After years of elevated real estate prices, mortgage rates, and rents, the housing affordability crisis in the U.S. is more apparent than ever. Policymakers, economic experts, and everyday households continue to search for solutions to ease the financial burden of securing housing. One option gaining renewed attention is manufactured housing.
Manufactured housing includes homes that are prefabricated in a factory and then transported to their final locations. Due to their simplified designs and more cost-effective materials, manufactured homes are often significantly less expensive to produce than site-built homes. According to a recent report from the Manufactured Housing Institute, the average cost per square foot of a manufactured home is $87—nearly half the $166 per square foot cost of a traditional site-built home.
kAm%9:D 277@C523:=:EJ >2<6D >2?F724EFC65 9@FD:?8 2? :?4C62D:?8=J 2EEC24E:G6 @AE:@? 7@C =@H6C\ 2?5 >:55=6\:?4@>6 72>:=:6D] %@52J[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]>2?F724EFC659@FD:?8]@C8^9@>6^C6D62C49\52E2^Qm>@C6 E92? aa >:==:@? p>6C:42?Dk^2m =:G6 :? >2?F724EFC65 9@>6D[ H9:49 244@F?E 7@C 23@FE @?6 :? 6G6CJ `_ ?6H 9@>6D 3F:=E ?2E:@?H:56 6249 J62C] x? 255:E:@? E@ E96:C =@H6C 4@DE[ >2?F724EFC65 9@>6D 92G6 :>AC@G65 :? BF2=:EJ @G6C E:>6[ @776C:?8 36EE6C >2E6C:2=D[ 6?6C8J 677:4:6?4J[ 2?5 >@C6 2AA62=:?8 56D:8?D]k^Am
kAm%@ 36EE6C F?56CDE2?5 E96 C@=6 @7 >2?F724EFC65 9@FD:?8 :? 255C6DD:?8 E96 &]$] 9@FD:?8 4C:D:D[ C6D62C496CD 2E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^4@?DECF4E:@?4@G6C286]4@>^Qmr@?DECF4E:@? r@G6C286k^2m—2 C6D@FC46 E92E EC24<D EC6?5D D92A:?8 E96 4@?DECF4E:@? :?5FDECJ—2?2=JK65 E96 =2E6DE r6?DFD qFC62F 52E2] %96 DEF5J 6I2>:?6D 9@H E96 A@AF=2C:EJ @7 >2?F724EFC65 9@FD:?8 92D 492?865 @G6C E:>6[ 9@H :ED 4@DED 4@>A2C6 E@ EC25:E:@?2= D:?8=6\72>:=J 9@>6D[ 2?5 H9:49 DE2E6D 2C6 :?G6DE:?8 >@DE 962G:=J :? E9:D EJA6 @7 9@FD:?8]k^Am
kAmw6C6 2C6 D@>6 @7 E96 <6J 7:?5:?8Dik^Am
