5 Benefits of Buying a New Manufactured Home

Thinking of moving into a new home or ready to buy your first one? Manufactured homes are a great option that come with many benefits, while also providing a solution to affordable housing as site-built prices continue to rise. Discover these five advantages to choosing a new manufactured home as your home sweet home with our list below.

Faster, Quality Construction

Manufactured and modular homes are built in climate-controlled facilities using streamlined processes. This means that weather conditions won’t cause delays, so your home can be built more quickly than many traditional site-built homes.

However, that doesn’t mean compromises on quality. Manufactured homes use the same building materials as site-built homes, and they follow federal Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards, known as the HUD code. The HUD code provides regulations for manufactured home construction and “covers all equipment and installations in the design, construction, transportation, fire safety, plumbing, heat-producing and electrical systems of manufactured homes.” (Modular homes follow state and local regulations.) Manufactured homes are also required to be inspected by a third party after construction. Since these homes are built new, you also don’t have to worry about buying an older site-built home that may need repairs or renovations.

Affordability

Since manufactured home building facilities are able to order many of their materials in bulk and use highly efficient building processes that help reduce waste, they can then offer customers more homes at affordable prices.

The Manufactured Housing Institute states, “For people interested in buying a home, manufactured homes are the most affordable homeownership option available. Manufactured homes can cost half as much per square foot to build than site-built houses, according to U.S. Census data.”

Various Styles and Options

Not all manufactured homes look the same inside and out, just like site-built homes. There is a wide range of exterior designs in manufactured housing, whether you are a farmhouse fan or like a more traditional look. Siding and skirting materials can range from vinyl in multiple colors to brick or stone overlay. Doors and window treatments also differ from home to home. And many of today’s manufactured homes can come with porches, carports and garages.

They can come in a variety of floor plans, square footage, number of bedrooms and interior design options. From flooring and paint colors to bathroom and kitchen layouts, your choices for personalization all depend on the home you pick out. Choose something as small as the cabinet door hardware and faucets to as big as adding ceiling beams or a front porch.

Luxury Features

Because most manufactured homes are more affordable, many include amazing features without breaking the bank.” Many new manufactured homes offer huge kitchen islands, walk-in pantries, soaker tubs, spa-like showers, built-in entertainment centers, tray ceilings and more. Plus, many newly constructed manufactured homes offer optional energy-efficient upgrades like smart thermostats, higher R-value insulation, low emissive windows and EnergyStar® certified appliances. Energy-efficient features can improve the comfort and energy costs of your home.

Easier House Hunting

Searching for a manufactured home that fits your needs can be much easier than finding a site-built home. Many home models are available to tour at retail home centers that specialize in manufactured homes, and you can tour multiple homes in one location. Also, if you find a home online that you like, you can check for availability in your local area. The other great thing is that if the model on display that you wanted has been sold, you aren’t out of luck! Depending on the retail center, you can select that same floor plan and then have your home built. This list is just some of the highlights to consider when it comes to buying a new manufactured home. But once you find the manufactured home of your dreams, how do you apply for it? Vanderbilt offers several loan types and ways to apply for your convenience. Learn more about applying for a home loan with Vanderbilt Mortgage with our helpful guide.