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The Best Mobile Home Manufacturers of 2021
When shopping for a manufactured home, the research should begin with comparing the best mobile home manufacturers. Since this type of home is built start-to-finish inside the manufacturer’s facility, you want to be sure that the materials and workmanship meet your standards and expectations. While you will need to coordinate the purchase of your mobile home through a licensed manufactured home retailer, your satisfaction with the experience and your new home will be impacted by the manufacturer you choose.
Mobile homes, a term that has more frequently been replaced with “manufactured homes,” are built to the specifications of the federal HUD code and offer affordable living options. These homes can have per-square-foot building costs that can be half of what a comparable site-built home would cost. The investment will depend on the manufacturer you select, the floorplan you choose, and the options you add on.
Single-section manufactured homes (sometimes referred to as a single-wide) have a 13-foot width or less but can be 60 feet or more in length. These are often the most affordable mobile homes to buy but may have limited layout options. Multi-section manufactured homes are greater than 13 feet in width, with the individual sections assembled on-site. Another type of manufactured home to consider is a modular home, which is factory-built similar to a manufactured home but is finished on-site and must meet local building code requirements.
If you are unsure where to begin, we compiled a list of the best mobile home manufacturers, allowing you to settle into your new digs.
About This Term: Primary Bathroom
Many real estate associations, including the Houston Association of Realtors, have classified the term “Master Bedroom” (or “Master Bathroom”) as discriminatory. “Primary Bedroom” is the name now widely used among the real estate community and better reflects the purpose of the room.
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To find the best-manufactured homes we sorted through more than a dozen manufacturer websites, including subsidiaries of larger conglomerate manufacturers—like Champion Home Builders, Cavco, and Clayton. We assessed the availability and floor plans using geographic locations in the Eastern, Southern, and Western regions of the United States to compare the variety of homes available.
Special attention was given to manufacturer standard practices, in-home assembly and components, the availability of both single-wide and multi-section homes, the catalog of available features (including highly desired options like walk-in-closets and primary bathrooms), and pricing. We also consulted the MHI (Manufactured Housing Institute) for recent Excellence in Manufactured Housing Award winners.
Champion Home Builders earned the title of best overall for its selection, offering both manufactured mobile homes and modular homes produced in controlled environments, while TRU Homes is the best pick for first-time homebuyers for its down-to-earth approach. If you’re looking for the experience of building a home with custom options, Adventure Homes is the best pick.
A mobile home manufacturer replaces the role of a general contractor and crew on a conventional site-built home. Instead of the work being supervised and carried out at the building site, a mobile home manufacturer oversees and completes the work of framing and finishing the mobile home within its factory.
Manufactured homes are built on an assembly line, similar to an automobile. Each station is responsible for completing an aspect of the build and inspections are regularly performed to ensure that the home meets internal and external standards, including the federal HUD code for manufactured homes.
Buying new from a mobile home manufacturer appeals to anyone wanting to have a custom experience when buying a home. Buying new from a mobile home manufacturer allows you to shop for the floor plan that is best suited to your needs. You can often customize the exterior or interior finishes to suit your preferences and maximize your budget, rather than settling for selections made by a previous owner.
Pricing can vary widely for manufactured homes, with factors like square footage and standard options impacting the price point. As a general range, however, budget mobile home manufacturers offer models starting around $40,000, while other manufacturers with high-end, custom mobile homes may charge upward of roughly $150,000 for multi-section homes.
Source: The Spruce
