The mobile home market is expected to cross $38,848 million, growing at 6.5% CAGR. These statistics show how the mobile or manufactured housing industry is growing at an exponential rate and how homeowners are shifting from traditional housing to this modern and efficient housing option.
A vast majority of people invest in mobile homes because of the inability to afford built-from-the-ground-up houses that cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. Besides, some families buy these manufactured homes temporarily. Those moving into a new town for a short period can invest in this cost-friendly and flexible housing instead of building a new home from scratch. With mobile homes, you can either buy just the home or the home with the land where it sits. If you permanently affix the house to the ground, it will be considered real property.
But, does it really make sense to move from your apartment to a mobile home? Does that mean you will end up missing out on all the great housing opportunities? Or, will it be more comfortable living in a small yet comfortable space? Let’s find out.
An Excellent Choice for Living Purpose
The biggest benefit of a mobile home is that they are cheaper than conventional homes. Even if you are getting it on rent, you will pay much less for these homes than a traditional-style apartment. If you are concerned about the quality, these homes are built following the HUD (US Department of Housing and Urban Development) standard.
This ensures that each home has sufficient space for a family to live and the amenities to cater to your basic requirements. They are also pretty durable and are designed to last long. Their value depreciates over time, but they are better than the apartments you get for rent. If your only purpose for buying a mobile home is to live peacefully with your family, a mobile home is a great investment.
They tend to Depreciate
Investors that are buying mobile homes for the resell purpose or as an investment that can bring a stable amount of returns to the table should rethink their decision. The value of these homes depreciates over time. That’s common in mobile homes that do not permanently sit on the land.
And since most of these houses sit on piers or concrete foundation, they are considered movable property and their value (just like your personal property) depreciate gradually. There’s a chance the outstanding balance on your home loan will be higher than the resell value of your mobile home. So, if you are buying it as an investment, expect its value to fall over time. Or, you can buy the land where the mobile home sits and have it attached to the land permanently.
Not Easy to Resell
You may have heard that moving a mobile home is a breeze. It might be called mobile, but moving manufactured homes from one place to another is not as easy as loading them on a truck and placing them in their new location. Once they are connected to the utilities and are secured to the foundation, moving them to a new place can take significant time and cost thousands of dollars.
That’s why most sellers prefer the buyer to live in the same mobile home park where the home sits. Still, they enjoy a high demand, as most low and middle-income group families that can’t afford conventional houses opt for manufactured homes, as they are much more affordable and are constructed fairly quickly.
They can be Financed
Just because mobile homes are cheaper and are not considered real property doesn’t mean you can’t finance them. You can get a 100% purchase price for these homes from certain financing options. For instance, if you belong to the military or have a veteran in your family, you can consider VA loans.
Conventional mortgages, like Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, are also pretty affordable and come with decent repayment terms. They have mobile home financing programs that help aspiring homeowners fund their mobile home purchases (with or without land) easily. Other financing options for these homes include FHA loans, USDA loans, and personal loans.
Customizable
There’s a common misconception that mobile homes are not customizable. Contrary to what you may think, these homes can be tailored to fit your needs and budget, just like a traditional home. The only downside is that a custom-built manufactured home comes with a hefty price tag.
You can decide the number of bedrooms you want, whether you’d like a balcony or a small outdoor space, and select the interior design. You can choose from different floor plans, kitchen options, and bathroom designs. For the exteriors, you get to decide the windows, porch, roof, siding, and colors.
Quick Installation
It may take you months and years to build a traditional house from scratch. Besides, you need to be present on-site regularly to watch the contractors. This might not be possible for an employee who works a 9-5 job or those who live outside the town.
For instance, if you are moving into a new city and are planning to build a home there, it will be too hectic to visit the town frequently to ensure the construction is going smoothly. That’s why mobile homes in Corpus Christi are in high demand. They take a few days to build (a few weeks in some cases). The quick installation is one of the most attractive parts of a mobile home.
Conclusion
Mobile homes make a good investment when you research the housing market, the area where you are buying the home, and other factors. And considering the many financing options, some of which accept people with low credit scores or poor credit history, it makes sense to invest in mobile homes. They are known for versatility, fast construction, affordability, and other benefits. Before investing, you must understand that the values of these homes depreciate. So, weigh the pros and cons of mobile homes before making any decision.