I've always been fascinated by alternative living options such as prefab, modular, tiny houses, shipping container houses, etc. After thinking about all of this for a while, many of these options seem to just be reinventing a system that manufactured (mobile) home manufacturers have been working to perfect for decades. I am not super knowledgable about the subject, but after seeing on a couple tiny house blog sites that people were saying "that tiny house is just an expensive trailer," and stumbling across Clayton homes when researching modular prefab houses, I thought I should at least take a look and educate myself a little more on the subject. Here's what I am seeing:
The general internet consensus is that manufactured homes:
-depreciate like a car or other personal property
-are not able to be financed easily or like a traditional mortgage
-are not energy efficient
-are impossible or difficult to insure because they are (either poorly built or prone to catching on fire, depending on where you read)
-are generally hard or cost prohibitive to repair
Ok...all of that makes sense, seems like the bad reputation is fitting. But after more research, what I'm actually seeing are houses like this:
Price delivered and installed on site roughly $72,000. Approx 1600 sq ft. 3 bed 2 bath
Energy Star Certified Package
Double Reverse Gable Elevation with Accent Siding and Columns
Serenity Ceramic Shower in Master Bath
Freestanding Soaking Tub in Master Bath
Translucent Accent Window with Shelving and Pegs in Utility/Craft Room
Granite Countertop on Kitchen Island
Full-Height Ceramic Backsplash at Kitchen Countertop
Sleek Spring Gooseneck Kitchen Faucet with Pull-Out Spray Head
Dishwasher
Side-by-Side Refrigerator with Ice and Water through the Door
Microwave Oven/Range Hood Combo
2x6 Sidewalls with R-19 Fiberglass Insulation
R-22 Floor Insulation
R-36 Ceiling Insulation
30 year architectural shingles
My note: this one I'm using as an example doesn't particularly look like a "trailer" and looks more like a basic ranch home, if taken off the wheels and chasis, which I would of course do.
The main things that jump out at me in the positives are the energy star rating including 2x6 wall construction with r-19 insulation, higher than minimum standard ceiling insulation, an insulated floor, granite in the kitchen, roofing, all (energy star whirlpool) appliances included, soaker tub and ceramic tile in the master bath.
There are obvious cost cutting measures as well which aren't stated, but I can gather by looking at the pictures, such as laminate counters in the bathrooms with plastic insert sink basins, LVT (vinyl tile) hardwood-look flooring in kitchen and bathrooms, what is probably very low quality carpet in the bedrooms and living room. hard to tell the quality of the cabinetry, I'd expect it is perhaps a notch above or on par with the builder-grade generic oak cabinets that are in most houses in the mid $150k's in my area.
With specs like that, the manufactured home just doesn't scream terrible quality to me, as opposed to the "trailers" from back in the day.
I just don't get how this is as awful of an option as everyone makes it out to be. What's wrong with ordering a house like this and permanently attaching it to a foundation so that it can be converted to real property? The only real downside I see is that the floorplan doesn't allow for much future expansion (if any) and there is no garage built in. I could honestly purchase several acres in my area and put one of these on a prepared foundation and build a 2 or 3 car garage for what a builder-grade cookie cutter house in a crowded neighborhood would cost. Converting it to "real property" would take care of the not being able to finance it part of it. Not clear on if it would help with insurance or not. I just feel like I have to be missing something here. Anyone have more insight to share with me?