Difference Between Mobile Home and Manufactured Home

July 2022 · 5 minute read

A home is a safe space and place for people, irrespective of what type of house it is.

When it comes to non-mobile places or residency, there seems to be a lot of confusion about them. The definition that is used to describe mobile homes, and other forms of portable homes, can cause confusion among people.

Mobile Home vs Manufactured Home

The main difference between Mobile Home and Manufactured Home is that mobile homes are a type of prefabricated homes which were manufactured before 1976 and are now can only be found in the resale market, whereas manufactured homes are a type of prefabricated homes that are still manufactured under the guidelines of the HUD law.

Mobile Homes is a prefabricated structure that is built in a factory, and then they are moved to the site. It was constructed before 1976. After 1976 they are only for the reselling purpose. They were earlier called doublewides. But after the law of 1976, they have renamed manufactured homes.

Manufactured Homes are a type of prefabricated home that is assembled in a factory and then it is transported to the site. They come under the HUD law of 1976 and are manufactured under all the regulations and the guidelines of the law.

Comparison Table Between Mobile Home and Manufactured Home

Parameters of ComparisonMobile HomeManufactured Home
Manufacturing yearIt was manufactured before 1976.It was manufactured after 1976.
Formerly calledThe mobile homes were called double wides.The manufactured homes were called mobile homes formerly but after the HUD law, they were renamed.
HUD LawThese homes do not come under the HUD law.These homes do regulate and come under the HUD law.
ConstructedThese prefabricated homes were largely constructed in factories with wheels.These prefabricated homes are largely constructed in factories then are relocated at the site.
Effect of HUD Lawafter 1976, these homes were not constructed and were only for resale.They came into existence after the HUD law, replaced mobile homes.

What is Mobile Home?

A mobile home is a type of prefabricated home that was produced before 1976. They are largely constructed in factories and then transported to the site where they will reside.

They are factory-built houses that came under the HUD law, which regulates many things about homes like fire safety and insulation. According to this law, standards were put for the design and construction of these homes.

These homes became so popular that the US Department of Housing and urban development established a HUD law in 1976.

They can be located inside a home park or private land. These homes have steel beams as the foundation of the home. These beams rest on concrete blocks, wooden pillars, or a permanent concrete foundation for its stability. 

Before 1976, the manufactured homes were called mobile homes. There haven’t been any mobile homes constructed since 1976. They are only available in the resale market.

The trailers were manufactured with two separate units and were called Doublewides. Later these double wides were renamed mobile homes.

These are mainly built on wheels, just like caravans, for easy relocation. These differ in their designs but can fit anyone’s standard lifetime.

The HUD law of 1976 mainly focused on house safety. But they are no anymore constructed in the USA anymore. They are only available in the resale market.

What is Manufactured Home?

A manufactured home is a type of prefabricated home that was produced in or after 1976. They also come under the HUD law. The manufacturers must follow strict guidelines laid by the HUD.

They are also manufactured on flatbeds around 16-foot sections and are then relocated to the site where they will reside temporarily or permanently. They are constructed in a proper climate-controlled building facility.

These homes can be easily customized in terms of flooring, design, etc. 

After some new changes were made to the mobile homes, they have officially renamed manufactured homes.

All the prefabricated homes that were manufactured after 1976 adheres to the regulations of the manufactured home under the law of HUD.  

Main Differences Between Mobile Home and Manufactured Home

  • A mobile home was built and constructed only before 1976, whereas manufactured homes were built and constructed after 1976 and come under the regulations of HUD law.
  • Mobile homes were earlier called doublewides, whereas manufactured homes were earlier called mobile homes, but after the HUD law, they were renamed to manufactured homes.
  • Mobile homes are prefabricated homes that were constructed in factories, whereas manufactured homes are also constructed in factories and then are relocated to their site temporarily or permanently.
  • Mobile homes do not come under the appearance of traditional homes, whereas manufactured homes come under the appearance of traditional homes.
  • A mobile home is treated like financing a car. That is why it does not come under the HUD law, whereas manufactured homes come under the regulations of HUD law.
  • Conclusion

    Prefabricated homes are becoming a popular choice for home buyers. These two types of homes are similar in the fact that they are both prefabricated, and they both come with VIN numbers. Both mobile homes and manufactured homes are prefabricated homes that offer a large variety of options.

    The size of each of these two homes varies from a single story to a multi-section. They both are considered either temporary or permanent. These both are assembled in a factory, and then they are transported to their site or location, and then they are assembled either piece by piece or segment by segment depending upon its size. After the assembling, they are ready to be used.

    Buying a home is not a small decision. But either one’s home is a mobile home or a manufactured home. It cannot be both. In addition to that, one must know what kind of home he/she wants.

    References

  • https://search.proquest.com/openview/40931d65782959ee9d472b7b2247a50a/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=1817355
  • https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S014362280900054X
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