MANUFACTURED HOMES: EXPOSED FOR WHAT THEY REALLY ARE!!
Now that I’ve got your attention, let me tell you what the manufactured home is really all about and why it is the greatest housing value that is available to homebuyers!
Unfortunately, there are those naysayers that love to espouse uninformed opinions about what manufactured homes “are not,” such as, “They are not well built,” “They are not safe,” “They don’t appreciate,” “They are not energy efficient,” “They are not insurable,” “They don’t last,” etc. etc.
However, I have posted over 100 blog articles on this site debunking all of these and many other myths and mischaracterizations about manufactured homes and the manufactured housing industry today. Below, I will address a few of the untruths about America’s dream home in capsule form, with reference to blog postings, if further validation is needed, to determine what manufactured homes really are:
Manufactured homes are built equally or better than comparable site-built housing, using the same building materials as other housing. The factory construction indoor environment means that materials are not exposed to the weather and other elements as is the situation with site built construction.
Manufactured homes are the only form of housing built to a federal Congressional mandated building code, the HUD CODE, which equals or exceeds any other state or local building code requirements.
For more info on the HUD code and quality of manufactured home construction refer to blog articles titled:
“MANUFACTURED HOME MOST REGULATED AND INSPECTED HOUSING IN THE U.S.” and
“ARE MANUFACTURED HOMES WELL BUILT?”
Manufactured homes are built to exact requirements that ensure energy efficiencies that reduce utility bills and promotes homeowner comfort, regardless of the weather conditions of the placement location.
For more information on additional energy efficiencies available, please refer to blog posting entitled: “MANUFACTURED HOMES: GOING GREEN WITH ENERGY STAR AND SILVERCREST HOMES.”
Manufactured homes are equal to site-built homes in retaining and appreciating in value if all contributing factors are equal, such as placement location, economic conditions, and supply and demand.
Contrary to conventional wisdom, a manufactured home sited in a land-lease community can appreciate over time under certain conditions, such as location in an urban area where housing is limited, expensive, and sited in an area where people desire to live, thereby increasing the in-place value of the manufactured home even when located on rental property.
More information referencing value retention on blog posting entitled:
“IS A MANUFACTURED HOME A GOOD INVESTMENT?”
Fire safety and storm safety are important factors when considering the purchase of any home. Manufactured homes are in compliance with strict standards imposed by HUD code regulations.
Fire flame spread suppression requirements exceed those of most site-built housing. Smoke detectors and egress windows are other fire safety features mandated by federal legislation. A National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) study from July 2011 shows that occurrence of fires is lower in manufactured homes and the injury rate is also lower in manufactured housing than in site-built housing. The justification behind the superior fire safety is due to higher standards required by regulations.
Wind storm safety standards are based upon on geographical Wind Zone requirements of the the HUD regulations that have been revised with strict requirements over the last 20 years and have resulted in manufactured homes faring better in tornadoes and hurricanes than many site-built homes. In fact, studies following major storms over the last few years indicate that manufactured homes have fared well in comparison to other residential dwellings.
More information on fire and storm safety on blog postings entitled:
“MANUFACTURED HOMES SAFER THAN SITE-BUILT” and
“MANUFACTURED HOMES: DID YOU KNOW? (QUICK FACTS, STUDIES, AND REPORTS ON AMERICA’S DREAM HOME)”
Today’s well built, affordable manufactured home is truly the realization of the American dream of homeownership. You can see what a manufactured home is really all about and perhaps discover your dream home by visiting a local manufactured home model display center.
(Photo via http://www.robertscommunities.com/oak-ranch/)
