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What is a manufactured home?

Manufactured homes are built in factories piece by piece in accordance with building codes set by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The manufactured homes are then transported to the home site, either in sections or as a whole, and installed on either a temporary or permanent foundation.

Modern manufactured homes can come in three general floor plans:

  • Single-wide – a home built in one long section
  • Double-wide – two sections joined to make a larger home
  • Triple-wide – a less common model with three sections joined together for a larger, more spacious home

There are several reasons to buy a manufactured home in Florida, including:

  • Very Affordable
    Because manufactured homes cost significantly less to build than traditionally constructed residences, Florida buyers get more home for less money which makes them a great investment.
  • Attractive Designs
    When many hear the words manufactured home, they picture flimsy aluminum siding and cheap laminate interiors. This may have been true in the 1980s, but today’s homes are attractive and stylish and as aesthetically pleasing as stick-built homes. Features like vinyl siding, wood built-ins, expansive porches, and bay windows are just some of the beautiful features common in modern manufactured homes.
  • Built to Last
    Surprisingly, Florida manufactured homes are durable and can last as long as traditionally-constructed homes.
  • Value Retention
    Obviously, market conditions have a major impact on home values. However, manufactured homes typically hold their values the same way traditionally-constructed homes do. This means that when home values increase in a specific region, they increase for manufactured homes as well.
  • More Lenient Credit Requirements
    Buyers can obtain conventional, FHA, VA, and USDA financing for manufactured homes. Federal loan programs such as FHA and VA have credit score requirements of as low as 580, so perfect credit is not required to buy manufactured homes.