Here’s Why You Should Buy a Pre-Owned Mobile Home Today

Pre-owned manufactured homes offer prospective home buyers immense value that cannot be passed up in today’s market.

When buying a manufactured home or a mobile home, you’re already saving thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of dollars on your living experience, and that’s doubly true if you buy your mobile home used.

If you’re looking to buy a used mobile home, here are some of the benefits in store for your home buying journey:

Value For Your Money

We know everything isn’t about the money, but it’s still the biggest selling point when talking about used manufactured homes near you.

From an affordability standpoint, manufactured homes are already incredibly more cost-accessible than your average site-built home – by nearly 90 percent, in fact. The average price of a manufactured home sits at around $45,000 according to the Manufactured Housing Institute – far lower than the average price tag of $443,000 for a site-built home, based on Statista data.

When it comes to used mobile homes, you’ll often find even more affordable homes given the rate at which mobile homes appreciate. Given their high quality builds and reliability long after they’re built (more on that below), purchasing a used mobile home is the way to go for millions of American families.

Not only that, but when buying a used mobile home from a dealer, you may have more options for financing your mobile home purchase at your disposal. And, you especially have greater options for mobile home financing compared to a site-built home. This is because new and used mobile homes don’t rely on traditional mortgages like a site-built home does.

Reliability

Modern manufactured homes are built to standards enacted in 1976 by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). When a manufactured home is built to “HUD Code,” it means that it is held to highly strict specifications that are enforced at the federal level, making them an extremely safe option for homeowners.

This means that used manufactured homes on the market that were built after 1976 are built to standards relating to fire and wind resistance, energy efficiency, and innovations in the home’s foundation that make them more reliable than ever. If you’re shopping on a budget, you cannot go wrong with a reliable used manufactured home.

Quality

In the same vein as reliability, modern manufactured homes are built with high quality and luxury in mind.

Today’s used manufactured homes can offer top-of-the-line features, including:

Smart appliances
Spa-like bathrooms, some with jacuzzi-style tubs
Wide, spacious bedrooms
Open-concept kitchens
Barn-style doors

Because manufactured homes, and used manufactured homes, are produced so efficiently, there’s sometimes extra room for these kinds of luxury features. If you’re looking for a used mobile home with an open kitchen, or a jacuzzi tub, you can curate your mobile home search with that in mind.

Take Advantage of Amenities

By living in a used mobile home in a park, you can access a number of amenities and fixtures that would otherwise be unavailable outside of a community setting.

These can range from laundry facilities, to athletic courts, to lounges and clubhouses, to dog walking trails and parks, to pools and spas for your enjoyment and relaxation. By buying a used mobile home in a community or park, you can use many of these amenities if they’re available all while saving thousands of dollars as part of your home ownership experience.

Many communities even offer basic utilities, such as water, trash disposal, and internet, as part of your monthly lot rent, promoting even further cost savings.

Ready to start your homebuyer’s journey? Browse MHVillage today to view our selection of used mobile homes in your area. You can also filter your search based on whether a home is based in a community, is a certain size, and many other criteria.

The Ultimate Guide to Touring Mobile Homes

So, you’re looking for a manufactured home to buy. You might already have your market picked out, or you might even know which manufactured home community you want to live in. A crucial step of the home buying process is touring mobile homes you’re interested in buying. Touring mobile homes gives you the best idea possible of what your living space will look like if and when you choose to buy that home.

Touring a mobile home is more important than one might realize. If you’re looking to buy a manufactured home and set up a tour, here are a few things to keep in mind:

What to Look For

Firstly, you should ensure that the exterior of the home is in solid condition. This includes making sure the siding is in good shape without any major damage, ensuring your roof is in order, and that the mobile home skirting doesn’t show any gaps or visible damage.

The skirting is especially important, as any tears, rips, or other damage to your skirting could mean lowered energy efficiency for your home in addition to your foundation and plumbing being exposed to the elements.

One other consideration that often falls through the cracks has to deal with multi-section homes. If you’re touring a double-wide or a triple-wide manufactured home, ensure that the connections holding each section together are properly functioning.

On that note, you’ll also want to ensure your manufactured home’s foundation is properly set and installed. Just like with a site-built home, having an improperly installed foundation could jeopardize the stability of your manufactured or mobile home.

Of course, the inside of what could be your new mobile home should be considered too. Ask yourself the following questions when touring your mobile home’s interior:

Is the flooring in good condition and free of damage?
Is there any moisture or mold where it shouldn’t be?
How about the walls? Are there any holes, cracks, or water spots?
Does the plumbing and electrical work as it should?
Are all of the windows and doors properly insulated and sealed?
If included, do the appliances work properly?

If any of the above questions indicate that there is damage to the home’s interior, or that something isn’t functioning like it should, consider whether that impacts your desire to purchase the home.

Big Ticket Repairs

Generally, the most expensive repairs you’ll make to your manufactured home are to your mobile home’s roof, your furnace or air conditioning units, and your siding.

