Why would you rent another apartment, when you could live in a brand new manufactured home?

If you’re looking to move, then you’ve probably chosen what type of housing you’ll end up in. Will it be an apartment, a townhome? A stick-built residence, a condo? This decision usually comes down to what you can afford in your area. Apartment living is definitely the most well known affordable housing option, with over 50 million Americans renting apartments (nmhc.org). But there are more affordable, more spacious alternatives.

20 million Americans live in manufactured homes (US census), with more and more making the move each year. They’re in the minority compared to apartment dwellers, but we think they know something that other people don’t. If you’re on the market for a new place to live, and you’re considering renting an apartment, read on to understand why so many Americans are making the switch from apartments to manufactured homes.

Finances

When you pay rent to live in an apartment each month, you’re putting money towards something that you don’t own. Renting seems like the most affordable option at first, but how much of your money are you giving away? When you pay rent, you’ll never see that money again.

But did you know you could purchase a 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom manufactured home for a similar cost of renting a one-bedroom apartment? Plus, you can build equity on those monthly payments, without the huge expenses associated with buying a stick-built home. When you buy a manufactured home in a land-lease community, you own the home you live in: which means if you ever want to sell it, you can see some money back from those payments you make every month.

Plus, buying or renting manufactured homes are often as affordable or more affordable than renting apartments in certain areas. So even if you’re not ready to buy a manufactured home, you can save money by renting a manufactured home in a land-lease community, instead of renting a unit in an apartment.

Freedom & Choice

When your home is your own, you can do what you want with it! In most apartments, you’ll be limited when it comes to personalizing your space: no painting the walls or replacing the hardware. Dream on if you’re not crazy about the kitchen in your apartment, because those cabinets and countertops are there to stay.

When you buy a manufactured home, you’re free to customize the home’s interior however you’d like before you even move in. Many land-lease communities have lots available for brand new, made-to-order manufactured homes, which means you can design the home to look just how you want it to.

Speaking of freedom, remember the person who lived in the apartment next to you who always complained about noise? When you’re not sharing walls, you’re free to do what you want, when you want: crank up the volume on your TV, have guests over late, or even play your drum kit in the early hours before work… There’s no one on the other side of the wall to hear you.

Privacy

Which brings us to: privacy. When your property is truly your own, that privacy goes both ways. Not only will your neighbors not have to hear what you’re up to, but also you won’t have to hear them. No more upstairs neighbor doing burpees and jumping jacks while you’re trying to relax.

Not to mention, at an apartment complex, outside amenities are shared fully amongst residents. If you’re lucky enough to have a balcony, chances are it’s immediately next to, above, or below someone else’s. When you own or rent a manufactured home in a land-lease community, you’ll have a lot all to yourself: so get outside and enjoy your yard without having to cross paths with the neighbors unless they’re invited.

Parking

If you’ve ever lived in an apartment or duplex without enough dedicated parking spaces, you’re probably all too familiar with how frustrating that can be. Let’s face it: street parking is never ideal. Your car is at risk of getting dinged up on the street, and there’s always a chance you’ll end up having to walk a block or two (or more) just to get to your home from your car.

At a land-lease community, you’ll have your own driveway, which means you’ll always have spots for you and your guests.

Space

And all that extra space isn’t just for your car. In many cases, your options for manufactured housing will be more affordable and more spacious, especially in urban areas where apartments tend to be tinier and more expensive. Most new manufactured homes come with laundry rooms, walk-in closets, 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, and open floor plans that give you and your cohabitants space to breathe. Storage is no issue, with plenty of cabinet and closet space inside of the home. Plus, outside most homes come with storage sheds for your tools, bikes and lawn furniture.

Don’t need 3 bedrooms, or a home office? There are smaller manufactured homes available too, but seriously, consider the possibilities of an extra room. It’s a space where your dreams can live. Take up crafting in it. Lay down a mat and throw in some affordable exercise equipment for a home gym. Make it a game room for the kids so their toy mess no longer lives in the living room, or stock it with a bar and a mini fridge for the adults. The possibilities are endless.

Community Amenities

“But what about my amenities?” You might say. Nicer apartment complexes sometimes come with fitness centers, recreation areas, a pool, on-site maintenance or clubhouses, and we can understand how those can be hard to give up. The good news is that many manufactured home land-lease communities have those amenities, too.

And aside from just having the impersonal addition of a shared gym or a basketball court, living in a land-lease situation often fosters a strong sense of community amongst residents. Enjoy the perks of living in a neighborhood with regular events like move nights, summer lunch programs for the kids and holiday get-togethers.

