Manufactured housing gaining acceptance

USA Today (Society for the Advancement of Education), Dec, 1996

Do you think you could recognize a manufactured home if you saw one? Don't be so sure. The Manufactured Housing Institute reports that one out of every three new single-family homes sold in 1995 was made in a factory, and the majority were erected on private property - not in a trailer park. Factory-built homes are growing in popularity as they become more efficient, attractive, and affordable.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development upgraded its building codes for manufactured housing in 1994. They include tough new standards to ensure protection against extreme winds and energy efficiency. To help meet these standards, manufacturers are offering homeowners a variety of energy-saving options, including better insulation to lower heating and cooling costs, energy-efficient windows, and the choice of a home energy fuel.

"In the past, the industry used to offer to consumers only six or 10 models with no options and little variety," indicates Bruce Savage, director of public affairs for the Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI). "Today, consumers can customize their manufactured home to include skylights, picture windows, fireplaces, whirlpools, built-in bookcases, or entertainment units - virtually any housing feature available in a custom-built-in home. Also, the exterior of the homes resemble traditional or site-built houses. More than 50% of the manufactured homes built today have two or three components under one roof and the roof has the same height and pitch as a site-built home. Once set in place, many people can't tell the difference between a manufactured home and its traditionally built neighbor."

There is, however, a significant difference in price. MHI data shows that the average manufactured home has 1,300 square feet, three bedrooms, and costs roughly $38,000 (not including the land costs). More banking institutions are offering financing and mortgages for manufactured homes - something not always available to consumers in the past.