kF=mk=:mkDEC@?8m|2?F724EFC65 9@>6 AC@5F4E:@? :D C63@F?5:?8ik^DEC@?8m p7E6C 72==:?8 D92CA=J :? a_ab[ D9:A>6?ED @7 >2?F724EFC65 9@>6D :?4C62D65 E@ `_b[b__ F?:ED :? a_ac] pD @7 >:5\a_ad[ E96 2??F2= D9:A>6?E C2E6 925 4=:>365 E@ `_e[___—:?5:42E:?8 2 72DE6C C64@G6CJ E92? E96 3C@256C D:E6\3F:=E 9@FD:?8 >2C<6E]k^=:mk=:mkDEC@?8m|2?F724EFC65 9@>6D C6>2:? D:8?:7:42?E=J >@C6 277@C523=6ik^DEC@?8m x? a_ac[ E96 2G6C286 >2?F724EFC65 9@>6 D@=5 7@C S`ab[b__[ H9:=6 E96 >65:2? D:?8=6\72>:=J 9@>6 G2=F6 C624965 Sbef[aga] s6DA:E6 C:D:?8 AC:46D :? 3@E9 D68>6?ED[ >2?F724EFC65 9@>6D C6>2:? 23@FE eeT =6DD 6IA6?D:G6—E9@F89 E96 4@>A2C:D@? 6I4=F56D =2?5 G2=F6]k^=:mk=:mkDEC@?8m%96 $@FE9 =625D :? >2?F724EFC65 9@FD:?8 :?G6DE>6?Eik^DEC@?8m $@FE96C? DE2E6D =:<6 %6I2D[ u=@C:52[ 2?5 }@CE9 r2C@=:?2 925 E96 9:896DE E@E2= D9:A>6?ED :? a_ac[ H9:=6 DE2E6D =:<6 |:DD:DD:AA:[ z6?EF4<J[ 2?5 {@F:D:2?2 925 E96 9:896DE D92C6 @7 >2?F724EFC65 9@>6D 2>@?8 ?6H D:?8=6\72>:=J 9@FD:?8—@7E6? C67=64E:?8 =@H6C :?4@>6 =6G6=D 2?5 277@C523:=:EJ ?665D]k^=:mk=:mkDEC@?8m!@=:4J D9:7ED >2J 36 DFAA@CE:?8 8C@HE9ik^DEC@?8m %96 C646?E FAE:4< :? >2?F724EFC65 9@>6 D9:A>6?ED >2J 36 5C:G6? 3J 62D:?8 :?7=2E:@?[ 4@?E:?F65 4@?DF>6C 56>2?5 7@C 277@C523=6 9@FD:?8[ 2?5 DE2E6 2?5 =@42= A@=:4J 492?86D E92E 92G6 62D65 K@?:?8 C6DEC:4E:@?D 2?5 6?4@FC2865 724E@CJ\3F:=E 9@FD:?8 56G6=@A>6?E]k^=:mk^F=m
k9bmw@H |2?J |2?F724EFC65 w@>6D pC6 qF:=E :? E96 &]$] t249 *62Cnk^9bm
kAmk6>mu24E@C:6D D9:AA65 `_b[b__ ?6H >2?F724EFC65 9@>6D :? a_ac[ FA 7C@> gh[`eh E96 J62C AC:@Ck^6>mk^Am
k7:8FC6mk:>8 H:5E9lQ`__TQ DC4lQ9EEADi^^5`IfB;dC=9a6`h]4=@F57C@?E]?6E^HA\4@?E6?E^FA=@25D^a_ad^_h^_b_gdbac^r92CE`0w@H\|2?J\|2?F724EFC65\w@>6D\pC6\qF:=E\:?\E96\&]$]\t249\*62C0]A?8Q ^mk^7:8FC6m
kAm$@FC46i r@?DECF4E:@? r@G6C286 2?2=JD:D @7 &]$] r6?DFD qFC62F 52E2 M x>286 rC65:Ei r@?DECF4E:@? r@G6C286k^Am
kAm|2?F724EFC65 9@>6 AC@5F4E:@? :? E96 &]$] 92D 6IA6C:6?465 D:8?:7:42?E 7=F4EF2E:@?D @G6C E96 A2DE 564256[ C67=64E:?8 3C@256C 64@?@>:4 4@?5:E:@?D] p7E6C 72==:?8 D92CA=J :? E96 62C=J >@?E9D @7 E96 r~'xs\`h A2?56>:4[ D9:A>6?ED C63@F?565 C2A:5=J[ A62<:?8 2E 2? 2??F2= C2E6 @7 2AAC@I:>2E6=J `aa[___ F?:ED :? |2C49 a_aa] %9:D >2C<65 2 >@C6 E92? EH@7@=5 :?4C62D6 7C@> E96 62C=J a_`_D[ H96? 2??F2=:K65 D9:A>6?E C2E6D C68F=2C=J 9@G6C65 36=@H e_[___]k^Am
