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Manufactured Housing Resource Center

What is "Manufactured Housing"?

Manufactured housing refers to homes and dwellings which aren't 'stick-built' (constructed at the site), but which are built off-site (usually in a factory) and trucked to the building lot where they are installed or assembled. Manufactured housing includes modular, panelized, pre-cut, and mobile homes.

Manufactured homes are built in accordance with Federal standards known as the HUD Code, which regulates manufactured home design and construction, strength and durability, fire resistance, and energe efficiency. The code also mandates wind resistance of manufactured homes in areas prone to hurricane-force winds.

The Manufactured Housing Institute is a nonprofit trade group which represents MH builders, retailers, lenders, site developers, and others. Their Web site offers a variety of resources for those who want to learn about factory-built housing. You can use the MHI Membership Directory to find a manufacturer, retailer, financial service, community, or state association in your area. There are also online articles on understanding and buying a manufactured (or "factory-built") home.

The MHI also sponsors a consumer site, www.factorybuilthousing.com, which also provides consumer information and allows visitors to shop for a new home.

Some manufactured housing Fast Facts:

• In 2001, one out of 7.5 new single-family housing starts were manufactured homes.
• In 2000, 22 million Americans (about 8.0 percent of the U.S. population) lived full-time in 10.0 million manufactured homes.
• The average sales price of a manufactured home was $48,800 in 2001. (Single-section homes average $30,700, while multi-section homes average $55,100.)
• All manufactured homes are built to the 28-year-old federal HUD Code, with each home going through a rigorous inspection process before being certified and sold.

More Information

• Start your education with "How to Buy a Manufactured Home," written by the MHI in cooperation with the Federal Trade Commission.
• The Manufactured Housing Global Network bills itself as "the central location for the manufactured housing industry." It offers consumer tips, publications, and lots of links to other sites of interest.
• Another source of info is the Manufactured Home Network with a variety of info on MH retailers and manufacturers, "netifides" (net classifieds) for a variety of goods & services, a loan calculator, and more.
• We like the Manufactured Homes Site -- it's full of advice, tips, how-to articles, and resources.
• Many states have trade organizations to educate and assist you.
  • Ohio buyers can visit the Ohio Manufactured Housing Assocation.
  • The Michigan Manufactured Housing Association has a very comprehensive searchable data base of manufacturers, retailers, lenders, and support industries in Michigan and the upper midwest.
  • Other state trade orgs are encouraged to contact us for a free listing.
• Manufactured Housing Today is a trade magazine, but it offers some consumer info as well.