Expert: Jessica Bryan - 1/25/2005

Question
Hi Jessica,

My wife and I are recent retirees who have moved to the South from New York. We are looking to purchase our FIRST house ever. We have read lots about the advantage of owning a manuafactured home. That they are built inside in a controlled environment, of better quality because they are held to stricter standards, that they come with all the "bells and whistles" already included, etc. But the "old school" still say the conventional, stick-built homes are better. From your experiences, what is your objective opinion about manuafactured houses-especially in the South where there are more tropical storms? Thank you.

Answer
Hello Dan;
Living and practicing real estate in North Carolina, I have had lots of first hand experience with manufactured homes! Much depends upon the manufacturer.  Quality control is in the factory much like it is in a stick built home.  It depends upon the builder.  There is also a different view of manufactured homes.  It depends if they are single or double-wides or if they are modular.  Much improvement has been made over the years, but a manufactured single or double wide is still viewed as a trailer while a manufactured modular home is seen as a much better built product.  Many large homes are modular these days and there is more and more movement in this direction.  Parts of most homes today are factory built and delivered to the site in a one piece module.  It is far more cost effective and the detailed fittings can be done far more effectively in a factory.  Examples of this are roofing systems, fireplaces and some curved framing or window sections.  A modular home is placed on the land in the same way a stick built home is.  A double or singlewide needs skirting and solid foundation.  However, a single/doublewide  is less sturdy and more apt to succumb to high winds and storms.  You are right...the old school still thinks that stick built homes are better.  As I said earlier: this is not always true though.  There are some builders who build a pretty flimsy home to save costs.  But...as a Realtor when evaluating the sales price of a home I always give a higher value to a stick built home than to a manufactured single or double wide home.  I usually take off a small amount for a modular home as well only because I know that it cost less to build in the first place.  However, I find that age is a great equalizer and over the years, true modulars seem to look just as good as the total stick built home.  This might influence price adjustments later. My suggestion is to calculate your budget and then look at your options.  You may have sticker shock and be unable to get what you need in a stick built home thus necessitating the purchase of a modular or a doublewide.

I hope that this answer helps you in your decision.

Good luck and best wishes.

Sincerely,
Jessica Bryan
Managing Broker
House to Home Realty Services