These three facets of your manufactured home should take priority when you’re touring the home. If the roof is several decades old and needs replacing right when you move in, make sure you’re okay with that and can budget for it when deciding to purchase the home.

Is The Home Right For You?

Once you’ve done your due diligence on the manufactured home’s condition, it’s time to consider whether that mobile home is the right fit for you.

Manufactured homes come in many shapes and sizes. To that end, think about whether the home you’re touring offers the right amount of space for you and your loved ones. If a manufactured home is too big, you may end up paying extra for space you’ll never use. Even worse is if the house is too small: you’ll butt elbows with guests and family members for years to come if this is the case!

Remote work may also be a consideration. If you’re like the millions of Americans working from home, you’ll want your new manufactured home to have dedicated space for a desk, laptop, and perhaps a second monitor so you can be productive in your home.

Also, the kitchen is the room many manufactured-homeowners-to-be prioritize when touring manufactured homes. Having the right amount of counter and cabinet space is a must for many, so determine where this ranks on your list before touring a mobile home and committing to a purchase.

Will You Redecorate?

Often, manufactured homes are given a fresh coat of paint and some cosmetic touch-ups before being listed for sale. As you’re touring any given manufactured home, make sure you have at least a rough idea of how you might redecorate your manufactured home once you move in.

For instance, if you plan to re-paint, or replace carpeting in rooms of your home with hardwood, make sure that’s going to work with what may be your new home.

Going virtual or in-person?

In the age of COVID, many home sellers have turned to virtual tours in the spirit of social distancing. If there’s a manufactured home you’re interested in touring to see if it’s the right fit for you, consider seeing if a virtual tour is available for that home.

In fact, MHVillage allows users shopping for manufactured homes to filter their home search so that only mobile homes with virtual tours appear. Simply click on the “Only Listings with Virtual Tours” checkbox when searching for mobile homes on MHVillage.

If you’re ready to tour mobile homes near you, let MHVillage get you started. Start your manufactured home search today and set up a tour in your local area. If you’re interested in touring a specific manufactured home, contact the seller listed on that home to make touring arrangements.

Sold: How to Go From Listing to Closing When Selling Your Manufactured Home

A hand signing a document with a ballpoint pen.

Selling your manufactured home is one of the most exciting things you can do. It often means moving into a new home while using money from your listing towards your next home journey. As you sell your mobile home, you’ll want to know the steps involved before getting things kicked off to ensure that your mobile home sale is as smooth as possible.

Decide Who Will Sell It

Believe it or not, the first step in your manufactured home sale journey is not to decide how you will sell your home, but who you will use to sell it. There are two main ways to sell your home as the owner, either on your own via a For Sale By Owner (FSBO) transaction, or via a dealer.

In a FSBO mobile home sale, you are empowered as the seller to take charge of the selling process and save some money along the way. The Mobile Home Sellers Guide is a great resource that covers every step of the process in addition to this article, and ensures that you as an individual seller are best prepared for the sale.

Many home sellers choose to hire a dealer to list and sell their home, too. With this option, the paperwork is left to a professional, though there are dealer fees associated.

Other ways to sell your mobile home include back to the community, if you live in one, or to a company that may buy homes for cash. Some communities, in fact, require you to sell your home back to that community if you move out. If you own your home on your own land, you may also use a realtor.

There is no wrong way to sell your home between a FSBO sale and going through a dealer. However, do your due diligence and make a decision that’s best for you for your home selling journey.

Appraisal and Inspection

Before you publish your manufactured home listing, you’ll need to hire an appraiser to correctly determine the home’s value. You should also consider a third-party inspection to see if you’ll need to make any repairs or upgrades before you sell your home.

While that may sound daunting, in reality you’re investing in your mobile home sale as a repair or upgrade will increase the value. For instance, a furnace upgrade can go a long way when it comes to adding to your mobile home’s resale value.

This is also a good opportunity to make any additional cosmetic changes that you feel may increase your home’s resale value. For instance, if you decide to replace your mobile home’s skirting, that can give your home a fresh look while still increasing the price.

Listing and Marketing Your Mobile Home

When you’re ready to publish your mobile home listing, MHVillage offers multiple FSBO listing options for manufactured homes with each offering different tiers of features to get your home in front of as many people as possible. These FSBO listing options ensure that your mobile home will shine while getting your home sold as fast as possible.

For those selling with a dealer, they will typically list your home for you and ensure its visibility.

If you’re selling your home the FSBO way, keep the following tips in mind:

Make sure your listing pops with unique, high-quality photos of your home that show off everything it has to offer.
Use descriptive language in your listing to appeal to home buyers and upsell your home’s features. Does your kitchen have an open concept, or does your home feature a sliding back door that opens out to a deck? If so, play features like those up in your listing to make it more attention-grabbing.
Take a look at other listings in your area to see what features they tout, or how they describe your home, and see what works and what doesn’t when it comes to home listings that you really like.