What’s more, at every UMH community, UMH understands the importance of investing back in its residents. Our communities set aside budget each year for community upgrades and additions, because we know that our neighborhoods are stronger when we grow and build something together.

Quality

Some apartments are modern, new and updated! Usually, those are the expensive ones. Chances are if you’re renting an affordable apartment, it came with a history of countless previous tenants. Many apartments have outdated appliances and fixtures, or worse, old carpet.

If you could have an updated, never-before-lived-in home for the same cost or less, why wouldn’t you? Imagine waking up in the morning and picking out your clothes in your huge walk-in closet, coming home after work and walking across your shiny wood laminate floors, cooking dinner with your brand new energy-certified kitchen appliances, and taking a soak in your porcelain-white garden tub. Everything looks new, smells new, feels new.

Like home manufacturer Clayton says in their video, with your “beautiful, affordable slice of the world to call your own,” you could truly have it made.

Live Without Compromise

It’s time to ditch the shared walls for green grass and privacy. You can have the lifestyle and the home that you’ve dreamt of, without taking on the burden of an expensive land purchase.

To start designing your picture-perfect dream home, visit UMHSalesCenter.com, and find a land-lease community near you with UMH’s community finder. It’s time to create a home to call your own: one with more space, more privacy, and more amenities than the apartment options you’ve been considering.

?Manufactured homes are the perfect solution to America’s affordable housing crisis. Here’s why.

For years, America has been in an affordable housing crisis. With home prices rising, more Americans are either moving in with family members or trapped in an expensive renting cycle. Those who can afford to own their own home often settle for smaller, more expensive homes that are sometimes farther away from work.

In 2016, the U.S. Census Bureau reported that the rate of U.S. home ownership declined by 62.9% – which is the sharpest reported decline since the figure first started tracking in 1965. And renters don’t fare any better. According to a report from Harvard’s Joint Center for Housing Studies in 2013, nearly half of all renters can’t afford their rent.

The nuts and bolts of the affordable housing issue are complex, though many economists will say it comes down to high demand for homes with low supply. Construction rates cannot keep up with the need, and there are not enough laws that provide pricing protection for low- and middle-income Americans.

This is where manufactured homes come in as the most viable solution. Manufactured homes are constructed more efficiently, more affordably, and far more quickly than their stick-built counterparts. This alone should make manufactured housing an easy answer to the short supply of livable homes in America.

And yet, despite that fact that these affordable housing solutions are structurally safe, attractive and produced with all of the same materials as stick-built homes, manufactured housing still faces an unjustified stigma in America. The truth is, common myths about manufactured housing just don’t hold up against the elegance and integrity of their modern designs.

So, how exactly are these homes the answer to such a pervasive and long-held problem in America? Let’s explore.

Manufactured homes are constructed quickly.

Prefabricated homes differ from site-built homes due to the way they are constructed. Manufactured homes are constructed in off-site, climate-controlled factories, through processes that have been refined and streamlined.

Not only does this allow for construction to continue independently of unexpected weather events, it also requires less labor, less time, and less energy use.

All said and done, a prefabricated home can be built and ready to ship in just weeks, with simpler designs taking only days. By comparison, homes constructed on-site can take anywhere from three to nine months, and that’s without significant interruptions. Manufactured housing’s quick and efficient build process goes a long way in ensuring the supply is there to meet the demand for affordable homes.

Manufactured homes are constructed with less upfront cost.

It’s well understood that on-site construction activities can be costly, wasteful, and inefficient. Building homes in factories circumvents these problems by reducing wasted materials and making efficient use of machinery to use the minimal amount of energy and manpower.

Manufactured home factories purchase materials in bulk. The materials can then be stored indoors, protected from the elements until they are used. And since they order the exact sized materials every time, there’s almost never any waste. In the event that there are any excess materials, those too can be saved and repurposed for custom home builds.

Labor costs are also lower compared to site-built homes, due to the fact that manufactured homes take much less time to create.

All of these factors mean lower upfront building costs, which ultimately translate to large savings for the homebuyer. According to the Manufactured Housing Institute’s 2018 Industry Overview, manufactured homes cost $58/square foot less than the average site built home.

Manufactured homes are affordable and quickly available.

Due to the cost-saving and efficient building process, manufactured homes can be constructed with all of the same quality materials as site-built homes, and still be sold at a fraction of the cost.