kAmw@H6G6C[ E92E >@>6?EF> H2D D9@CE\=:G65] pD :?7=2E:@? 2446=6C2E65 2?5 >@CE8286 :?E6C6DE C2E6D 4=:>365 E@ >F=E:\564256 9:89D :? =2E6 a_aa 2?5 :?E@ a_ab[ 56>2?5 7@C 9@FD:?8 D@7E6?65 3C@25=J] |2?F724EFC65 9@>6 D9:A>6?ED 76== D92CA=J 5FC:?8 E9:D A6C:@5[ 564=:?:?8 3J ?62C=J @?6\E9:C5 3J |2C49 a_ab 4@>A2C65 E@ E96 AC6G:@FD J62C] %9:D 5@H?EFC? >:CC@C65 2 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^4@?DECF4E:@?4@G6C286]4@>^52E2^FD\4@?DECF4E:@?\DA6?5:?8TabAC:G2E6\9@FD:?8\DE2CEDQmDE66A 5C@A :? EC25:E:@?2= D:E6\3F:=E 9@FD:?8 DE2CEDk^2m[ H9:49 2=D@ 4@?EC24E65 D:8?:7:42?E=J 2>:5 E:89E6C 7:?2?4:2= 4@?5:E:@?D]k^Am
kAm#646?E 52E2 DF886DED E96 >2?F724EFC65 9@FD:?8 >2C<6E :D DE23:=:K:?8—2?5 6G6? C64@G6C:?8—72DE6C E92? E96 3C@256C 9@FD:?8 D64E@C] u24E@C:6D D9:AA65 2AAC@I:>2E6=J `_b[b__ ?6H >2?F724EFC65 9@>6D :? a_ac[ FA 7C@> gh[`eh :? a_ab] qJ |2J a_ad[ E96 2??F2= D9:A>6?E C2E6 925 4=:>365 E@ 2C@F?5 `_e[___—DE:== 23@FE `bT 36=@H E96 |2C49 a_aa A62<[ 3FE 2 4=62C C63@F?5 7C@> E96 =@HD @7 62C=J a_ab] x? 4@?EC2DE[ D:E6\3F:=E 9@FD:?8 DE2CED 92G6 C6>2:?65 =@H] %96 C6=2E:G6 DEC6?8E9 :? >2?F724EFC65 9@FD:?8 >2J C67=64E 62D:?8 :?7=2E:@?[ DFDE2:?65 4@?DF>6C :?E6C6DE :? 277@C523=6 9@>6@H?6CD9:A[ 2?5 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]4D8]@C8^a_ac^_d^b_^DE2E6D\=@@D6?\>2?F724EFC65\9@FD:?8\C6DEC:4E:@?D\a^QmC646?E A@=:4J 492?86Dk^2m 2E E96 DE2E6 2?5 =@42= =6G6= E92E 92G6 6IA2?565 @AA@CEF?:E:6D 7@C >2?F724EFC65 9@>6 56G6=@A>6?E]k^Am
k9bm|2?F724EFC65 GD] $:E6\qF:=E w@FD:?8 r@DEDk^9bm
kAmk6>mx? a_ac[ >2?F724EFC65 9@>6D D@=5 7@C eeT =6DD E92? 2== D:?8=6\72>:=J 9@>6Dk^6>mk^Am
k7:8FC6mk:>8 H:5E9lQ`__TQ DC4lQ9EEADi^^5`IfB;dC=9a6`h]4=@F57C@?E]?6E^HA\4@?E6?E^FA=@25D^a_ad^_h^_b_gdbab^r92CEa0|2?F724EFC65\GD]\$:E6\qF:=E\w@FD:?8\r@DED]A?8Q ^mk^7:8FC6m
kAm$@FC46i r@?DECF4E:@? r@G6C286 2?2=JD:D @7 &]$] r6?DFD qFC62F 2?5 +:==@H 52E2 M x>286 rC65:Ei r@?DECF4E:@? r@G6C286k^Am
