More and more people are shifting from living in traditional houses to moving into manufactured homes. The benefits of mobile home living can be seen in the proliferation of mobile home parks. If you look around closely, chances are you have a manufactured home community in your neighborhood. Affordable housing is an important part of urban development and one area where there has been a massive interest and growth is in mobile or manufactured homes. One particular type of mobile home, also known as a manufactured home, is the double-wide mobile home. Its affordability, durability, and practicality are reasons why more and more people are looking into the average sales price of mobile homes. This article discusses the types of mobile homes, the benefits of double-wide mobile homes, the cost, and other relevant information about mobile or manufactured homes.
Types of Mobile Homes
Mobile or manufactured homes come in three sizes:
Single-Wide
The single-wide manufactured home is the smallest and obviously least expensive of the three. Typically, this small mobile home includes one to two bedrooms and one to two bathrooms and has a square footage area of about 500 to 1,200 square feet. Single-wide mobile homes generally measure 18 feet or less in width, 90 feet or less in length, and up to 9 feet in height, which is about half the size of today’s average site-built traditional house. Because a single-wide manufactured home fits within a highway lane, building one requires less on-site work.
Double-Wide
Most popular and in-demand these days is the double-wide manufactured home. These mobile homes are constructed and transported in two sections and then assembled on-site. Typically this mid-sized mobile home includes two to three bedrooms and two to three bathrooms. It may also have additional layout features such as separate dining rooms which you typically do not see in single-wide mobile homes. Because of its larger size, you have greater room for customization when it comes to both the interior and exterior. Double-wide manufactured homes cover between 1,000 and 2,300 square feet. Sizes may vary. They can be 8 to 16 feet wide, 42-60 feet long, and up to 9 feet in height which only covers the interior as exterior features such as covered parking and porch are not included in these specifications.
Triple-Wide/Multi-Wide
Also known as multi-wide, triple-wide manufactured homes may cover up to 4,500 square feet and 50 feet in length. Because the width may vary depending on the specific features of the structure, owners of triple-wide mobile homes will find greater possibilities for customization with at least three bedrooms and two bathrooms, probably more.
Among the three types of mobile homes, single-wide manufactured homes have the most trailer-like appearance, whereas double-wide and triple-wide manufactured homes have the appearance of standard site-built homes.
Add-ons and Customizations
Similar to a traditional house, a manufactured home may be customized with homeowners having the freedom to choose their cabinet finishes, plumbing fixtures, and flooring. Other options may include fully equipped kitchens, vaulted ceilings, walk-in closets, and luxurious bathrooms. Manufactured homes may have exterior customizations as well just like site-built homes. Exterior sidings can include wood or stucco, roofs can be pitched and enhanced by gabled ends and shingles or metal roofing. A good thing to remember is that cosmetic customizations will cost less than adding exterior features like a porch or a garage. Another option is extending or adding square footage which, however, may prove to be more expensive.
Double-Wide or Double-Section Home
As mentioned earlier, because they offer a practical and convenient balance between the less expensive single-wide homes and the more luxurious luxury multi-wide manufactured homes, double-wide mobile homes are now the most common and in-demand these days. They’re great start-ups for new home shoppers because they offer the best of both worlds. Because they only occupy a relatively reasonable amount of space, are affordable, and allow homeowners further upgrades and customizations, double-wide manufactured homes are perfect for couples and average-sized families.
The average size for a double wide is 2,000 to 2,500 square feet. They are at least 20 feet wide yet 90 feet or less in length. Typically, they have at least two bedrooms and two bathrooms and may also have entryways and dining rooms.
Double-wide manufactured homes are the same size as traditional on-site built homes and can therefore comfortably fit average-sized families.
Benefits of Double-wide Homes
As opposed to stick-built homes, where all materials are brought to the built site for construction, double-wide manufactured homes are built in factories in one or more parts and then transported and assembled on site. Their affordability and durability are making mobile homes attractive investment options. Here are some detailed benefits that manufactured homes offer.
Taxes are Lower.
Mobile home property taxes are not as high as on a site-built home. It is important to know that manufactured homes are classified as personal property. On the other hand, site-built homes are real estate properties that therefore have a higher taxed designation.
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Mobile Homes are Safe.
Because of the HUD Codes which were introduced to mobile homes in the 1970s, there have been fewer mobile home fires and more protection from natural disasters. In hurricane zones, for example, the standards for manufactured homes are even more stringent than regional and national building codes for site-built homes.
Quick to Build.