According to the United States Census Bureau, manufactured homes account for 70% of new homes in the United States that cost less than $150,000. Clayton

This means that the large majority of homes in America that are affordable to low- and middle-income Americans are manufactured homes. Yet, while the volume of manufactured homes produced has increased year over year for the last decade, they still only house less than 10% of the United States population.

Fortunately, this can change quickly. Because of the ability for quick construction, custom-built manufactured homes can be available to the consumer in as little as six weeks. As long as there is available land, there can be available homes.

Let’s not forget also that the affordability of a home extends beyond its sticker price. Whether you are renting or buying, there are other factors that contribute to the overall cost of living. The hidden savings of manufactured homes lie in their efficiency. Many modern manufactured homes come Energy Star certified. This means they come with highly effective insulation, tightly constructed ducts and advanced window coatings to lower heating and cooling costs. The homes also come with Energy Star certified kitchen and bathroom appliances to lower electricity usage.

All in all, there is a tremendous solution to the affordable housing crisis in manufactured housing as more people embrace the safety, beauty and livability of these affordable homes.

Community living makes manufactured homes even more affordable.

Manufactured homes still need a place to live, and the cost of land in many metropolitan areas can be quite high. Land-lease communities exist as a solution to this problem. Within communities like UMH’s manufactured home communities, people can own their home as an asset while renting the land it lives on.

This makes homeownership even more accessible. Individuals purchasing homes in land-lease communities don’t have to pay for land, and they don’t have to pay to place the home. UMH’s team lends their expertise and can place the home more quickly and more efficiently.

And for those who do not have a down payment or who have no interest in purchasing a home, many UMH manufactured home communities offer affordable rental units.

To find out more about UMH’s manufactured home communities, or to find a community near you, check out our community finder tool and start planning your journey to homeownership, today.

Approximately 2-3 million households in the United States live in manufactured housing communities, according to the 2013 American Housing Survey. As the standards of manufactured housing have increased, so have the number of Americans considering manufactured housing as a high-quality, affordable option.

The question is, who lives in the modern manufactured home community these days, and what benefits do they enjoy from their living situation?

Who Lives In Manufactured Home Communities?

An extensive report by Foremost compiled a profile of people living in manufactured homes based on more than 26,000 interviews. Here are their findings.

Manufactured Housing Residents Are Younger Than You Think

Despite the pervasiveness of 55+ communities in the manufactured housing space, the largest age group reported in their surveys was actually aged 18-29, coming in at 23% of residents. This shows that many first-time homebuyers turn to manufactured homes when they’re finally ready to break free from the cycle of renting.

Most Manufactured Housing Residents Own Their Home

68% of survey respondents reported that they own the home they live in, as opposed to 24% who were renting and the remainder who reported living with relatives.

What’s more, almost half of the residents who reported owning their home said they were there to stay. 40% didn’t anticipate ever selling it.

The Number of Manufactured Home Residents Living in Communities is Rising.

In 2012, 39% of respondents living in manufactured homes reported living in a community, compared to 35% in 2002.

What Do They Get From Manufactured Home Communities?

By choosing to live in a manufactured home community, residents receive benefits that they otherwise wouldn’t by living on private land or in other multi-family housing, like apartments or condominiums.

Because the land is leased to the resident but owned by the community, first and foremost this means that a resident can enjoy the perks of homeownership – like living in privacy without wall-sharing neighbors, or being able to paint and remodel at your leisure – without having to maintain the land and utilities.

Many UMH manufactured home communities have perks that go above and beyond, including community pools, playgrounds, fitness centers, on-site maintenance, clubhouses and regular events for residents to mix and mingle with their neighbors.

Take a look at our community finder to find a UMH manufactured home community in your area.

Is Manufactured Housing Right For Me?

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Manufactured homes built in 2018 are sturdy, dependable, often energy-efficient and offer a wonderful opportunity for potential homebuyers looking for quality, affordable homes. They allow you to build equity through homeownership, without a lot of the stress, risks and hassle that comes with buying older, stick-built houses.

UMH is proud to have 20,000 homesites that 60,000 residents call home. If you want to learn more and find out why so many of our residents love living in our communities, check out https://www.umhsalescenter.com and get started today!

From our restaurant portions to the cars that we drive, it seems like the United States was built on the mantra that bigger is better. Which is why it’s so surprising that something many refer to as “The Tiny House Movement” could sweep the nation by storm. And yet, Instagram feeds, internet blogs and even multiple dedicated time slots on HGTV have become inundated with the tiny house craze.

So what exactly is a tiny house, and why has it become so trendy?

