What is avg life expectancy of manufactured housing? Is there ever appreciation on these?

Question

looking at real estate which has mobile home - or as it is now called - manufactured housing - I don't think there is much value for the house? Am I wrong?

Answer 1

Manufactured homes never appreciate. The land under them will. As to how long they will last depends on how well they were built (Wide range here) and how well they have been maintained (also a wide range). The really good ones can last 50 years or more. It also depends on the climate. In dry hot areas they are going to last better than in damp hot climates... Think of a vehicle. The newer and fewer moves the better, and consequently the more value. I believe you can find the equivalent of a Kelly Blue Book for mobile homes you might want to consult one before buying.

Answer 2

Well that depends on whether it's a manufactured home or a trailer (mobile home). The older trailer style homes don't appreciate, they depreciate. The newer (built in a factory) manufactured homes are actually built with most of the same material used to build on site homes, as a matter of fact some manufactured homes have the exterior walls built using much stronger 2x6 framing whereas on site homes use 2x4 exterior framing. Unlike a mobile home, a manufactured home DOES appreciate in value, not quite the rate of a on site home will, but they do appreciate. With proper maintenance there is no reason for it to last any less, than a built on site home, built with the same material.

Hope this was helpful,  ;-)

Answer 3

In 1992, Hurricane Andrew devastated all the manufactured houses on its path, just because they were not grounded securely to their foundations...

So when it comes to the question of their life expectancy, it's real tough to think positive. Moreover since they are generally sold in the low-income market, their durability gets questionable otherwise also.

They don't appreciate, their land does!