Filing the State Paperwork

Once your mobile home has sold, take time after you’ve celebrated to start on your post-sale paperwork. This will vary state by state, so your best option will be to brush up on your state’s requirements for what paperwork needs to be filed, and when.

Generally, you’ll need to acquire some kind of titling certificate for your home, and each state will have their own process for managing the transaction of your home from the seller to the owner. There may also be local jurisdictions at play that affect whether a home sold with the land would require additional paperwork. If you sell your mobile home through a dealer, they can usually help process this paperwork for you.

Ready to sell? Start with MHVillage to get your listing live today. Simply visit mhvillage.com and fill out the online form to start your mobile home listing.

Where to Find Mobile Home Loans and Lenders

Home agents are using a calculator to calculate the loan period each month for the customer.

Whether you’re buying a manufactured home or mobile home for the first time, or getting ready to move into your dream home, most likely you’ve already begun thinking about how to finance your new home purchase. With the number of options available for mobile home loans, and a slew of lenders to choose from, it may seem daunting at first to wade through the financial logistics of your manufactured home search.

Here, we break down the anatomy of manufactured home lenders and the different types of loans they offer – as well as how to determine which loan and lender may be right for you.

Manufactured Home Loan Anatomy

Before we get into the different types of manufactured home loans a lender might recommend, it’s important to remember that not all home loans and home loan programs apply to manufactured housing. So, if you have your eye on a specific type of home loan, make sure that loan will cover all home types, including manufactured homes.

If you’re working with a lender to secure a manufactured home loan, you’ll likely come across one of these loans:

Chattel Loans:

Chattel loans are by far the most common type of loan you’ll come across as a manufactured home buyer. They’re primarily offered when a home buyer seeks to purchase the home as personal property, similar to a car loan. While this can be advantageous for homeowners looking to use the home as collateral for the loan itself, they may come with higher interest rates. These loans may also be the most common type when buying a manufactured home in a park.

Government Loans:

Some homeowners may qualify for home loans that are applicable to manufactured housing offered by the U.S. government. For example, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) offers loans geared towards low-income homebuyers, making manufactured housing even more accessible and affordable.

There are some criteria that homeowners must meet to qualify for a HUD loan, as well as some pricing and term limitations to keep in mind. Still, a government loan such as the HUD manufactured home loans may be the best option for many.

Additional Loans:

The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will also offer manufactured home loans, but only if the home is considered “real property.” This requires the home to live on a permanent foundation, and for the title of the home to be discontinued so the structure of the home, as well as the land, can be written into the deed. These loans are typically more strict in their requirements than HUD loans.

HUD isn’t the only governmental manufactured home loan to explore, however. There are other options to look into from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, along with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, among other affordable housing programs.

Conventional Mortgages:

At the end of the day, you may still look at a good old-fashioned conventional mortgage loan for your manufactured home purchase. However, not every mortgage company will service loans for manufactured homes, and may even turn prospective home buyers away.

Your lender should be able to advise you on whether a conventional mortgage is available in your area for your manufactured home. While these types of loans are not as common for manufactured homes, they may still be worth considering if they’re available to you.

Typically, you’ll only be able to secure a conventional mortgage if you are purchasing or already own the land that the home will sit on. Often referred to as a “land-home mortgage,” these mortgages are similar to what would be offered for site-built homes by offering financing for both the land and the home itself in one package.

Where Can I Find a Lender?

Believe it or not, the first place to look when it comes to looking for a lender to process your manufactured home loan is your friends and family. Take time at your next family gathering or friendly outing to see who can point you towards a lender they may have used in the past. A family or friend referral is a great way to connect with a lender, and gives both you and the lender some familiar ground to work with should you choose them for your manufactured home loan.

If you are looking to purchase a manufactured home in a park or community, they may be able to provide lending options for you to work with, should you choose to work with them. This will vary between communities, so be sure to check with that park beforehand to see what resources they have on hand.

Additionally, many manufactured home dealers may also offer lending services. MHVillage offers a search function for manufactured home dealers, so if you’re using a dealer to help with your manufactured home search, it may be worth exploring dealers that also offer loans for a more “all-in-one” approach.

Many retailers will also provide you with options of lenders they trust for you to work with. These retailers often can help out with the loan application process, too.

How Should I Start the Loan Process?

Once you’ve identified a lender, you’ll usually be asked to either fill out an application, often online, and provide a handful of documents to verify you qualify for the loan. These will usually include bank statements, recent pay stubs, tax returns, and other documents that prove you’re in acceptable financial standing.

From there, your lender will guide you through the financing process and the exact paperwork, which may differ from loan to loan. For instance, a land-home loan may involve more up-front documentation than a chattel loan.

How Will I Know Which Lender is Right For Me?

