An Affordable Dream Home Is Within Reach

6/1/2007

(NewsUSA) - While buying a home may be the most expensive purchase you will ever make, a manufactured home can offer an affordable, quality option.

Manufactured homes are built in a factory with the finest quality materials available, then transported to the site. With the wide variety of available floor plans that include spacious living rooms, dining rooms, fully equipped kitchens, bedrooms, family rooms and utility areas, the first step in finding the right manufactured home for you can start online.

Today's manufactured homes come with the same features and amenities found in site-built homes, including vaulted ceilings, fireplaces, bedrooms with walk-in closets, deluxe kitchens with name-brand appliances and bathrooms with whirlpools. Depending on the region of the country, construction cost per square foot for a new manufactured home averages anywhere from 10 percent to 45 percent less than a comparable site-built home, excluding the cost of land.

As of 2005, the Manufactured Housing Institute reports that the average cost per square foot for a new manufactured home was $39.06 compared to $90.63 for a new site-built home.

Quality comes with a low price tag. All manufactured homes are built according to federal codes administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Regulations include design and construction, strength and durability, transportability, fire resistance and energy efficiency.

To find the best home for the best price, shop around. Retailers offer a variety of products and services, and because most manufacturers use computer-assisted design, you'll have flexibility in choosing variations to floor plans and decor to suit your needs and your budget.

Just as there are choices when you buy a site-built home, there are a variety of financing options when you buy a manufactured home. Your manufactured-home retailer usually can provide information about financing. If you own or plan to purchase the land where you will place your home, traditional mortgage financing may be arranged. If you don't have land, the retailer can usually help you find it.