A tiny house is precisely what it sounds like. Ranging from 60-500 square feet, a tiny house is built to be minimalist and down to the essentials. Most tiny house aficionados join the movement for environmental and financial reasons. But manufactured homes have been here all along as a practical & ecological solution to affordable housing.

Putting a price on it

Tiny homes were born from the DIY trend. For those who are willing to build it themselves, a tiny house can be quite affordable. But depending upon the appliances and fixtures, the average tiny house typically costs between $200 and $400 per square foot.

Compared to manufactured homes, that’s less bang for your buck. The average manufactured home in 2015 cost $100.65 per square foot, making it two to four times more cost effective than its trendy counterpart.

The legal woes of tiny houses

Building a tiny house is one thing. But once it’s built, where do you put it?

In many places, it’s hard to live in a tiny house legally. Building codes, local zoning laws and county ordinances all must factor into tiny house planning. Alternative forms of affordable housing tend to address this issue better than their tiny counterparts.

Manufactured home builders follow federal Housing and Urban Development codes, and many buyers have the luxury of placing their new home in a community that has already been zoned accordingly. That means not having to sort out your own plumbing, which is something I think most of us could do without!

Designing your own home

No doubt, much of the tiny house appeal comes from the aesthetic. They’re trendy, craftsman and can be designed just how you like it.

However, customizations in manufactured homes have blossomed in recent years. A far cry from the cookie-cutter pre-fabs of decades ago, most manufactured home builders offer a wide range of customizations. From cabinetry to floor plans to appliances, the growing options give buyers the opportunity to design the home of their dreams.

Manufactured Homes: Going Green

If energy efficiency is what you’re after, the average tiny home might win out. But for years manufactured homes have been designed with energy efficiency in mind. They are the original “green living” home, and are still far more efficient than your average stick-built home.

Many manufactured home builders are Energy Star Certified, which means their homes are designed to meet the EPA’s strict guidelines for energy efficiency. This includes standards for effective insulation, high-performance windows, tight construction ducts and appliances and heating/cooling systems that use less energy. So while the tiny house movement tightly couples with less consumption and the “off-grid” lifestyle, manufactured homes are designed to maximize efficiency without sacrificing comfort and amenities.

For the DIY bloggers & 20-somethings fleeing the corporate life, there are tiny homes. But for hard-working Americans looking for an affordable, attractive place to call home, manufactured housing is the solution.

When you think of the Baseball Hall of Fame, great players like Hank Aaron and Joe DiMaggio jump to mind. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has honored hundreds of all-time musical greats like The Beatles, Aretha Franklin and David Bowie. 

But there’s another hall of fame you may not have heard of, that we proudly call our own: The RV/Manufactured Housing Hall of Fame and its newest inductee, Christine Lindsey, UMH Vice President of Sales. While not exactly a household name, ask anyone in the manufactured housing industry about Christine Lindsey’s 30+ years of service and you’ll hear accolade after accolade. 

Christine has made numerous contributions to UMH and the industry she loves, through hard work, care, and commitment. On the national level, Christine has served as the Chair of the Manufactured Housing Institute National Communities Council and the Manufactured Housing Institute Board of Directors. She was awarded the National Communities Person of the Year at the 2009 National Manufactured Housing Institute 19th Annual National Congress and Expo.

In her role as Vice President of Sales, Lindsey has been instrumental in improving customer satisfaction and brand loyalty, which have led to a remarkable 100% site increase from 2011 to 2016. Additionally, Lindsey has been a charismatic advocate for the role of manufactured housing in solving our country’s affordable housing shortage. She’s even been known to make emergency repairs to homes on occasion.

Christine Lindsey got her start in the manufactured housing industry as a community manager in 1979 with UMH Properties, Inc., gaining firsthand knowledge about the operations and resident relations so critical to the success of any manufactured home community. She was promoted to Tennessee Regional Manager in 1990, then to Regional Vice President in 1993, and most recently to Vice President of Sales in 2003. Christine was honored with prestigious designation of Manufactured Housing Manager – Master, January 1, 2007 by the Land-Lease Community Real Estate Asset Class.

Christine has always been active in the Tennessee Manufactured Housing Association, where she has been on the board of directors since 1994. She has served as State Park Director for three years and was Chapter President from 2000-2007. She was elected to the Executive Board acting as secretary in 2000. She was elected as Vice President in 2008, President from 2011-2013, and then inducted into the Tennessee Hall of Fame in August 2013.

“This Hall of Fame event is truly a major industry affair,” says Darryl Searer, president and COO of the RV/Manufactured Housing Hall of Fame. “It honors the inductees who have attained a major milestone in their lives and careers.