Ultimately, you’ll want to choose a lender that best fits your individual needs and who you feel comfortable working with. Here are a few criteria that will help you make that decision:

The Right Loan

Not all manufactured home lenders will offer every kind of manufactured home loan on the market. Before you commit to a lender, make sure that they can offer a specific type of manufactured home loan that is right for you – particularly if there’s one type of loan you have in mind. Being clear in what you intend to purchase, as well as whether you intend to own the land under the home, should lead you to the correct loan and lender needed to make the purchase.

However, don’t panic if you don’t know what type of loan you want from the very beginning of the process. The right lender will pair you and your financial makeup with the right type of loan that’s best suited to your specific home buying experience.

The Right Convenience

Manufactured home lenders, like all home lenders, should be flexible and available throughout the entire home buying process. If you’re struggling to work with a lender that hasn’t returned your calls in weeks, it may be time to find a different lender. The right lender should be communicative and proactive throughout the entire process.

The Right Match

Ultimately, you and your lender should see eye-to-eye on your best interests for securing a manufactured home loan. Your lender should take time to fully understand you, your needs, and your financial situation to recommend the best loan for you.

No matter where your lender search takes you, trust MHVillage with your manufactured home search. MHVillage, the nation’s leading website for buying and selling manufactured homes, offers the most in-depth search options when searching for manufactured homes in your area, enabling you to find the home of your dreams with MHVillage. And, with various manufactured homes listed in your area, you may find additional options for financing your manufactured home purchase right there on the home listing.

Reality TV Star Moves to Florida Resort-Style Community

TV personality Mackenzie McKee testifies on social media about how a Sarasota manufactured home community kept her close to her family and her work.

Mackenzie McKee, social media personality and married mother of three, had made waves by sharing her new manufactured home digs at Sun-n-Fun RV Resort in Sarasota, FL in an Instagram story with her followers over the weekend.

The “Teen Mom OG” star turned social media influencer detailed her family’s journey of traveling from their native state of Oklahoma to the sunny shores of Florida to move into their new manufactured home.

“We pulled up after 18 hours of driving, and, honestly guys, this place is awesome,” McKee said.

Sun-n-Fun RV Resort, operated by Sun Communities, is an all-ages luxury resort-style park in Sarasota that offers amenities ranging from a spa and sauna, to an Olympic-sized pool, to a number of outdoor and indoor recreational facilities such as a fitness center and volleyball courts.

“It’s like a vacation spot and it’s super fun,” she said. “I called them and they had one trailer available and I’m like, ‘Boom!’ Take my money.”

Not only that, but moving to Sun-n-Fun meant added convenience for McKee, her husband, and her three children. Their new manufactured home puts McKee and the family just ten minutes away from school and work, according to an article from Heavy that’s since been viewed over 27,000 times.

McKee went on to detail their hunt for a home, including looking for a mortgage pre-approval, before receiving the news that they had less than a month to vacate their rental home.

“We were going to use that time…to get pre-approved, to go house hunting,” McKee said. “The market’s crazy.”

But now, having settled down with her family at Sun-n-Fun, it’s no wonder that McKee is enjoying the resort-style lifestyle that they offer.

McKee’s story is just one example of how residents living in manufactured home communities can take advantage of luxury amenities, all while keeping their housing costs affordable.

With MHVillage, it’s easier than ever to search for the perfect manufactured home community. Simply head to mhvillage.com/parks to filter your search and find your dream manufactured home today.

Seven Fantastic Resident-Owned Mobile Home Parks in Arizona

If you’re looking for mobile homes in the great state of Arizona, you may come across some that are in resident-owned mobile home parks. In a resident-owned mobile home park, the residents share joint ownership of the property, similar to a co-op house but applied to an entire community. This puts voting and decision-making power into the hands of the residents.

In Arizona, you’ll find a number of resident-owned mobile home parks that are age-restricted and thus great for retired folks, as well as some that are open to all ages. Here, we’ve highlighted seven fantastic and unique resident-owned mobile home parks that are sure to grab your attention.

Country Roads – Yuma, AZ

Country Roads in Yuma, AZ is a resident-owned retirement community located away from the hustle and bustle of Arizona’s downtown locales. This community offers many amenities, such as a playground and clubhouse, and gives its residents a quiet, yet scenic lifestyle to look forward to.

The community has 1,294 sites and is pet-friendly, making Country Roads an ideal resident-owned community for those looking to get away from a more bustling downtown.

Casa de Francisco – Phoenix, AZ

Casa de Francisco is a great example of an all-ages resident-owned mobile home park in Arizona. With 203 sites and such amenities as a billiards room, top of the line laundry facilities, and storage for RVs and boats, comfort and convenience is the name of the game at Casa de Francisco.

Additionally, the resident-owned Casa de Francisco contains a swimming pool, allows for some pets, and best of all sits just a few miles from the water, offering an aquatic getaway right by your home. With all that in mind, it’s no wonder why Casa De Francisco is “an oasis in South Phoenix.”

Apollo Village – Peoria, AZ

Looking for a pet-friendly resident-owned community? Apollo Village in Peoria, AZ may be the right fit for you.

