What Should I Research Before Buying a Manufactured Home?

Buying a new home is an exciting and rewarding process! When you’re in the market for a new home, quality and affordability are extremely important.

Manufactured homes are ideal for anyone looking for a cost-effective, durable home. They’re built in a controlled factory setting with high quality materials, then delivered to your property for final installation.

Not only are manufactured homes more affordable than site-built homes, but they’re also built faster thanks to the efficiency of factory-built construction. That means you can save time and money with a manufactured home!

Manufactured homes are built with the same materials as site-built homes, so you can get the benefits of factory-built homes without sacrificing quality. 

Research is a key step in the process of buying a home, so we put together our advice on what to look into when you’re thinking about purchasing a manufactured home.

• Get started by researching the type of manufactured home you want, like a single-section, multi-section, endwall entry, or sidewall entry home.

• You’ll also want to look into the manufactured home add-ons that are most important to your family, such as a garage, carport, porch, or deck.

• It’s helpful to research your manufactured home budget before you visit a retailer, including the cost of the manufactured home, land (if you don’t already own property), delivery, and setting and finishing services. Our estimated monthly payment calculator can help you figure out your monthly budget.

The first step of researching a manufactured home is looking into the type of home you want to buy. Consider which home would best fit your family’s needs:

• Single-section manufactured homes: They're built from a single module in a factory. Single-section manufactured homes can range from one bedroom/one bathroom up to three bedroom/two bathroom models. These homes are a great fit for both individuals and families.

• Multi-section manufactured homes: These homes are built from multiple sections in a factory. Two sections are most common, but they can be as large as three sections. Multi-section homes are usually three bedrooms or more with two or more bathrooms. They’re ideal for families, anyone interested in multi-generational living, and people who love to host guests.

• Endwall entry manufactured homes: Ideal for skinny lots, endwall entry manufactured homes have the front door on the shorter end of the home. You can fit a small or moderately-sized front porch or back deck on an endwall entry home. These homes are more common in urban and suburban areas. 

• Sidewall entry manufactured homes: Perfect for wider lots, sidewall entry homes have the front door on the longer side of the home. They’re ideal if you’re looking for a large front porch or back deck.

 Another important part of the research process is thinking about your must-haves in your new home, which will affect the size of the home you’re looking for: 

• Number of bedrooms and bathrooms
• Laundry/utility room or home office
• Walk-in pantry or walk-in closets
• Extra areas for storage 
• Overall desired square footage

After you research the type of manufactured home you’re looking for, consider any add-ons your family will need. They can enhance the overall value of your home. Here are the main add-ons for manufactured homes:

• Garage
• Carport
• Porch
• Deck

Keep in mind that the best time to do any add-ons is during the initial building process, rather than down the road after you’ve been in your home a few years. Completing add-ons up-front can streamline the overall process, which can save you both money and time.

READ MORE: How Do I Buy Land for a Manufactured Home?

When it comes to budgeting for a manufactured home purchase, there are a few different pieces to keep in mind: the manufactured home, the land (if you don’t already own property), delivery services, and setting and finishing services.

It’s okay if you don’t know exactly how much to budget for each of these pieces at this point. Your local retailer will be able to provide a breakdown of the different options and how they factor into your budget.

At this stage, it’s helpful to have a general range for what your overall budget is. Use our estimated monthly payment calculator to break down how much you can budget per month.

We also recommend looking at different homes on manufactured builder sites to get a sense of how much your ideal manufactured home costs. The following tools can help you find manufactured homes with the square footage, number of bedrooms/bathrooms, and specific features you’re looking for: 

• Find a Home Tool on ChampionHomes.com
• Find a Home Tool on SkylineHomes.com

As you continue your manufactured homebuying journey, Champion Homes would love to be a resource for you. Find the best Champion home for you, or contact a Champion retailer in your area. You can also contact our Homebuyer & Homeowner Assistance line Monday–Saturday 8am–8pm EST at 877-201-3870, or fill out our contact form and a member of our team will reach out to you.