Fleetwood Homes Builds Duplex in Virginia that Can Go for Less than $100k
Fleetwood Homes, a major manufactured home builder, believes they have produced “part of the solution” to the ongoing housing crisis in Virginia, as well as across the country.
Fleetwood Homes, based in Rocky Mount, Virginia, has produced the first U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)-recently approved single section duplex home in the country, according to Jim Trepinski, general manager of Fleetwood Homes.
At 76 feet by 15 ½ feet wide, Blue Ridge, the two unit home with two bedrooms and one bath on one side and one bedroom and one bath on the other, can be produced at a cost of just under $77,000.
One of their models was on display and could not be missed at this year’s Governor Housing Conference in November. It had already been sold to someone who planned to place it in Windsor. Governor Youngkin encourages localities to “stand up” and allow development” to tackle the housing crisis.
“It’s the first of its kind,” Trepenski said. “Without a doubt, it’s part of the solution.”
A HUD-approved manufactured home is portable, factory-built and meets HUDs construction and safety standards. The home can then be delivered by truck.
While the homes are relatives to the mobile homes, many know, Trepanski said this is very different. “It is Energy-Star certified,” Trepinski said. “It has Energy Star appliances and updated insulation.” But Trepinski is most hopeful the home will help put more people in homes. It’s estimated Virginia currently has 3.6 million units across the state, but there is demand for 4.1 million.
While construction of new homes has fallen considerably over the last decade, Gov. Glen Youngkin is encouraging localities to help streamline construction when possible.
“We need the localities to recognize that so many of the roadblocks happen at the local level,” Youngkin said.
Oftentimes, municipalities will limit where manufactured homes can be placed, Trepinski said. “Without a doubt it’s part of the solution,” Trepinski said.