Because mobile or manufactured homes are built in factories, there is an assurance of the quality and efficiency to which they are constructed and designed. There also is no need to worry about delays because of inclement weather.
They’re Customizable.
Mobile homeowners have the freedom to customize both their interior living space and the exteriors without having to worry about the high price tag that normally new construction demands.
Affordable
Generally less expensive than stick-built homes of the same size, manufactured homes offer bigger savings than just the construction cost. They are often more energy efficient, making them less expensive to heat and cool. You have the option to purchase either a Used mobile home. Obviously, used homes offer greater savings. A buyer who finds a used mobile home that is already located on a lot or parcel of land will discover that this is even more beneficial and advantageous as there will be no longer any need to pay to transport the home and have it installed on the building site.
Environmentally Friendly
A double-wide mobile home tends to have a less negative impact on the environment. Because the building process is extremely efficient, less waste is produced in the process. A stick-built, on-site home construction requires additional building materials that are often tossed into a dumpster and end up in a landfill. This makes it too costly for builders to transport the scraps to another job site to put whatever is salvageable to use. On the contrary, because many mobile home units are built in the same location, it is easier to make use of most of the waste materials within the same location. Mobile homes are remarkably environmentally friendly because their energy efficiency is remarkably environmentally friendly.
Reliable Construction
Because they are factory-built, the construction of manufactured homes is never delayed because of bad weather. Exacting standards as well as a process of building the same mobile home unit over and over again allow mobile home manufacturers to have precise control over the construction.
Flexibility
One key quality that is hard to beat in a mobile or manufactured home is its flexibility. Manufactured homes are much easier to move than stick-built houses, thus giving the homeowner greater options when it comes to selling the property. The home and the land it sits on could be sold together, or the home could be sold on its own and transported to a new location.
Costs of Double-wide Homes
How much a double-wide manufactured home costs will depend on a number of factors. Location, local laws, and the availability of mobile or manufactured homes in the area where you live are also considerations you have to factor in when purchasing a mobile home. Here is a rundown of the major mobile home cost you are likely to encounter:
Size of The Home
Double-wide manufactured homes are twice the size of single-wide mobile homes with prices that are also roughly twice as high in most areas of the country.
In the Northeast, for example, a new single-wide would run about $74,400, while a double-wide would roughly cost around $138,700, according to the U.S. Census and the Federal Housing Authority.
A vital consideration is how much living space you and your family will really need. Looking at larger and more expensive models, the prices may become comparable to some site-built homes. So, it is always important to balance the other costs and logistical requirements of purchasing a manufactured home against buying something move-in ready.
Age of The Home
Square footage and the type and number of amenities you may want to include in your mobile home also determine its cost. A doublewide with a standard layout that is more or less 1,200 feet could run you $100,000 or less. However, a manufactured home that is closely similar to a site-built home with four bedrooms, two bathrooms, a large kitchen, and a living room could go as high, if not higher than, $200,000.
The price quotations above are for new models from the factory floor. A great option in getting a mobile or manufactured home is to consider a used or an older home. A manufactured home that’s in fairly good condition but may need some cosmetic upgrades can keep your home buying budget at a minimum and leaves funds available for upgrading appliances and fixtures once you’ve moved in.
Purchasing Land
One of the major attractions of purchasing a manufactured home is you can choose the land area, the terrain, and the features which is an option that obviously is available for on-site homes. However, should you decide to purchase the property on which your double-wide manufactured home stands, then the cost of land is the biggest added cost to the equation. A double-wide mobile home owner must also decide whether the mobile home will be on a permanent foundation or not.
An important thing to remember is the cost of land depends widely on the location, the zoning, and how much square footage or acreage you wish to purchase. You could get an acre or two for $10,000 or less in a rural area. On the contrary, a small plot of land in a city, a commercial, or a touristy area could cost you tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars.
A recent survey shows that a development impact fee in the state of California could range from $20,000-$30,000, while total development costs could equal $80,000, depending on the location, size, county, zoning and local laws, and other factors.
Fortunately, the mobile or manufactured home market offers several loan options that allow you to finance the purchase of both the manufactured home and the land in a single mortgage. Purchasing undeveloped land for the manufactured home may also require additional costs to have it cleared, have the driveway paved, and add other utility hook-ups to the property.
Let us use California as our benchmark in trying to determine the costs of getting a manufactured home. In California, water and sewer fees range from $5,000 to $10,000, while building permits range from $3,000 to $4,000. State law also may require school district fees and city fees that average $1,500 each, depending upon your location.
