Manufactured Homes
Today’s Manufactured Home Has Come a Long Way
Manufactured housing has changed dramatically over the past several generations.
The industry grew from the trailers and mobile homes that became popular in the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s. As these homes became larger and were increasingly used as permanent residences, the need for consistent nationwide construction and safety standards became clear.
In 1974, Congress passed the National Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards Act. The federal construction standards that followed—commonly known as the HUD Code, went into effect on June 15, 1976. Homes built under those federal standards became what we know today as manufactured homes.
Built to a National Building Standard
Unlike a conventional site-built or modular home, a manufactured home is constructed to the federal HUD Code rather than the building code used for conventional construction at its final location.
The home is built in a controlled factory environment on a permanent steel chassis that remains part of the home. Its design, construction systems and quality-control procedures must comply with HUD requirements, and each transportable section of a completed home receives a HUD certification label.
That nationally standardized system is one of the things that makes manufactured housing different.
How Manufactured Homes Help Control the Cost
Manufactured homes are generally offered through established floor plans and manufacturer-designed packages, with a selection of available features, finishes and options.
That may provide less design flexibility than a modular or custom site-built home, but there is an important advantage: efficiency.
Manufacturers can build homes repeatedly in a factory environment, purchase materials in volume, standardize construction methods and offer carefully selected options rather than redesigning every home from the ground up.
Those efficiencies help manufacturers control construction costs and are an important reason manufactured housing continues to provide an affordable path to new-home ownership.
More Choices Than Many Buyers Expect
Today’s manufactured homes are a long way from the “trailers” many people still picture when they hear the term.
Modern multi-section manufactured homes can offer spacious floor plans, attractive kitchens, large primary suites, modern exterior designs and many of the features buyers expect in a new home.
The key is finding the right manufacturer, floor plan and available options for what you want to accomplish.
Is a Manufactured Home Right for You?
That depends on more than the house itself.
Where you plan to place the home, your budget, the floor plan you need, the features you want, financing, site requirements and the manufacturer’s available options can all influence the decision.
You don’t have to figure that out before you walk through our door.
Tell Harvest Homes what you’re trying to accomplish. We’ll help you understand your choices and determine whether a manufactured home—and which manufacturer—makes sense for you.
