Manufactured Homes

[JaniceSW]

Okay, I'm getting older and have retired.  I'm looking around my home and it needs a fair amount of work and has a somewhat large yard.  I really don't want to do the upkeep anymore.  Due to budgetary reasons, I'm thinking of a manufactured home.  I have to do some research this summer.  However, one thing I'm concerned about is the pipes freezing in the winter here in Michigan and how well insulated and built they are. 

If you've had experience with manufactured housing (especially in a rather cold climate), please feel free to give some input.  I'll be frank and say that my budget would be around $25,000-$35,000 once I sell my house.

[countrygirl12]

If you purchase a new one it will be way more than $35,000.  How well the pipes are insulated is up to you.  That does not have anything to do with the home being built.

[lguzman1]

Manufactured homes could round more than $50,000 dollar depending how big you want them. There very nice and looks like a real house. I'v seen some and they are great. The only down fall on them is that you don't get equity on them, like a house. If you buy them use you might get a good deal. My aunt bought one for $35,000 it is a 2 bedroom.

[ancmetro]

    As you were saying: Maintenance and repairs can be costly and should be avoided at all cost.
Make sure your new manufactured home has a reliable heating system and is winter-weatherized.
Ask the dealer what type of equipment to buy and how to maintain your new home hassle-free.

[vickysue]

First find out where the home is made, because  some areas the insulation is higher then in others.  Say here is N.M. where we don't have as extreme weather as you do  it might not have as much insulation in it, but if you go to Co. It will a higher rating, so if at  all  possible you should have a  manufactured home that is made in your state.

[dancer139]

Some are really very nice.  Depending on who makes them.  But they can be really expensive also.  The last one I seen was like $45,000 Bucks.  And it was just a simple home type,,,  no flashy stuff inside.  Be careful and check everything before you decide !!!

[dogsleash]

i think its a great idea they never go up in value but usualy keep value/

[bshee58]

We used to live in a mobile home in the country, it was nice, but now we live in the big city.

[surveypro2016]

I lived in a Mobile Home back in the 80's. We live in Ohio and I had to have heat tapes on the pipes to keep them from freezing. We had to plug them in when it was close to winter. But then again, that was the 80's lol I don't know what they have nowadays.

[cathy37]

I live in a manufactured home and have never had my pipes to freeze.  They are making them now that are very well insulated.

[thoughtparticles]

I grew up in a well maintained 1961 mobile home (I was born in the 80s... and BOY do I wish I had that trailer today!). There were a few hard freezes when I was younger (I live in Florida) and the trailer wasn't well insulated, so we went to my grandma's... just left water dripping in the faucets and all was well when we got home.

[JaniceSW]

Thanks so far the input.  I just wanted to say that I don't care much about this housing accumulating value at this point in life.  Also, I plan on buying a used one.   I am going to look for one manufactured no earlier than 2000.  If I find one I really like, I could spend near $40,000 if I really had to.  I plan to have one in a park, maybe even a 55 and older park.  I just worry about the quality and the pipes because I've heard some stories about freezing pipes every time you turn around.  Of course, that is years ago on much older manufactured homes.  I also plan on researching what manufacturers build the higher quality homes.  If I would find one I think I might like to buy, I'm going to have a home inspector go over it just like a regular house.

Please...keep providing input if you have ever lived in one, know someone well who has, or ever thought about living in one and did some research yourself.  Thanks!

[PGS28]

I was interested in one at one time as well, so all the valuable information everyone is posting is very informative.  Good luck on your home journey! 

[taj75657]

Today, manufactured homes are built so much different. You can see a small one with little to no perks run you $20K plus and many that rival a traditional stick built home with all the fancy features and smart tech. that can run $100k or even more.  You might also consider a modular a home that differs in a manufactured home because they usually are not built on a trailer but on a lot where the purchaser would have moved to their own property. I don't think modular would be the way to go if you are looking to lease a lot. In house financing is good to because a mortgage lender will not typically loan on a manufactured home that is not semi-permanent fixed to the site. Also, it is rare for a lender to originate a loan for $40K. There are so many good programs out there to research. For example, if you are a teacher, police, firefighter, nurse, doctor there are considerable discounts and grants that some pay up to half of the sales price if the property is in a particular area that needs to be revitalized or deemed a bad area. It must be primary residence though. Check with your local Realtor for information.

[6265AT99]

Personally, I don't think manufactured homes are really cheap.  Some of them can be quite expensive.  Maybe your best best would be a "retirement community" where you could have your own home - just smaller with less grounds than you have now.  Of course, if you reallly want to be "hands off", an apartment is probably the only way to go.  In either event, I wish you luck on your search.