It might not be the only resident-owned community in Arizona for pet owners, but this 55+ community with 236 sites is located just a quarter-mile from the water, making it perfect for walks with your dog. For a more quaint, relaxing type of lifestyle, residents can visit the on-site spa, library, or billiards room.

Peoria, AZ has often been ranked as one of the top places in the country to retire, and this resident-owned community is just one part of it.

Voyager RV Resort – Tucson, AZ

Voyager RV Resort in Tucson, AZ is a resident-owned retirement community brimming with amenities. From multiple dedicated courts for basketball, tennis, volleyball, and shuffleboard, to a nearby golf course and spa facilities, Voyager RV Resort offers retirees with the perfect active lifestyle for them. The community has 1,576 sites, with both pet and non-pet sections and gated security offering peace of mind.

Voyager RV Resort’s resident-owned status makes it one of the largest resident-owned communities in all of Arizona. All of its amenities and conveniences makes this a strong contender for any retiree looking for a new mobile home.

Copper Crest – Tucson, AZ

Copper Crest is a 55+ resident-owned mobile home park in Tucson, AZ, with a plethora of amenities for residents ranging from a horseshoe and shuffleboard court to a library and fitness center. This resident-owned park touts gated security for its residents, offering a quiet and scenic lifestyle for residents settling down after retirement.

With 357 sites, the vast majority of which are multi-section homes, there is bound to be something for anyone 55+ looking for a mobile home park to call home.

Comanche Wells Mobile Home Park – Tucson, AZ

Comanche Wells Mobile Home Park in Tucson, AZ, offers its residents a range of single, double, and triple-wide homes for sale from a total of 209 sites. As a resident-owned retirement community, Comanche Wells Mobile Home Park also offers a suite of amenities, such as on-site RV storage and a free car wash facility.

If you’re looking for a pet-friendly, resident-owned retirement community in Arizona, Comanche Wells Mobile Home Park could be just what you’re looking for. The nearby downtown lifestyle of Tucson offers easy access to dining and entertainment, offering residents the best of both worlds when it comes to both quieter and livelier lifestyles.

Golden Vista RV Resort – Apache Junction, AZ

Golden Vista RV Resort gives its 55+ residents plenty to offer out of a resident-owned community. Located in scenic Apache Junction, AZ, Golden Vista RV Resort boasts a clubhouse, swimming pool, and other highly desired amenities perfect for those looking to find the perfect retirement community.

At a massive 1,075 sites, Golden Vista RV Resort ought to have something for everybody looking to move into this idyllic resident-owned community in Apache Junction, AZ.

Looking to Buy in Arizona?

MHVillage helps make your mobile home search a breeze. Check out additional mobile home parks for sale in Arizona, along with our entire available catalog of mobile homes for sale in Arizona.

If you’re looking to sell your mobile home in Arizona, check out this handy guide from MHVillage to guide you along the way.

9 Steps to Winterize Your Mobile Home

A window looking out onto a snowy scene.

As temperatures begin to cool across the country, it’s time to start thinking about how to winterize your mobile home to protect it against the cold and, in some cases, snow. Even in warmer climates such as the southern United States, winterizing your mobile home to avoid damage to your utilities and fixtures is a surefire way to save money over the course of your mobile home’s life.

Whether you’re preparing for slightly cooler temperatures or for blizzards in the coming months, make sure you take the following steps, if needed, to winterize your mobile home:

Insulate Windows and Doors

If your doors and windows have exposed or damaged insulation, it can lead to drafts inside your home, which means a costlier heating bill. Insulating your windows and doors from the inside ensures that heat doesn’t escape from your mobile home.

There are multiple ways to insulate both your doors and your windows. Many hardware stores offer spray foam insulation useful for filling gaps and cracks in your door frame or window frame, and some may offer large sheets of plastic adhesive that fit over windows to keep the heat indoors. No matter which method you choose to insulate your windows and doors, it’s best to start during the late-autumn, early-winter timeframe to prevent as much heat as possible from escaping your home.

Check Your Pipes

If you suspect that any pipes in your home may have leaks or are otherwise damaged, now is the time to repair them. Not only that, but freezing pipes can result in some of the most extensive damage possible during the winter. Heat tape can help ensure that your pipes are properly warmed and functioning throughout the winter.

Have Your Furnace Inspected

Any utility that provides climate-control for your mobile home, whether it’s a furnace, air conditioning unit, or space heater, should be inspected annually to ensure it works properly. Before winter fully sets in, your furnace will be the most important of these three to inspect.

As mechanics and service professionals become more and more backlogged with service calls towards the end of the year, it’s important to get ahead of the game and have any necessary repairs made to your mobile home’s furnace before you’re stuck waiting in the cold.

Maintain Your Skirting

Moving over to the exterior of your home, you want to ensure that the entirety of your mobile home’s skirting is still in good condition. If there are any cracks or dents, it may lead to damage from external moisture, particularly during snowstorms. Additionally, damaged or missing skirting can lead to frozen pipes, as the skirting keeps cold air from getting under your home.