Never fail to do some serious research on all these fees in your area before buying your desired property or even the mobile home itself.
All having been considered, the national average cost of new manufactured homes shipped in December 2021 was $80,900 for a single-wide and $150,300 for a double-wide manufactured home. according to the US Census Bureau. With inflation on the upswing, these rates have most likely skyrocketed since the first quarter of 2022.
A mobile home compared to a site-built home has advantages that are indeed attractive. As the double-wide mobile home is the most popular and in-demand among mobile or manufactured homes, this article has tackled its costs, its average sales price, the property taxes involved, and benefits in recognition of a fast-growing manufactured home community.
Reliable Construction
Because they are factory-built, the construction of manufactured homes is never delayed because of bad weather. Exacting standards as well as a process of building the same mobile home unit over and over again allow mobile home manufacturers to have precise control over the construction.
Flexibility
One key quality that is hard to beat in a mobile or manufactured home is its flexibility. Manufactured homes are much easier to move than stick-built houses, thus giving the homeowner greater options when it comes to selling the property. The home and the land it sits on could be sold together, or the home could be sold on its own and transported to a new location.
Costs of Double-wide Homes
How much a double-wide manufactured home costs will depend on a number of factors. Location, local laws, and the availability of mobile or manufactured homes in the area where you live are also considerations you have to factor in when purchasing a mobile home. Here is a rundown of the major mobile home cost you are likely to encounter:
Size of The Home
Double-wide manufactured homes are twice the size of single-wide mobile homes with prices that are also roughly twice as high in most areas of the country.
In the Northeast, for example, a new single-wide would run about $74,400, while a double-wide would roughly cost around $138,700, according to the U.S. Census and the Federal Housing Authority.
A vital consideration is how much living space you and your family will really need. Looking at larger and more expensive models, the prices may become comparable to some site-built homes. So, it is always important to balance the other costs and logistical requirements of purchasing a manufactured home against buying something move-in ready.
Age of The Home
Square footage and the type and number of amenities you may want to include in your mobile home also determine its cost. A doublewide with a standard layout that is more or less 1,200 feet could run you $100,000 or less. However, a manufactured home that is closely similar to a site-built home with four bedrooms, two bathrooms, a large kitchen, and a living room could go as high, if not higher than, $200,000.
The price quotations above are for new models from the factory floor. A great option in getting a mobile or manufactured home is to consider a used or an older home. A manufactured home that’s in fairly good condition but may need some cosmetic upgrades can keep your home buying budget at a minimum and leaves funds available for upgrading appliances and fixtures once you’ve moved in.
Purchasing Land
One of the major attractions of purchasing a manufactured home is you can choose the land area, the terrain, and the features which is an option that obviously is available for on-site homes. However, should you decide to purchase the property on which your double-wide manufactured home stands, then the cost of land is the biggest added cost to the equation. A double-wide mobile home owner must also decide whether the mobile home will be on a permanent foundation or not.
An important thing to remember is the cost of land depends widely on the location, the zoning, and how much square footage or acreage you wish to purchase. You could get an acre or two for $10,000 or less in a rural area. On the contrary, a small plot of land in a city, a commercial, or a touristy area could cost you tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars.
A recent survey shows that a development impact fee in the state of California could range from $20,000-$30,000, while total development costs could equal $80,000, depending on the location, size, county, zoning and local laws, and other factors.
Fortunately, the mobile or manufactured home market offers several loan options that allow you to finance the purchase of both the manufactured home and the land in a single mortgage. Purchasing undeveloped land for the manufactured home may also require additional costs to have it cleared, have the driveway paved, and add other utility hook-ups to the property.
Let us use California as our benchmark in trying to determine the costs of getting a manufactured home. In California, water and sewer fees range from $5,000 to $10,000, while building permits range from $3,000 to $4,000. State law also may require school district fees and city fees that average $1,500 each, depending upon your location.
Never fail to do some serious research on all these fees in your area before buying your desired property or even the mobile home itself.
All having been considered, the national average cost of new manufactured homes shipped in December 2021 was $80,900 for a single-wide and $150,300 for a double-wide manufactured home. according to the US Census Bureau. With inflation on the upswing, these rates have most likely skyrocketed since the first quarter of 2022.
A mobile home compared to a site-built home has advantages that are indeed attractive. As the double-wide mobile home is the most popular and in-demand among mobile or manufactured homes, this article has tackled its costs, its average sales price, the property taxes involved, and benefits in recognition of a fast-growing manufactured home community.