kAm%96 2G6C286 D2=6 AC:46 @7 2 >2?F724EFC65 9@>6 :? a_ac H2D S`ab[b__[ H9:=6 E96 >65:2? G2=F6 @7 2 D:?8=6\72>:=J 9@>6 H2D Sbef[aga[ 244@C5:?8 E@ +:==@H] xE’D :>A@CE2?E E@ ?@E6 E92E E96 >2?F724EFC65 9@>6 AC:46 C67=64ED E96 4@DE @7 E96 9@>6 :ED6=7 2?5 6I4=F56D E96 G2=F6 @7 =2?5[ H96C62D E96 D:?8=6\72>:=J 9@>6 7:8FC6—32D65 @? E96 +:==@H w@>6 '2=F6 x?56I W+w'xX—:?4=F56D 3@E9 E96 9@>6 2?5 E96 =2?5] s6DA:E6 E9:D 5:DE:?4E:@?[ E96 52E2 9:89=:89ED E96 D:8?:7:42?E 277@C523:=:EJ 25G2?E286 @7 >2?F724EFC65 9@FD:?8]k^Am
kAm(9:=6 >2?F724EFC65 9@>6D 4@?E:?F6 E@ @776C 2 =@H6C\4@DE 2=E6C?2E:G6 E@ D:E6\3F:=E 9@FD:?8[ C:D:?8 56>2?5 92D AFD965 AC:46D 9:896C :? 3@E9 D68>6?ED] $:?46 a_`c[ E96 2G6C286 AC:46 @7 2 >2?F724EFC65 9@>6 92D :?4C62D65 3J fe]bT[ H9:=6 D:?8=6\72>:=J 9@>6 G2=F6D 92G6 DFC865 3J `_d]cT] |@DE @7 E9:D 8C@HE9 @44FCC65 5FC:?8 a_a_ 2?5 a_a`[ 7F6=65 3J =@H :?E6C6DE C2E6D 2?5 :?E6?D6 9@FD:?8 56>2?5] p=E9@F89 AC:46D 7@C 3@E9 EJA6D @7 9@>6D =6G6=65 @77 :? a_aa 2>:5 C:D:?8 :?E6C6DE C2E6D[ D:?8=6\72>:=J 9@>6 G2=F6D 92G6 4@?E:?F65 E@ 4=:>3[ H9:=6 >2?F724EFC65 9@>6 AC:46D 92G6 DE23:=:K65—H:56?:?8 E96 4@DE 82A 6G6? 7FCE96C]k^Am
k9bm|2?F724EFC65 w@FD:?8 $9:A>6?ED 3J $E2E6k^9bm
kAmk6>m|2?F724EFC65 9@FD:?8 :D >@DE A@AF=2C :? E96 $@FE9[ 244@F?E:?8 7@C >@C6 E92? b_T @7 ?6H 9@FD:?8 DE@4< :? 46CE2:? DE2E6Dk^6>mk^Am
k7:8FC6mk:>8 H:5E9lQ`__TQ DC4lQ9EEADi^^5`IfB;dC=9a6`h]4=@F57C@?E]?6E^HA\4@?E6?E^FA=@25D^a_ad^_h^_b_gdb`g^r92CEb0|2?F724EFC65\w@FD:?8\$9:A>6?ED\3J\$E2E6]A?8Q ^mk^7:8FC6m
kAm$@FC46i r@?DECF4E:@? r@G6C286 2?2=JD:D @7 &]$] r6?DFD qFC62F 52E2 M x>286 rC65:Ei r@?DECF4E:@? r@G6C286k^Am
kAm|2?F724EFC65 9@FD:?8 G2C:6D :? A@AF=2C:EJ 24C@DD E96 &]$][ 3FE E96 $@FE9 DE2?5D @FE 7@C :ED 277:?:EJ 7@C >2?F724EFC65 9@>6D] w:89\8C@HE9[ 9:89\A@AF=2E:@? DE2E6D =:<6 %6I2D W`g[bcb D9:A>6?ED :? a_acX[ u=@C:52 Wf[c_dX[ 2?5 }@CE9 r2C@=:?2 We[fegX =625 E96 ?2E:@? :? E@E2= D9:A>6?ED[ C67=64E:?8 3@E9 A@AF=2E:@? AC6DDFC6D 2?5 2 72G@C23=6 C68F=2E@CJ 4=:>2E6 7@C 724E@CJ\3F:=E 9@FD:?8]k^Am