Check the Marriage Line

In multi-section mobile homes, the marriage line – the seal that keeps each section of the home together – should always be level and firmly sealed. However, if there’s damage to the marriage line, or if it’s become unlevel over time, you risk losing heat around this division, among other problems. As you’re winterizing your mobile home, it might not be a bad idea to check on your marriage line, if you have one, and insulate if needed.

Loosen Your Tie-Downs

On the subject of your mobile home’s bones, each year you’ll also want to loosen your tie-downs ever so slightly, to account for the ground heaving and shifting throughout the winter. This is especially true for mobile homes in colder climates like the northern United States. Having tie-downs that are too tight during harshly cold weather can lead to foundation damage to your mobile home, shortening its lifespan.

Make Sure Your Gutters are Maintained

If you’re in an area such as Florida or Louisiana with high precipitation, or live in snowy Michigan, you’ll want to ensure that your gutters, if you have them, are clear of any debris and are properly installed. If you don’t, freeze-over may occur – which means water or snow may collect in your gutters and create large icicles. This can cause significant gutter damage, so it’s important to check your gutters before the winter sets in to ensure they’re in good condition.

Check For Any Needed Roof Repairs

In addition to checking on your gutters, take time to assess the overall condition of your mobile home’s roof before winter sets in. If you have any leaks, or openings where heat may escape your home, be sure to patch those up before it gets too cold. Repairing your roof can take on many different forms depending on what material your roof is made out of, but our mobile home roofing guide has further insights on how to repair the most common mobile home roofs.

Reverse the Ceiling Fans

The last tip on this list is one many homeowners take advantage of. If you look at your ceiling fan, you’ll see a small switch that changes which direction the fan rotates. During the summer, your fan blades should rotate counterclockwise, whereas in the winter they should rotate clockwise to properly distribute warm air throughout a room.

A mobile home will be one of the greatest investments you make in your life. This is because, for being a widely-used source of affordable housing for millions of Americans, they offer immense value and quality of life. That’s why it’s so important to take extra precautions before each winter season, whether you live in Michigan, Arizona, or Florida, to ensure you get as much value out of your home as possible.

What Makes a Great Retirement Community?

Manufactured home communities – also known as mobile home parks – make for some of the most ideal retirement locations in the country. They offer great amenities, scenic views, security for their residents, and many are even geared for residents that are of retirement age.

When researching mobile home communities to settle down into for the laid-back retirement lifestyle, it’s important to keep several considerations in mind when it comes to community living. Besides the usual criteria – those scenic views and amenities that we mentioned – there are also some lesser-discussed qualities that can make a big difference during your community search.

The Basics of a Community Search

Above all else, a community or park should be equipped with the right amenities for any retiree. This includes clubhouses for lounging and relaxation, dog parks, pools for the summer weather, and sports facilities such as tennis and shuffleboard courts for physically active community dwellers. While a community may not have all of these amenities, or may even have more besides just those four, it’s important to gauge which ones are most valuable to you when looking for your retirement community.

With any home, but especially for those in communities or parks, you also want to ensure that homes are available for sale in the right size for you. For instance, if you require a triple-wide mobile home, double-check that your community of interest has triple-wide lots available. Another important factor to consider is the level of security that comes with a community. If this is a primary concern, look for communities that tout gated entry or private grounds.

Finally, while this might be one of the more obvious things to look for, many communities are age-restricted. This is a desirable option for many retirees as they usually offer a quieter lifestyle compared to all-ages communities. If this is something you’re interested in for your retirement home, make sure you filter your home search accordingly.

The Not-So-Usual Things to Look For

All of the above qualities can be an imperative for your retirement home search to make sure you connect with the right community. However, they aren’t the only qualities you should look for when searching for a place to live.

Firstly – affordability. Many mobile home communities will often have some kind of site fee or lot rent that covers the amenities and other services that the park will offer. This will vary based on community, but this information may sometimes be listed online – either on a community’s MHVillage listing or their own website.

There’s also the question of convenience. That is, will your community of interest be located near neighborhood fixtures that you love? This can include local shopping districts, entertainment centers, or your favorite restaurants. Finding the ideal community that’s nearby what you love can be a key component of your community search that often goes forgotten.

If you’re making a move out of state, it’s also important to consider whether your new community provides enough relaxation for your new retired lifestyle. The best way to measure this is looking at a combination of the community’s amenities, local tourism fixtures, and whether the community is age-restricted. In this aspect, not all communities are equal – some near popular vacation spots may be more bustling and lively than others, making for a higher-traffic community along with the area surrounding it.

At the end of the day, looking for the perfect mobile home community or park for your retirement lifestyle all comes down to one X-factor: will it meet the quality-of-life needs of you and your loved ones? You should never make compromises when it comes to your wants and needs during the home buying process, and that goes double for looking for the perfect mobile home in the perfect community. The right community for you will meet your needs as we’ve laid them out in this article, and with the right combination you’ll find the community that’s the perfect fit for your new retirement lifestyle.

