A mobile house is a prefabricated building constructed in a factory and then relocated to its final location on a permanently linked chassis.
It originated from the travel trailer, such as those from Southern Trailer Depot enclosed cargo trailers, is a compact vehicle with wheels permanently attached that was frequently used for camping and long-distance travel. In its early years, it was sometimes referred to as “home trailers” or “trailer coaches.”
This form of housing was originally chosen because of its mobility. Purchasing a “mobile home” instead of a traditional stick-built house has several benefits, but there are drawbacks as well.
Consider the advantages and disadvantages of buying a mobile home to ensure your choice aligns with your financial and housing objectives.
Features Of A Mobile Home
Mobile houses, commonly referred to as “manufactured homes,” are constructed in factories and mounted on trailer chassis so they can be transported.
Sometimes, mobile homes are positioned in a mobile home park or rented property. In some situations, the owner owns the mobile home but rents or leases the land.
Mobile homeowners can also put their units on land they already own or are under contract to purchase.
Advantages Of Having A Mobile Home
One benefit of mobile homes is that they frequently cost less than having a stick-built home designed for you. Mobile homes can facilitate homeownership in this aspect.
Additionally, you can obtain more space for your money because mobile homes often cost less per square foot than stick-built homes.
Some stick-built home builders offer pre-set floor plans and customization choices that enable them to build homes at costs comparable to mobile homes.
Whether you prefer a stick-built home, you might find out if one is available in your neighborhood so you can compare the construction’s quality to that of a more recent mobile home.
The flexibility of mobile homes may be another benefit. One can use a Mobile home if they have land and are unsure about their future ownership plans. One can also keep their finances in check with a mobile home.
Mobile homes are easier to transport than stick-built homes, even though they are difficult to move once set up. A stick-built house is essentially permanent once it is constructed.
Mobile homes also have the benefit of often being constructed in controlled surroundings. They can therefore be routinely built to a high standard.
Additionally, building delays brought on by inclement weather or a lack of subcontractors are less likely because they are produced under these circumstances.
Disadvantages Of Having A Mobile Home
Purchasing a mobile home has the drawback of a rapid value decline. Mobile homes lose value soon after leaving the factory, like new cars. On the other hand, because the owner of a stick-built home almost invariably also owns the underlying land, stick-built homes typically increase in value over time.
The value of the land and mobile home may rise over time for a person who owns both, but it is most likely due to the rising value of the underlying land and not the mobile home.
Mobile houses are considered personal property rather than real estate, contributing to their value depreciation. Land and everything permanently affixed to it are “real property.” Real property does not include anything we can take away without “damaging ” the land.
In contrast, anything mobile and not the actual property is referred to as personal property. One can also convert their mobile phone to a permanent home with some steps. On the other hand, stick-built homes are regarded as a real estate component.
Mobile homes are difficult to resell, particularly when they are situated in a mobile home park. Finding a buyer for a mobile home can be difficult because they are often immovable once put up unless the buyer wishes to keep it there. Moving a mobile home might cost several thousand dollars.
However, despite major improvements in mobile home building quality, a negative perception of mobile home ownership may deter some potential buyers.
Mobile homes are typically built on temporary foundations, as opposed to stick-built homes, which are built on permanent foundations, is a final drawback. Mobile homes could be more vulnerable to destruction during a big storm or earthquake.
A modern mobile home is an excellent, affordable substitute for a stick-built home. You should take into account the fact that they have some drawbacks compared to stick-built homes.
Research is a must because there are numerous variables to consider, including expenses, rules that affect the value of mobile homes, and inexpensive stick-built alternatives.
Conclusion
One can purchase a mobile house for less money than a single-family residence. In August 2020, on average a trailer home costs $88,200, whereas the average sale price of a home was $394,900 in December 2020.
And for Americans who want to finance their own homes, modular housing is a good choice. A single-family site-built home can cost as much as $272,200, while a manufactured home can cost as little as $62,600 [source: U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Census Bureau]. Over 17 million Americans reside in mobile homes.
For people living in manufactured homes, the typical yearly household income in 2009 was $30,000 [source: CFED]. Manufactured homes make up 43% of all new homes sold for less than $150,000 in 2009. Additionally, manufactured homes represented 23% of recent home sales under $200,000.