FAQs

Manufactured homes, also known as mobile homes, are built entirely in a factory under a federal building code administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The Federal Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards (commonly known as the HUD Code) went into effect June 15, 1976. Manufactured homes may be single- or multi-section and are transported to a site and installed. The federal standards regulate manufactured housing design and construction, strength and durability, transportability, fire resistance, energy efficiency and quality. The HUD Code also sets performance standards for the heating, plumbing, air conditioning, thermal systems and electrical systems. HUD code is the only federally regulated national building code. On-site additions, such as garages, decks and porches, often add to the attractiveness of manufactured homes but must be built to local, state or regional building codes.

A manufactured home, trailer, and mobile home refer to the same thing: a home that is entirely constructed in a factory and then built on a fixed chassis. The term “Mobile Home” has been around since 1926 and has stuck around as the typical vernacular.

Manufactured homes are built entirely within climate-controlled facilities to federal HUD Code regulations and come in three sizes: single-wide, double-wide, and triple-wide. A permanent foundation can be laid, and some models can be placed in a basement, but they can be relocated with the help of an experienced contractor if not laid on a permanent foundation. Climate-controlled home building facilities are also used to build modular homes. They are, however, built following all state, local and/or regional codes. Based on the size, they can be constructed in up to five sections and are typically built in two sections.

Under the National Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards Act of 1974 (the Act), HUD establishes federal standards for the design and construction of manufactured homes to ensure quality, durability, safety, and affordability. In 1976, HUD established the Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards, or HUD Code, which improved manufactured homes’ quality, safety, durability, and affordability.

Although mobile homes and travel trailers share the same historical roots, the two are very different today, with travel trailers serving primarily as temporary or vacation homes. Aside from cosmetic work fitted during installation to conceal the base, mobile homes have strong trailer frames, axles, wheels, and hitches.

After you place an order for a new home, your home builder will complete it efficiently and on time, but there are other factors that can affect the move-in date. There are several factors that can affect the timeline, including the type of house you are buying, how many orders the building facility has received, home inspections, and land preparation.