›› A Guide to Buying Manufactured Homes

Buying a home is a serious financial decision. As the real estate market evolves, deciding which property to buy isn’t always an easy task. You can choose from different types of houses, including traditional or stick-built homes, condominium units, apartments, and manufactured houses.

In the United States, there are about fifty thousand manufactured housing communities. With the financial benefits of buying mobile homes, many families are moving from stick-built properties to manufactured houses.

Here’s a guide to purchasing mobile homes in Oregon to help you make the right choice for your family:

Manufactured Homes vs. Stick-built Homes

As companies create manufactured homes in factories, the elements do not affect the quality of the building materials. Compared to other kinds of properties, manufactured homes in Oregon go through a stringent quality assurance process, as they need to meet the requirements of the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Similar to conventional houses, these properties come with window treatments and full floor covering.

Many individuals prefer mobile homes to stick-built houses as they get the same – or even better – quality at more affordable rates. Even when you decide to do some renovations, you will still enjoy substantial savings compared to buying a traditional house.

Sizes and Types of Mobile Homes

In the past, mobile homes came in limited sizes, such as 8, 10, and 12 feet. As technology in building mobile houses improved, you’ll now find bigger models. Some companies offer 14, 16, and even 18-feet houses. Typically, you can choose from two types of manufactured homes: single section and multi sections. A single-section house is the most common and practical choice, offering approximately a thousand square feet of living area.

If you need more space, think about getting a multi-section home. There are many double, triple, and quadruple-section houses on the market. Most of these properties offer about 850 to 2,700 square feet of living space.

Inspecting Manufactured Homes

When shopping for mobile homes, assess the roofing, walls, ventilation, plumbing, heating, and air-conditioning. According to experts, it’s more convenient to have a mobile home with the air ducts under the floor, as you won’t have to worry about blocking them when adding furniture pieces. Similar to conventional homes, attic ventilation is also important for manufactured houses. Poor ventilation can trap heat during the warm seasons and result in moisture formation during the cold seasons.

When buying a mobile home in Oregon, experts recommend choosing one with shingled roofing. The kind of roof you have can increase or decrease the service life of your home. For instance, to prevent rain from causing damage to your home, select one with a shingled roof that extends to the sides of your home, efficiently preventing water from getting through the walls.

For walls, select a home with thicker lumber and which follows the size of standard doorways, making it easy to replace doors. Furthermore, think about buying a manufactured house with an exterior layer for extra structural strength.

Shopping for a manufactured home doesn’t have to be complicated. With the help of our agents, you’ll find one that suits your needs.


Resources:

http://complete-mobilehomes.com/

http://www.omha.com/How%20to%20Buy-2.pdf

http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/housing/ramh/mhs/faq