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[River Song]

The first photo is a mobile home/manufactured home.  The second is a photo of a recreational vehicle (RV) because it has wheels and a trailer hitch (what I think of as a trailer).

[on the bay]

I guess they are called different things nowadays.

The second photo was listed as a mobile home. 

I remember visiting a couple in their mobile home and it looked like this.

I've also been in RV's. Anyway it doesn't matter just that it seems true manufactured homes can be many things and many different sizes not at all claustrophobic.

[ECBG]

@on the bay 

I totally know where you are coming from.

The top picture is a manufactured home (same as mobile home).

The manufactured home is in a "manufactured home community" which I visited as part of a project.  They all required to have the skirting as pictured and keep up their lots (yards).

The streets have names and it is an organized neighboorhood.

Manufactured homes have come very far and many are very fancy.  People can get bank loans on them, but the resale value isn't there like a "stick built" house and they aren't as safe in a hurricane.

[Zhills]

The resale value of nice manufactured (mobile) homes set up in communities are holding!

Most communities are set up just like site built homes.

[RedTop]

@on the bay 

Where I'm from, the pictures you've posted are called a manufactured home, and a travel trailer.  

A single wide mobile home is usually 14 x 70 ft, with pull hitch and axles/tires removed, and set up in a park or private lot, with underpinning.   

[Foxxee]

@qualitygal 

Do you want a mobile or manufactured home?  There's a big difference.  Manufactured homes are similar to modular homes that are placed on the lot in sections. 

This is a mobile home.

Manufactured home.

I never lived in either one, but have been in a few  manufactured sample homes.

There is an over 55 development a few miles from me selling houses averaging around $150,000, but it depends on the size and upgrades.  Larger houses around $170,000.  Nosy me went into samples around 2 years ago.  I was very surprised at how nice they are.

They look like stick houses built from the ground up.  Only difference is they are made in a large manufacturing facility that saves on costs to build.  

Those I have been in were beautiful, and laid out like a one story house.  

One had 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, LR, DR, FR, kitchen, breakfast room, laundry room, 4-seasons room, and two car garage.  This one was 2200 square feet excluding the garage.

I spoke to the office manager to find out more.  The exterior walls are made exactly like stick houses using wood. They have to be made well to withstand the trip on a truck from the manufacturer to the lot.  The quality of the inside depends on how much the buyer wants to spend on upgrades.

All underground wiring.  

Houses must be built to meet city building codes.

They are made to withstand 100 mile winds, but can be made for hurricane protection for higher winds.  In my area 50-60 wind gusts are rare. They are attached to 6-8 foot deep concrete pillars in the ground, so high winds aren't going to lift it up.  Those you see in hurricanes blowing away are just sitting on the ground.  

The development itself is nicer than many other developments with stick houses.  Lots are larger than most of this kind, so houses are not real close together.  I was impressed.  Curbs, sidewalks, concrete driveways.  Houses are nicely landscaped, with shrubs around them, and trees.  There is a community center.  

From what I know, their value in this development has increased.  Ownership titles as in vehicles are given, not deeds, so they usually depreciate over time like cars; however, these houses are not.  

Also, find out who is living there?  You don't want riff raff causing all kinds of grief.  I'd talk to a few homeowners.  

In this development, I found out a retired doctor, several engineers, pharmacist, school teachers, and small business owners live there.  That was very surprising.

Where you save the most money is not buying the land upfront with your house, but paying rent over time pays for that land that you'll never own and property taxes on the land to the landowner.  

Would I buy one?  No.  I don't like the idea of paying rent on the land.  I also don't like having a landlord setting rules on what I can do, so if you do decide to buy one, make sure you ask about the landowner. I also don't like the idea homeowners can be asked to leave after three warnings, as it is in this development.  In some cases, that's great, others not.  

[GabbyAnn]

I do live in a manufactured home. A doublewide as they are known.  It has it's pros and cons.  When we bought ours it was much less expensive than a site built home. We have a 3 bedroom 2 bathroom with separate dining room & also separate laundry/utility room.  We have had 2 porches build the front one being concrete with a nice swing and set of matching rocking chairs.  We did replace the roof but only after 20 plus years of owning this home.  When we bought it new it had a warrany on the roof, siding, appliances and so on.  LIke any new home.  All & all we have been comfortable, raised our daughter and it's home to us. We take pride in taking care of it and maintaining it.  We have put down new flooring and a few other things.  

The biggest thing to remember; they do deppreciate in value.  But I don't intend to sale.  Also insurance can be hard to get on an older one.  Ours is on a block foundation.  It's here to stay.  My insurance agent said they had to meet certain standards as far as sustaining wind damage, and I've had no problems and we've seem a lot of storms.  If mine was destoryed by fire or whatever, I'd have no hesitation in going the route of manufactured home again.  I know they're not for everyone. but I've been well satisfied.

[qualitygal]

Thanks to all for the responses.  We discussed this idea we had and decided not to go that route.  We did visit someone lately and they have a lovely home (double wide).  So, for us, and a possible idea we had, we changed our thoughts on it.  

Good to know all this info though and loved the explanation and sharing from all of you.  The pictures were really nice too.  Thanks again.

[Puppy Lips]

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@gidgetgh wrote:

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@Puppy Lips wrote:

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@gidgetgh wrote:

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@Puppy Lips wrote:

There is a mobile home park about 1/2 mile from my very nice neighborhood.  It has been there for a long time.

Personally, I don't think I could ever live full time in a mobile home.  Heck, I don't even want to vacation in any kind of mobile home or trailer.  I would just get too clausterphobic.  I need space.  I need to go to other rooms.  But that is just me.

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@Puppy Lips - Uh.... a mobile home, or manufactured house has, multiple rooms.  Kitchens, bathrooms, living room, bedrooms. 

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@gidgetgh Yes, I suppose. But the post was about a mobile home.  It can't be too big if it is actually mobile.  My in laws had a motor home when I was dating my now husband.  I went on a few trips with them and quickly decided that that was not something I wanted to ever do as an adult.  My daughter in law grew up in a very small house and I felt very claustrophobic in there.  I guess it is all what you are used to.

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@Puppy Lips - there is no "I suppose". A mobile home, or manufactured house, has separate rooms.  Double wides can be quite large and there are even triple wides and modular homes that fit the category. These are not RV's or motor homes you hook up to be the back of your vehicle and take around. They are multi room homes.  

A motor home is not the same thing as a mobile home.

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@gidgetgh Well duh.  I know a mobile home is not the same as a motor home.  But is not a mobile home mobile?  How big can they be if they are built somewhere else and then moved?  I was just commenting to the OP that I would not be comfortable living in a mobile home, no matter how big it is.

[Zhills]

Manufactured homes can be moved in 1, 2, or 3 sections and connected on site.  Some are quite large, beautiful and expensive!  

Most Double wides and Triple wides are manufactured homes....mobile home is just easier to say!  Google it!

"The Difference Between Mobile and Manufactured Homes

The only difference between the two types of homes is the date they were built. According to HUD, a factory-built home prior to June 15, 1976 is a mobile home and one built after June 15, 1976 is a manufactured home."

They are built on large "beams" that can be connected to a "hitch" and moved with the right truck.  I know, any home can be moved...but not as easy as a mobile on beams.