Manufactured Homes 101 - Buying Guide

Buying a Manufactured Home – Taking the Next Step

Buying a manufactured home is an exciting decision, yet it is one quickly followed by a number of additional critical choices that you will need to make. In order to go from wanting a factory-built house to actually owning one, it is advised that you first establish a realistic idea of how much you can afford to spend on a home.

The Steps

An easy way to do this is to use an online mortgage calculator. This is a tool that can generate your estimated monthly mortgage payment after factoring in a variety of relevant variables, such as your loan amount, interest rate, and desired loan term length.

You will also need to decide where you want your manufactured home to be located. Your options include:

  • Owner-occupied land – FMHA-affiliated retailers and other members will be happy to advise you on both the benefits and challenges of putting a manufactured home on your own land.
  • Land lease community – Another option is to live in a land lease community, where you will own your home but lease the land it sits on. Land lease communities are highly affordable residential environments that exclusively feature factory-built housing. Some, but not all, land lease communities restrict residency to individuals who are 55 or older. The main attraction of a 55+ community is that it affords older adults the opportunity to purchase a low-cost manufactured home and live in a place with age-appropriate facilities, activities, and services. An aging population, combined with advances in manufactured housing, has helped spur an ever-increasing number of retirees to buy homes in 55+ communities across the country

FMHA is a not-for-profit organization that has been instrumental in helping to bring homeownership within reach for countless people. With help from FMHA and our constituent members, you will be able to make informed decisions throughout the process of buying a manufactured home.

The process of learning about manufactured homes and buying a manufactured home is made easier with assistance from the Florida Manufactured Housing Association (FMHA), an organization founded to promote the best-built homes in America. Our members include builders of manufactured homes, community developers and owners, retail sales centers, financial institutions, law firms, and others who can provide you with the information you need to make informed decisions throughout the home-buying process.

We invite you to contact any of our members directly, whether you have questions about financing a manufactured house, obtaining insurance, selecting a floor plan, or any other matter related to the home-buying process.

Learning More About Manufactured Homes

Manufactured Homes 101

The Florida Manufactured Housing Association has a wealth of information at your fingertips to assist you in your journey to homeownership. From videos to definition of terms unique to your new factory-built home, it’s all right here.

Manufactured Homes 101

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Manufactured Home Safety

Manufactured Home Insurance & Financing

What is a modular home?

MH Advantage

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