Why Seniors Should Consider a Manufactured Home and Community in Retirement Planning

There are in excess of 22 million people in the U.S. that reside in manufactured homes. A large portion of that population lives in land lease communities throughout every state in the union. A significant portion of that community population are seniors that have chosen to live out their lives in an age-regulated community, sharing social experiences and activities with those of the same generational interests.

For many retirees, life after work is all about downsizing, and with the exception of maybe a tiny house, scaling back to a manufactured home is about as far down in size as most people can go. “Mobile home” living has long gotten an undeserved bad rap, but in recent years, the manufactured home lifestyle has attracted new demographics, including younger and more affluent people as well as retirees who have the option of purchasing a traditional site-built home.

But is a manufactured home truly a realistic option that people should consider when planning for retirement? The answer, of course, depends on the retiree – but there’s certainly a lot to consider.

According to Move.org, “Many people are challenging the stereotype of the rundown, dangerous mobile home park of the past and reimagining it as a clean, safe, and modern space in a futuristic community.

The many potential benefits of manufactured home communities and manufactured housing include:

• Homeownership without all the traditional expenses and headaches, including land maintenance and property taxes – plus, most lot rental fees include utilities like sewer, water, and trash pickup.

• Another benefit for retirees is that most people who live in manufactured home communities are seniors, and many communities are restricted to those 55 and older.

• Many aged-qualified manufactured home communities offer residents an active lifestyle with amenities ranging from a swimming pool, library, shuffleboard, bocce ball, billiards, and a fitness center, as well as a number of organized activities and a variety of clubs.

• Where you live matters: Manufactured home/mobile home communities can have a huge impact on quality of life and make a significant difference to overall well-being.

• Creative outlets lessen age-related health problems: A 2015 Mayo Clinic study found that people who take on creative outlets like painting, quilting, or social activities like book clubs are less likely to suffer from dementia as they age.

• Those who are social live longer: A study from Brigham Young University found that people who are social live longer: Living in a community makes it easier for residents to regularly interact with similar interests and feel connected, supported, and engaged.

• A new modern manufactured home is a sound investment, with a cost of up to 50% less per square foot than a comparable traditional site-built home, equal and often superior in quality of construction, appearance, and amenities.

• Manufactured homes are easier to customize and build with unique features that would be difficult to achieve in a traditional home, including consideration for those with mobility issues.

• Wind and storm safety: Manufactured homes built after the 1994 HUD Code change are subject to the same site-built codes and wind safety standards. A university of Florida study found not one manufactured home built after 1994 was destroyed by four hurricanes that struck Florida in 2004.

• Manufactured homes are less susceptible to the occasion of fire than site-built homes: A study by the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) and another study by the Foremost Insurance Company shows…site built-homes are more than twice as likely to experience a fire than a HUD Code manufactured home. Study shows the number of fires is – 17 per 1000 for site-built homes – 8 per 1000 for manufactured homes.