I’m Interested in Buying a Home in a Community – What’s Next?

If you’re interested in shopping for mobile homes located within a manufactured home community or mobile home park, look no further than MHVillage. The leading website for buying and selling manufactured homes with over 25 million views annually, MHVillage lets potential home buyers filter their search by homes located in communities and parks, in addition to other criteria such as city and state, 55+ communities, and more. Simply click on the “Parks” tab on the homepage to start your search.

And, be sure to read up on everything else there is to know about manufactured home community living, from the financial work involved in buying a home in a mobile home park to the most scenic states for mobile home living.

The Value of Repossessed Mobile Homes

If you’re searching for a manufactured or mobile home to purchase, you may occasionally come across a home listing describing a home as a “repo.” While some may write off a repo mobile home without a second thought, or even disregard repo homes altogether during their home buying journey, repossessed manufactured or mobile homes can actually be a viable source of entry for first time homeowners on a budget.

But first, it’s important to understand the ins and outs of repo mobile homes and understand their pros and cons. Spoiler alert: repossessed homes generally are a good investment for homeowners, particularly those on a budget, but there are a few things you should know first.

What is a Repo Mobile Home?

A repo mobile home is a home that’s been foreclosed and repossessed if the homeowner defaults on their loan payments. These homes are placed back on the market, usually by the financial institution or bank that originated the loan, and are often sold at auction to the highest bidder. If a repo mobile home isn’t sold at auction, it’ll be listed on mobile home selling platforms such as MHVillage.

While some assume repo mobile homes as derelict or in poor condition as a result of being foreclosed, in reality repo mobile homes can be of comparable quality to other mobile homes on the market. Some repossessed mobile homes were previously owned by homeowners who purchased their home when it was brand new, meaning that you may be able to find repo mobile homes on the market that are less than a decade old. And, it’s important to remember that a repo mobile home doesn’t mean that it’s a run-down home, compared to what you may think.

Should I Buy a Repo Mobile Home?

Rather than convince you whether you should or shouldn’t consider purchasing a manufactured home that’s been repossessed, we’ll lay out some of the advantages and disadvantages to going this route.

Repo mobile homes can be a good source for newer homes in good condition.

The most obvious advantage to buying a mobile home that’s been repossessed is cost. Because repo mobile homes are often sold either on auction, or are sold directly from the bank itself, they’re usually priced significantly lower than market value, sometimes for a fraction of the usual cost of a new manufactured home. This makes the home more affordable for first-time homebuyers.

And as we mentioned earlier, some repo mobile homes are newer models, since they were originally purchased as brand new mobile homes. This means that repo mobile homes can be a good source for newer homes in good condition.

Are There Any Downsides to a Repo?

Because a repossessed mobile home is often managed by a bank or other financial institution as opposed to an individual home seller, there may be less information available on the home, such as the condition of the interior or exterior, amenities, or other features of the home. As a result, repo mobile homes are often sold “as-is” since the condition of the home cannot be verified prior to the sale.

In these cases, you’ll want the house inspected by a third party to properly assess the home’s true condition. This ranges from ensuring whether any appliances come with the repo home, checking for any structural damage, and verifying the condition of the inner workings of the home, such as plumbing and electrical wiring. Otherwise, you’ll end up spending the money you saved on your home purchase on expensive home repairs within a few years of moving into your home.

It’s also worth noting that repossessed mobile homes, because of their lower asking price, tend to sell much more quickly than manufactured or mobile homes that are not repossessed. The increased amount of competition among prospective homebuyers, not to mention competition against investors looking to flip the home for profit, means that if you’re interested in purchasing a specific repo mobile home you have your eye on, you better move fast.

Finally, while it’s not a downside per se, buying a repo mobile home will often require a good credit score and credit history to get approved for financing. This is the case for virtually any manufactured home purchase, but holds especially true for repo mobile homes.

What If I’m Interested in Buying a Repossessed Mobile Home?

If you’re interested in browsing repo manufactured homes or foreclosures, MHVillage currently has over 600 active repo listings.

Here are a few quick tips for finding them in your preferred area:

Head over to our nationwide search page and enter your city
Once you are on the home results page for your city, click the “Filter” button shown below to narrow down your search
On the filter menu, select the “Only Repossessions / Foreclosures” option as shown below to display these homes exclusively

and that’s it, now you can explore repo listings across the country!

If you are new to this class of home, you may want to explore a little first and take a look at some of the homes that are currently on the market. Check out some of our listings from a few markets down South.

No matter what you’re looking for in a manufactured home, a repossession can be the perfect match for a prospective homeowner.

Laying the Groundwork for Strong Mobile Home Foundations

A home is nothing without a strong foundation to support it, and that holds especially true for manufactured homes and mobile homes. The foundation for a manufactured or mobile home is especially important, as they not only support the home but provide it with a strong framework to withstand high-impact weather. Think of a mobile home foundation as a chassis that gives your home a dense frame in the form of an undercarriage.

