
Are manufactured homes mobile?
Most any home can be moved. The steel frame under a manufactured home makes its relocation, should it be necessary, easier. Manufactured homes can either be placed on a lot with a permanent foundation and on leased or owned land.
You can move a stick-built home, too, so the mobility of a home has little bearing on the quality of construction. Putting a manufactured home on a chassis is simply a more convenient way to build a home in a factory.
You can move a stick-built home, too, so the mobility of a home has little bearing on the quality of construction. Putting a manufactured home on a chassis is simply a more convenient way to build a home in a factory.
What is the difference between modular and manufactured homes?
Modular homes are built to the state, local or regional code where the home will be located. Modules are transported to the site and installed. A manufactured home is a house constructed entirely in a controlled factory environment and built to the federal Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards (HUD code). The most recent amendment to the HUD Code is the Manufactured Housing Improvement Act of 2000 (MHIA 2000).
Are manufactured homes energy-efficent?
Yes. All manufactured homes have specific energy efficiency standards set by the federal government in the HUD Code. For example, manufactured homes built after October, 1994 are required to be insulated to the geographic zone they are designed for, must have double-pane windows and must have ventilation fans in kitchens and bathrooms. While the HUD minimum standards are helping to reduce energy costs for manufactured home buyers, several manufacturers are building homes that exceed the minimum HUD insulation standards, and that have advanced energy-efficient ventilation systems to maintain healthy indoor air quality even with very tight construction. Such homes use 30-50 percent less energy for space heating than homes built to the minimum HUD standards. Several manufacturers are partners in the Energy Star program. An Energy Star qualified manufactured home is a home that has been designed, produced, and installed in accordance with Energy Star’s guidelines by an Energy Star certified plant.
Myth Vs. Fact
Myth: Manufactured homes are more vulnerable to storm or fire damage than traditional site-built homes.
Fact: Manufactured homes sold after 1994 are built to the same HUD standards for construction, strength, fire resistance and wind resistance that are applied to site-built homes. A report published by the state of Florida indicates that no manufactured home built to these standards received any major damage during the severe 2004-2005 hurricane season. Additionally, a study published by Foremost Insurance Company found that manufactured homes are less likely to catch fire than site-built homes.
Myth: Manufactured homes are poorly constructed, use inferior materials or are not suitable for long-term housing.
Fact: Manufactured homes are built with the same materials and, in some cases, are more durable ones, because they're reinforced for transportation by road to home sites. Manufactured homes must pass thorough inspections approved by HUD and the National Conference of States on Building Codes and Standards before being sold.
Myth: Manufactured homes are all alike.
Fact: While many manufactured homes are similar in shape and size, the same could be said of traditional ranch-style houses and cookie-cutter homes common in many new subdivisions. Manufactured homes provide consumers with a wide range of interior and exterior options. Some manufacturers even produce luxury models with hardwood floors, whirlpool baths, stonework fireplaces and walk-in closets.
Myth: Only low-income people live in manufactured homes.
Fact: Some people who could afford site-built homes choose manufactured homes instead. It's not unusual to find larger and luxury manufactured homes priced at $130,000 or more. Meaning, a new manufactured home on a private lot may prove less expensive than a new stick-built home in a similar area, depending on the neighborhood.