kAmw@H6G6C[ H96? =@@<:?8 2E >2?F724EFC65 9@>6D 2D 2 D92C6 @7 2== ?6H D:?8=6\72>:=J 9@FD:?8[ E96 E@A DE2E6D E6?5 E@ 36 =@H6C\:?4@>6 2?5 >@C6 CFC2=] |:DD:DD:AA: Wbc]bTX[ z6?EF4<J Wb`]eTX[ {@F:D:2?2 Wb_]cTX[ 2?5 (6DE ':C8:?:2 Wad]gTX 2== C2?< 2E E96 E@A 3J E9:D >62DFC6[ DF886DE:?8 E92E 277@C523:=:EJ A=2JD 2 =2C86C C@=6 :? E96D6 >2C<6ED] x? E96D6 DE2E6D[ >2?F724EFC65 9@FD:?8 D6CG6D 2D 2 4C:E:42= 2=E6C?2E:G6 7@C C6D:56?ED AC:465 @FE @7 4@?G6?E:@?2= D:E6\3F:=E 9@>6D]k^Am
kAmp=232>2 :D 2 ?@E23=6 42D6[ C2?<:?8 7@FCE9 :? E@E2= D9:A>6?ED 2?5 7:7E9 :? D92C6[ >2<:?8 :E @?6 @7 E96 76H DE2E6D E92E A6C7@C>D 9:89=J @? 3@E9 >6EC:4D] |2?J @7 E96 DE2E6D H:E9 E96 9:896DE D92C6D @7 >2?F724EFC65 9@FD:?8 2=D@ C2?< ?62C E96 3@EE@> :? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^4@?DECF4E:@?4@G6C286]4@>^C6D62C49^4:E:6D\:?G6DE:?8\>@DE\:?\?6H\9@FD:?8Qm@G6C2== 9@FD:?8 4@?DECF4E:@?k^2m[ 9:89=:89E:?8 E96 C@=6 >2?F724EFC65 9@>6D A=2J :? DFAA=6>6?E:?8 =:>:E65 EC25:E:@?2= 9@FD:?8 DFAA=J]k^Am
kAmw6C6 :D 2 DF>>2CJ @7 E96 52E2 7@C |2:?6ik^Am
kF=mk=:mkDEC@?8m|2?F724EFC65 9@>6D 2D 2 D92C6 @7 2== ?6H D:?8=6\72>:=J 9@>6Dik^DEC@?8m `d]aTk^=:mk=:mkDEC@?8m%@E2= >2?F724EFC65 9@>6 D9:A>6?EDik^DEC@?8m gbdk^=:mk=:mkDEC@?8m%@E2= D:E6\3F:=E D:?8=6\72>:=J 9@>6 A6C>:EDik^DEC@?8m c[ed_k^=:mk=:mkDEC@?8mpG6C286 D2=6 AC:46 @7 >2?F724EFC65 9@>6Dik^DEC@?8m S`bc[h__k^=:mk=:mkDEC@?8m|65:2? AC:46 24C@DD 2== D:?8=6\72>:=J 9@>6Dik^DEC@?8m Sc_f[cfek^=:mk^F=m
kAmu@C C676C6?46[ 96C6 2C6 E96 DE2E:DE:4D 7@C E96 6?E:C6 &?:E65 $E2E6Dik^Am
kF=mk=:mkDEC@?8m|2?F724EFC65 9@>6D 2D 2 D92C6 @7 2== ?6H D:?8=6\72>:=J 9@>6Dik^DEC@?8m h]dTk^=:mk=:mkDEC@?8m%@E2= >2?F724EFC65 9@>6 D9:A>6?EDik^DEC@?8m `_b[b__k^=:mk=:mkDEC@?8m%@E2= D:E6\3F:=E D:?8=6\72>:=J 9@>6 A6C>:EDik^DEC@?8m hgc[f__k^=:mk=:mkDEC@?8mpG6C286 D2=6 AC:46 @7 >2?F724EFC65 9@>6Dik^DEC@?8m S`ab[b__k^=:mk=:mkDEC@?8m|65:2? AC:46 24C@DD 2== D:?8=6\72>:=J 9@>6Dik^DEC@?8m Sbef[agak^=:mk^F=m
kAmu@C >@C6 :?7@C>2E:@?[ 2 56E2:=65 >6E9@5@=@8J[ 2?5 4@>A=6E6 C6DF=ED[ D66 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^4@?DECF4E:@?4@G6C286]4@>^C6D62C49^DE2E6D\:?G6DE:?8\>@DE\:?\>2?F724EFC65\9@FD:?8Qm&]$] $E2E6D x?G6DE:?8 |@DE :? |2?F724EFC65 w@FD:?8k^2m @? r@?DECF4E:@? r@G6C286]k^Am
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.