What’s the Difference? – Mobile vs Manufactured vs Modular Homes

If you’ve ever considered getting a house built (or buying one that’s already built), you’ve probably heard the terms mobile home, manufactured home, and modular home. Given that they all sound similar and are sometimes used interchangeably by the unfamiliar, it’s no wonder that many people don’t know the difference between them. Luckily, this is pretty easy to remedy. 

Mobile homes are those built before 1976 — manufactured homes are any built after 1976 to updated federal codes. So you can’t technically buy a new mobile home today. Modular homes, on the other hand, are built to local codes, much like traditionally built-on-site homes.   

These are the main differences, but there are some other things to keep in mind if you’re deciding on what type of home to buy or build on your land.

Federal Changes Turned Mobile Homes into Manufactured Homes

While many people still use the term “mobile home” today, they’re usually talking about a manufactured home. True mobile homes stopped being built after changes were implemented by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in 1976. 

Mobile homes, which came to popularity in the early to middle 20th century, were truly mobile. They were more like today’s campers than today’s manufactured homes. They were built on steel I-beams and were designed for easy attachment to a vehicle so the whole home could be moved without much hassle. 

After changes made by HUD in the mid-seventies, the federal government changed the code to which these homes were built and decided that they would no longer be called mobile homes. With these new safety and construction codes came the birth of the manufactured home.

What Are Manufactured Homes?

Now that you know mobile homes are no longer being built, let’s talk about what exactly a manufactured home is to highlight the differences between them and modular homes. 

Manufactured homes are built in factories and then transported and installed at the new locations. Sometimes they need to be transported in pieces and assembled at the location, depending on whether they’re a single section, double section, or the largest available option: triple section. 

As mentioned above, manufactured homes are built to federal specifications to ensure quality and safety. They also need to meet energy, snow, and wind specifications. Certain manufactured homes can be moved after initial installation, but this is dependent on many factors, including the type of foundation it has. More on this later. 

What Are Modular Homes?

Like manufactured homes, modular homes are built in factories and then delivered to the home site. However, one of the big differences between the two is the fact that modular homes can rarely be transported in one piece, like a single-section manufactured home can. Modular homes are also built to state and local codes, much like a traditional home built on-site. This means that modular homes differ depending on the specific codes of the areas in which they’re built. 

While some manufactured homes can be moved after initial assembly, modular homes cannot. These homes are built to stay, which means they’re built on a foundation — or even on a crawlspace or basement. 

Once it’s done, you’d be hard-pressed to tell the difference between a modular home and a traditional home built through a general contractor.

What’s Cheaper – Mobile, Manufactured, or Modular Homes?

If you can find an actual mobile home for sale, it will surely be the cheapest of the three. But remember: a mobile home (as defined by the federal government) is one built before 1976. So if you could find one for sale (and you wanted to live in it), it probably wouldn’t be in good enough shape to move anywhere. 

So, for the purposes of this section, let’s focus on manufactured and modular homes. 

Manufactured homes are generally cheaper than modular homes, which is good for those on a budget. However, since these homes don’t have great resale value, it’s often hard to get financing or a mortgage for them. 

Modular homes, on the other hand, generally have more financing options available because their value sticks close to the fluctuations of the housing market. 

Manufactured vs Modular Homes – Which is Best for You?

Both manufactured and modular homes are ‌cheaper than having a traditional home built, so either ‌will save you money. Both options also have a variety of design, appliance, and floor plan options available, so you’re sure to find something you like. You can get them with energy-saving extras to lower your carbon footprint and save money on utilities. The options available will depend on the manufacturer. 

Most of our clients at Land Elevated buy their dream land to stick around for a while. For these people, we recommend modular homes, since they are an investment that’s not likely to fall in worth. But if you think you might want to move to a new location with your home, then a manufactured home might be right for you. 

Of course, there’s always the option of getting your home built on-site, which many people like because it gives them more control over the design of their dream house. 

Conclusion

There are certainly many options for having a home built or installed on your property. While modular and manufactured homes are the two most common and cost-effective options, some of our clients want land for camping with their RV or for building a cabin. Whatever your plan is for your dream land, we’re here to help in any way we can! Contact one of our Land Specialists today to learn more about living your dream through Land Elevated.