• Many cities now have outpriced potential homeowners. Prices for three-bedroom homes in some larger cities top $400,000. Even if you are taking out an FHA loan, which may require just 4% of a down payment, that’s still $16,000—a large sum for a younger population group that hasn’t had time to build a salary that often comes with years of experience. 
• Healthcare costs are increasing quickly. While insurance premiums go up, the cost of affordable healthcare ticks upward, and wages are not increasing at anywhere near the same rate. 
• Student loan payments are spiraling out of control. College graduates are finishing their time at school with both a diploma and as much as $80,000-100,000 in debt. Once they begin the repayment process, there is little money left over to afford their dreams of home ownership. 

• Modern Living Spaces. Manufactured homes are contemporary and spacious. Many have three bedrooms with two bathrooms (including a master bedroom and bath), open kitchens with an island, plus abundant cabinet and countertop space. 

• Located in Sought-after Areas. Whether you enjoy city living or a rural setting, or would like to be near work (or play), there is a manufactured home community that will meet—and exceed—your needs. Many manufactured homes have playgrounds, basketball courts, outdoor pool, and community centers that create a true sense of community.

• Affordable. Manufactured homes provide excellent value for your rent dollars, and offer just as many features as site-built homes. Some communities have a land-lease program, which allows residents to buy homes and then lease the land that the home sits on. Besides making these homes even more affordable, it allows for inexpensive monthly rental payments, and you get much more for your money.

• Prime Locations. Many manufactured home communities are near desirable areas, such as state and national parks, breathtaking mountain ranges, beautiful beaches, and popular cities that are best known for pricey housing. A manufactured home with in a sought-after location can put you close to your favorite places and can also be conveniently near where you work.   
• An Affordable Housing Choice. Families, single parents, couples, or those who are enjoying retirement may be looking for a housing option that is much more affordable than what many cities are offering. With housing prices appreciating over the last three years at an average of 17% in many cities (and as high as 50% in places like San Francisco), manufactured homes are one of the few housing bargains available. 
• Manufactured Home Features. These homes often include three bedrooms and may be as much as 1,500 sq. ft. large. With plenty of kitchen space, plus a master bedroom and master bath, they have just as many features as site-built homes. Some have hardwood floors, tile, cathedral ceilings, picture windows, laundry/mud rooms, and additional options. 

• Spacious Floor Plans for Families. The interiors of modern manufactured homes have floor plans similar to those in site-built homes. These homes have three bedrooms, two baths, and master bedroom and bath suites. They include a large, eat-kitchen with an island, plenty of counter space for small appliances, cabinet room for dishware, and even breakfast nooks. Brand-name appliances, another important factor in homebuyer decisions, are available too. 
• Storage and Outdoor Areas. Manufactured homes have countertop and cabinet space in both the kitchen and bathrooms, plus plenty of closet space in the bedrooms. A storage shed is included on most properties, and homes have a deck where residents can enjoy the outdoors. Many manufactured home communities also have amenities such as club houses, playgrounds, swimming pools, and basketball courts.
• Locations Where People Want to Live and Work. We’ve also noticed a shift in homebuyer preferences: instead of being forced to find a home that’s an hour away from the city area where they work, they prefer to be closer – closer to work, to dining and shopping, and to entertainment. Today’s homebuyers want less time commuting and more time enjoying leisure activities. 

• Space and Storage: Manufactured homes the space of a mobile home and many feature three bedrooms and two bathrooms. Highlights include large kitchens with abundant countertop and cabinet space, living rooms that comfortably seat everyone in the family, and master bedrooms with attached master baths. Outside, manufactured homes usually have storage sheds, decks, or patios. 
• Amenities and Floorplans: Decades ago, mobile homes were designed with very few amenities and didn't have varied floorplans since they contained so little space. Manufactured homes, are now designed with the modern home owner in mind. The kitchens have space for an island or breakfast nook. Master bedrooms feature walk-in closets and master baths have room for a relaxing garden tub and shower, as well as plenty of counter and sink space. Also, wall-to-wall carpeting and/or laminate floors are the norm in manufactured homes. 
• Community and Location: Many manufactured homes are located in beautifully landscaped communities and feature playgrounds, sport courts, clubhouses, and other amenities that cater to every age. The communities are often in suburban or rural areas, but are close to major cities and highways. Shopping, dining, entertainment, and activities are also nearby. 

• • Spacious Floor Plans. Homes have modern features, including kitchens with ample cabinet and countertop space, islands, and breakfast nooks. Master bedrooms, master bathrooms, and porches create bonus living space.
• • Community Amenities. These communities may have recreational amenities like outdoor pools, playgrounds, basketball courts, exercise rooms, and clubhouses that can be used by all residents of the community.
• • Desirable Locations. Manufactured home communities are often close to urban areas, making work commutes easy and ensuring that residents are near entertainment, dining, and shopping options. Some are in beautiful suburban areas near parks and recreational areas.  