Here, we break down the anatomy of your most common mobile home foundations, as well as some extra considerations to watch out for.

Types of Foundation

The first thing to know when it comes to mobile home foundations is that no two foundations are alike. Compared to other aspects of factory-built homes, the foundation is most often installed at the home site itself, prior to the home being completed.

Foundations have also been held to stricter code regulations since the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) enacted safety codes for manufactured homes in 1976. That same code dictates guidelines for manufactured home foundations – for instance, the types of wood or padding to be used in any given foundation, or the degree to which special footing is needed to protect against frost damage. Refer to the manufacturer’s set up instructions and local authority for the rules for your area.

When looking at mobile home foundations, there are several types you’ll come across:

Pier and Beam Foundation

The “pier and beam” foundation system is far and away the most common type of foundation you’ll find in a manufactured or mobile home. This foundation system consists of two main parts: the concrete cylinders that anchor into the ground, and the steel beams that connect them all together and support the home.

There are multiple reasons why the pier and beam foundation is the go-to in the manufactured housing industry. For one, this foundation type is adaptable to nearly any manufactured home in any environment, and will provide the same level of reliability no matter where it’s installed. The installation process is perhaps the quickest out of any foundation type for mobile homes, too.

With this type of foundation, the concrete can be either poured on-site or precast and brought to the installation site. For instance, some homes in the southern U.S. won’t rely on poured footings as much in favor of ground sets.

But are there any downsides to the pier and beam foundation system? If anything, this type of foundation may need extra support if a mobile home is sited in a flood zone or an area that experiences high winds. While this isn’t a cause of concern for many mobile home owners, it may change how a foundation is installed depending on your environment.

Slab Foundation

Slab foundations consist of a flat surface, usually concrete, that sits on a flat plot of land for the home to sit on. These slabs will also sit on a layer of looser materials under it, such as gravel, for stability. Slab foundations can be installed with or without added piers, similar to the ones mentioned above, for added support.

Slabs are an economical choice for a manufactured home foundation, and often carry better flood ratings for a mobile home foundation compared to other types. Many mobile homes use a slab foundation simply because it’s not only one of the cheapest and most reliable options, but because the installation process is quick, too.

However, a slab foundation cannot be used for just any manufactured home. The site on which the manufactured or mobile home will sit must be relatively flat, to ensure the slab foundation can evenly support the home. However, this ensures a more permanent foundation for your mobile home that can resist high-winds. Additionally, mobile homes with added fixtures, such as a garage or basement, may not support a slab foundation.

Basement Foundation

A basement foundation is exactly what it sounds like – a foundation for a mobile home that gives your home a basement.

The most direct benefit of a basement foundation is the added space for your mobile home. Installing a basement foundation gives any homeowner that much more room for entertainment, storage, or an extra bedroom. The extra living space is a major bonus for many mobile home owners.

However, it’s worth noting that a basement foundation will be among the most expensive foundation types for your mobile home. This is because they take much longer to install than other foundation types, involve more excavation, and of course increases the retail value of the home. A basement foundation also does not offer the same level of flood protection like other foundations do, but they do provide other types of weather protection, even giving you and your family a shelter in case of tornadoes. For these reasons, basement foundations aren’t as common as pier-and-beam foundations.

Crawlspace Foundation

A crawlspace foundation, similarly to a basement foundation, takes advantage of the open space under the home to help support it. Unlike a basement, however, the crawl space isn’t a usable living space.

Crawlspace foundations are usually reserved for site-built homes, so while you won’t find them on a mobile home as often as a pier-and-beam or slab foundation, you’ll occasionally find them in mobile homes found in flood zones, as the crawl space elevates the home off the ground and away from potential floodwaters. Installation for these foundations are among the most expensive, and often take longer than the other types of foundation we’ve covered here.

Foundation Considerations

Regardless of what type of foundation your manufactured home has, there are a few extra considerations to keep in mind:

All manufactured or mobile home foundations should be up to safety code, including those imposed by HUD. All of the above foundation types are HUD-compliant when installed correctly, though some other forms of foundation, such as “ribbon” foundation, have been phased out and are no longer considered safe for manufactured homes.

If you’re getting ready to purchase a manufactured home, ensure you’re aware of what kind of foundation your home has, and what maintenance, if any, may be required. The home seller should be able to provide you with this information.

If you live in a manufactured home community or mobile home park, they may have specific guidelines on foundations for new or existing mobile homes within their park.

Whether a mobile home has a pier and beam, slab, basement, or crawlspace foundation, these four foundation types are the most common for a reason: they provide the crucial support and stability a manufactured home needs for years, even decades after it’s been delivered from the factory. Keeping up with what each type of foundation provides, however, can bring you up to speed with what to look for when shopping for a manufactured home, and what foundation might be best for a home in your area.