Beautifully appointed manufactured home
In yesterday’s post I discussed modular homes. Now for a primer on manufactured homes.
“Even today, when most people hear ‘manufactured homes’ they think of a trailer that they were in 40 years ago. They have no idea what our product has become.” That’s Jeff Held of Riverview Homes describing how manufactured home craftsmanship has matured since “trailers” were first introduced.
Jeff’s interest in clearing up lingering misconceptions about manufactured homes is understandable because his company, Riverview Homes, is the premier provider of “quality family-affordable homes” in western Pennsylvania.
Manufactured homes are built with a permanent steel chassis which hold the wheels used to transport them. It’s easy to see why these homes came to be called “trailers” or “mobile homes.” But the chassis is as close as it gets to standing in for the “trailer” of old. Today’s design options will knock your socks off.
While you can still buy a “single-wide,” the “double-wides” have gained in popularity and offer a spaciousness that feels more like a traditional single family home. Designer touches such as Jacuzzi® tubs, vaulted ceilings, fireplaces and well-equipped kitchens are the norm, not the exception.
Finishes include drywall (hello–no more fake wood paneling), and other typical homeowner options, such as woodwork and stainless steel appliances, offering discriminating home buyers an opportunity to upscale their home purchase. Creating a unique, one-of-a-kind manufactured home is easy; your only limitations might be budget and lot size.
Depending upon the size unit you select and the options you include, a manufactured home can cost significantly less than a modular or site-built home. The downsides? Well, it is a home that usually sits above the ground, unattached to a foundation, and municipal codes will restrict where manufactured homes may be located. However, in states such as California and Florida, manufactured home parks are gaining in popularity, especially among the 55 and over crowd, so it appears attitudes may be changing. A final downside is that manufactured homes rarely, if ever, appreciate in value.
There is a great deal of information about manufactured homes on the Internet, if we’ve piqued your curiosity. But if you’re in western Pennsylvania, check out Riverview Homes, and be prepared for some suprises that will make you do a double-take at the double-wides. They’re not your grandmother’s trailer home anymore!
And if you missed my blog post yesterday on Riverview Homes’ modular homes, you can read it here.
Originally posted 2009-07-04 09:00:41.
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