Buying modern manufactured homes

A lot has changed in the way manufactured and modular homes are constructed, utilized and perceived. There's sometimes confusion about exactly what is meant by "manufactured home."

Historically, manufactured homes were labeled "trailers" or "mobile homes." Those terms don't always apply or truly define this type of housing. 这里有一些东西可以帮助区分和理解结构、术语和类型或模型.

Manufactured vs modular

• Prefabricated homes. 这是一个通用术语，指的是任何类型的房屋，在非现场建造(在生产工厂或工厂)，然后运送到建筑工地. A prefabricated home is usually insured under a standard Homeowners Policy.
  • Modular homes. 预制房屋在工厂分两个或多个部分建造，然后通常用平板卡车运送到建筑工地. Constructed to conventional building codes, they may have multiple floors and more steeply pitched roofs.
  • Panelized home. Unlike modular homes, 这些是作为单独的墙段建造的，然后由建筑商在现场组装. ("Pre-cut" homes are a type of panelized homes.)
• Manufactured homes. Usually single-story, 它们大多采用双宽或三宽的配置，比过时的单宽(窄)版本更宽敞，更像“房子”——后一种类型通常被术语“拖车”所吸引.“联邦人造房屋建筑和安全标准(HUD Code)为人造房屋定义了严格的指导方针. 与模块化住宅最明显的区别是，人造住宅有一个永久性的钢工字钢底盘和地板下的轮子，这样它们就可以被拖走，而不是放在卡车后面.
  • Mobile homes. 当提到今天的人造房屋时，你会经常看到这个术语互换使用. But technically, the term "mobile home" only applies to dwellings built before June 1976, when the HUD Code went into effect.

Are manufactured homes a good investment?

Let's focus on modern manufactured homes. 购买一个的优点是它的成本较低，相对容易和方便的设置. And with today's double- and triple-wide homes, you're not going to sacrifice much in the way of style, floor space and amenities. 人造房屋也给你提供了一个选择，让你有一天可以相对轻松地把它搬到一个新的地方, although more of today's manufactured homes are intended to stay put.

较新的人造房屋也使用非常相似的建筑材料作为标准的粘建房屋. 目前节省的大部分成本是由于建筑过程的效率，而不是使用更便宜的材料, as has been a factor in the past.

While buying a manufactured home is much cheaper up front, there are drawbacks. 你可能会发现，一些金融机构不愿意为人造房屋提供住房贷款，除非它将建立在一个永久性的基础上, 或者你已经拥有这块土地(或者你正在贷款购买这块土地). Chattel loans are offered by some finance companies and banks. This type of loan is different than a real estate loan, which generally includes land or a home and property. A chattel loan is a home-only personal property loan arrangement. 由于人造房屋很多时候是可移动的，居住在家庭社区或公园里, the home itself is what the lenders' interest is in.

购买人造房屋的另一个潜在缺点是转售价值相对较低. However, according to the Federal Housing Finance Agency, there are trends that suggest that manufactured homes may be beginning to appreciate almost as fast as traditional homes. 因此，认为购买人造房屋不是一项强劲投资的观点正在受到挑战.

Although attitudes toward manufactured homes are changing, they're still probably not going to hold as much equity as a standard home, depreciating in value more like an automobile. However, 作为土地组合的一部分出售的人造房屋有时更像标准房屋一样持有股权, depending on upkeep, landscaping and local real-estate conditions.

Manufactured homes are usually insured under a manufactured home policy. Learn more about the State Farm^® Manufactured Home insurance policy.

Site location and other costs

如果你要搬进一个人造住宅公园社区(或者过去被称为“拖车公园”), check the community fees and any rules involving your home, including construction requirements and restrictions. If you'll be on your own property, find out if local zoning laws permit manufactured homes on your site.

您还需要确保您了解运输和在现场建立制造房屋所涉及的所有额外费用. 谈判的一部分通常是谁来支付搬家费用——你还是房屋经销商(或卖给你二手房的人). And while a manufactured home is easier to set up than a newly constructed one, 您仍然需要连接实用程序，并拥有适当的基础和支撑.

Manufactured home inspection checklist

As with any home purchase, you need to thoroughly check out the manufactured home before putting money down. While this applies to a new home as well, it's especially important if you're buying a used manufactured home. In addition to all the usual things you'd check out in any home (such as plumbing, heating 和冷却)，与一个二手制造的家，以下特点值得仔细看看:

• Windows and doors. Make sure windows and doors are insulated and keep an eye out for gaps around the frames. 看看窗户上有没有裂缝，确保所有的门都能轻松地打开和关闭.
• Floors. Test their strength (no squeaking or sagging), 寻找任何翘曲，避免用刨花板建造的地板，因为它在潮湿时容易翘曲或腐烂.
• Belly wrap. 这种厚塑料覆盖在地板和隔热层下面，有助于阻挡动物和湿气. Check the insulation under the wrap to make sure it's not damp.
• Walls. Look for any interior leaks. 乙烯基外墙壁板比金属(容易弯曲)或硬板(容易进水)更可取。.
• Roof. Avoid the old-style flat metal roofs, which can leak and make cooling the home difficult. And look for a shingled roof with an overhang to aid in rain runoff.
• Lumber . Walls should use 2x6" lumber with studs 16" apart.
• Settling and leveling. 旧的人造房屋会随着时间的推移而沉降，扭曲房屋的框架，使其不平整.
• Anchoring. Check that the home's anchoring system is still sturdy and well-attached.
• Additions or alterations. 确定房屋是否有任何未经工厂安装的结构增加或改建. 如果没有得到适当的支持，未经家庭制造商批准的添加可能会增加暴露于风和雪的重量损害.
• Wiring. Structural additions or alterations could cause wiring problems or risk of fire when the wiring has been extracted from the original electrical panel.
• Foundation. Especially on used homes, make sure the chassis are in good condition and have limited rust, and that the concrete pad or pilings on which the home will sit is solid.

Buying a manufactured home is a big commitment and investment, so do your homework, check all your options, and follow up on any safety, construction and finance questions you might have.

To learn more about manufactured and modular home insurance options, contact a State Farm agent today.