Why Do Manufactured Home get such a bad rap?

Question

When I say manufactured, yes I mean a trailer, mobile home.

I looked at one the other day and I couldnt even tell. I have thought about it and here is what I have came up with.

They are built in a factory, so they are not weathered(materials, etc)

Most are built with 2x6 walls which is better than stick built(2x4)

They are made strong enough to be drove down the road to be placed on land or in a park.

They are so much cheaper in price per square foot than a stick built

So what Am I missing? Why do they get a bad rap?

The one I looked at was a 1996 on a basement and on 5 acres, I seriously could not tell. And it was real good size like 2000sq. ft.

Answer 1

There is nothing wrong with the home you describe !!! I lived in one years ago and have to say it has been my favorite house I ever lived in>>> all the party's were at my house because of the space and LARGE living quarters,,, I now live in a house that's large too ( let me back this story up first... the manufactured Home I lived in years ago cost 80,000 dollars ) back to the home I live in now... its a large 2 story colonel worth 350,00 dollars and I LOVED the other home much better and the taxes were much lower > this manufactured home was in Fort Lauderdale , Florida and went through several hurricanes including Hurricane Andrew and the only thing that happened was a tree went through the roof of my bedroom ( which could also happen in the home I'm in now )

to answer your question,,,,you are missing nothing > but a higher tax payment and larger mortgage payment !!!!

IF you like it,,,,,,,,BUY IT ,,, don't worry what others are saying.

Good Luck and Happy Housing

Answer 2

We bought our double wide in 2000.  Gave around $80,000 and got all the extras we could think of.... 2x6 exterior walls with extra insulation, heat pump and a gas furnace backup........ also a fireplace where we added gas logs as a back up to both of those in case the power goes off completely....... huge master bedroom, huge master bath, huge walkin closet and a sunroom completes " our side" of the house......... big living room, big den, nice kitchen with washroom and dining room......... three more bedrooms, all pretty good size and another bathroom.  We added two large concrete porches from and back with sidewalks....... and all brick underpinned.  It looks as good as a regular stick built would have looked after 8 yrs.  Oh yeah, double pane insulated windows, french patio doors....... much better than any sliding doors for any type home......... architectural shingles....... about half the house with regular sheetrock walls, sloped textured ceilings throughout....... instead of drapes in the bedrooms and sunroom we went the shutters, love them.   We lived in so called real houses and decided on this one 8 yrs ago and we're still very very satisfied.  There's still some TRAILERS around but now a days mobile homes and modular are looking better and better.

Answer 3

Mobile homes used to be called "house trailers."  They were kind of tin cans on wheels.  That has all changed, but most people aren't aware of the quality of today's double wides.  

I live in a double wide, and it's the nicest home I've ever owned.  I have a s****. "friend" who said "Oh, you live in a trailer."   I asked her how far she'd get with pulling her stick-built house down the road at 60 mph before the whole thing disintegrated.  Haven't seen her since..

Answer 4

it's a holdover from the past when they were made cheaper.buy a good one and put it a foundation and it's as good as a site built.moved many tims and i don't think they will last as long.

i've lived in one for about 30 yrs and it was manufactured in the 60's.yes the paneling is showing wear but i also raised 2 boys.

my taxes are cheaper than a similiar size house.i'm cool in summer,warm in winter and dry in rain.what else do you need from a house?

Answer 5

Apparently you have never lived in one.. I have.. the woodwork will not stand up to abuse.  They look cheap... BUT...your questions was.. 'WHAT AM I MISSING"  

You can not compare a manufactured home to a regular framed house.  But Manufactured homes fill a notch in our society.

Long time ago I bought one because of the following:,

1.) I moved around a lot

2.) wanted my things around me

3.) my income was that I couldn't afford the down on a "real" house.

4.) they were better than renting and most of the time are beautiful home...

My finances are better than they were and I stay in an area that does not allow Manufactured Homes.  

Lots of people know how to camouflage Manufactured home, but trust me they don't stand up to abuse...