TOP 10 REASONS TO BUY A MANUFACTURED HOME

There are many reasons to buy a manufactured home, but here are the Top 10 of those reasons. As you can see, a manufactured home makes a smart choice in today’s market.

Lowest cost per square foot In a world in which traditional stick-built homes cost around $100 to $200 per foot, manufactured homes only average about $15 to $30 per square foot. That is a HUGE different – the manufactured home costs roughly 85% less! This one benefit alone should be all that it takes to convince you that manufactured homes are the way to go. Think of what you can do with the $100,000+ you are saving. Higher quality thanks to factory controls All of the pieces in the manufactured home are controlled and tested, in a way that traditional homes are not. In addition, they are assembled under ideal conditions in a factory, as opposed to sloppy methods in the rain out in the field, with sporadic supervision. Little wasted space What’s missing in the manufactured home? Nothing – just a lot of wasted space. Traditional homes have bigger hallways and more wasted space in the common areas. Why pay for the parts of the house that you don’t use? Low maintenance Manufactured homes are designed to be relatively problem free.  They contain a minimum of items that will break down on you, such as only one zone of air-conditioning and heating. All of the utility lines run in one central canal, so they are not affected by settling – and there’s no foundation to break. Low repair costs It costs only pennies to make repairs to a manufactured home compared to a stick-built. Here’s just a few examples: the roof, the foundation, water line leaks, electrical system shorts.  Each of these items would require gigantic costs in a traditional stick-built home, but cost maybe 90% less with a manufactured home. When things break in a manufactured home, it’s not a time of wondering how to pay your bills or starting to cry – you know it won’t be that much to repair. Immediate delivery When you want to get a custom home, it can take months from your order to delivery of the house. But with a manufactured home, the delivery time is days or weeks. That’s because building a home in a factory is so much more efficient, and does not depend on such factors as the weather.   No unhappy surprises There’s no greater certainty then buying something that you can see, touch and feel. And when you buy a manufactured home that has not yet been built, you are able to walk through the exact model you will be purchasing. When you order a new stick-built home to be built, you have absolutely no idea how it will end up looking, and the end result is often not want you wanted at all. And the return policy on the stick-built home? None. Would you buy a car you could not test drive first? You can go to a dealer for Clayton, Fleetwood, and other manufacturers in one afternoon. Freedom of choice and bidding When you buy a manufactured home, you have the freedom to choose between a number of different manufacturers and often compare their bids. Stick-built homes are not nearly so easy to compare and negotiate, and you have no choice of what builder can be on your lot – you can only choose between different subdivisions, not builders. Low utility costs Because manufactured homes have less wasted space than stick-built homes, they deliver the square footage you need in a compact size. One of the key benefits is lower heating and cooling costs. This extra monthly savings can be applied to your mortgage payment or things you’d rather spend your money on. Lifestyle Manufactured homes offer a carefree lifestyle that allows you to focus your time on what you like to do, rather than be a slave to your home and property. The “country” setting of most manufactured home communities is like being on vacation 24/7, and the homes are low maintenance. For many people – even more than the low cost – the lifestyle is the biggest selling point. Conclusion Each of these Top 10 reasons is a powerful enough argument to make you want to buy a manufactured home. But when added together, the choice is clear. Manufactured homes offer the best selection for your money, time and happiness.  By Frank Rolfe Frank Rolfe is a mobile home park investor and owns over 100 parks with his partner Dave Reynolds. Frank also leads regular Mobile Home Park Investing Bootcamps through the MobileHomeUniversity.com.