• Shared Amenities. Many manufactured home communities include extra conveniences for residents. They can enjoy sport courts, outdoor pools and sun decks, and even club houses that can be used for resident get-togethers or to host parties or special events. Non-communal living areas aren’t able to offer those kind of extras that allow residents to get to know each other.

• Affordability. In a manufactured home community, homes are much more affordably priced than comparable site-built homes, sometimes selling for up to 60% less. While these homes are less expensive, they are large and modern, with three bedrooms, two baths, spacious kitchens and bedrooms, and plenty of storage. You can choose to live in a beautiful home that fits your lifestyle and fits within your housing budget.  

• Land-Lease Opportunity. In a manufactured home community, land leases allow residents to lease the land that their home stands on for a much lower cost than purchasing the land. Now, your housing costs become even more affordable. Buying the land in a non-communal area means you’ll spend a much bigger chunk of your housing dollar. 

• Desirable Locations. Many suburban and rural manufactured home communities are located in areas that you want to live in, with dining, recreation, entertainment, shopping, and schools nearby. In some communities, you can even walk to work, school, or leisure activities. Stand-alone homes, on the other hand, can often be in more isolated areas.  

Drops of sweat form at the temples. Pulses skip a beat. As April 15th nears, many taxpayers are scrambling to file their federal state and tax returns. But if you’re one of the nearly 80% of Americans who will receive a refund of hundreds—or even thousands—of dollars, you’re doing a happy dance.

Now, the question is, what’s the best way to spend it? You might be tempted to splurge on a vacation. Congratulations, you deserve it! Others will buy a new car or SUV, which can be a necessity. But if you’re honest with yourself, you’ll admit that neither one of those expenditures is a wise investment. So, what is?

Why not improve your lifestyle while making a smart financial decision? If you’re already a homeowner, consider the long-awaited kitchen or bathroom remodel. People buying a house look first at kitchens and baths, according to the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University. So while these rooms can be the most costly to redo, they’re more likely to pay off in higher resale value.

Live better, sooner

Another common-sense idea for spending tax refunds is placing a down payment on a new home. For apartment dwellers, home ownership could be a dream come true. Manufactured home communities offer ownership starting well below most stick-built homes.

Companies like UMH Properties, Inc. help their customers find the homes and features that fit their budgets. Some of their communities offer three-bedroom, two-bathroom manufactured homes for a cost similar to a one-bedroom apartment. And now may be the best time to buy. Interest rates are near all-time lows, but appear to be inching higher.

At UMH Properties, Inc., prices vary depending on size as well as customizable features and finishes. Home prices also vary by location, but all models and price points include backyards that encourage outdoor activities. Residents are welcome to pursue their interests, leisure activities and DIY projects. Many UMH communities feature shared amenities such as swimming pools, tennis courts and playgrounds within steps of individual homes. And all UMH sites provide on-site management and around-the-clock maintenance services.An investment of this year’s refund in a new home can reap even more benefits down the road in the form of tax deductions. The Mortgage Interest Deduction alone led to $68.5 billion in mortgage interest deductions (MID) in just 2012, according to the Congressional Research Service (CRS). That saved American homeowners an average of about $1,900 each.

So before you hit the “Buy” button on that set of custom aluminum wheels or 85-inch smart TV, consider the alternatives. UMH Properties, Inc. has been building high-quality, affordable lifestyle communities since 1968. Visit UMH.com to find the perfect UMH community near you. Or call 800-504-0670 for more information.

As the United States shakes off the last vestiges of a recession that has affected every area of the country, and the Federal Reserve has hiked its key interest rate for the first time in many years, everyone is watching to see what’s going to happen with the job market. 

A more pertinent question would be: What’s going to happen with the current housing market?

Right now, in cities across America, the middle class is quickly being priced out of homes. A recent article in Yahoo! Finance reports that “from 2010 to 2013, home prices were 56 percent higher than construction costs, an increase from the 1990s when home prices were 33 percent higher than construction costs . . . .” Unfortunately, cities on both the East and West coasts are seeing average home prices close to, or even topping, one million dollars—far out of the reach of most city dwellers.

City planning commissions are also choosing not to build high-density (and more affordable) construction by choosing not to change zoning laws that would allow it. Decisions like these are preventing middle- and low-income groups from owning a home.

Middle- and Low-Income Lending Problems

Since the housing crisis started in 2008, and lending regulations were tightened, middle- and low-income would-be homeowners found that they could no longer use private lenders to obtain a mortgage. Instead, in many cases, they were forced to rent homes at a much higher rental cost than would have had just five years ago. Instead of becoming homeowners, many had to continue to rent. Then, as rents increased around the country, people were being priced out of certain cities where just 10 years before, they could have easily met their mortgage payments.

Opportunities in the Current Housing Market

Even as certain areas of the country are pricing hopeful homeowners out of the market, affordable housing options near large and small city areas remain. Manufactured home communities are located in every state, and they offer:

• Large, spacious homes. Many manufactured home communities offer three-bedroom and two-bathroom homes that are as large as 1,500 square feet. They feature beautifully designed kitchens with space for islands, breakfast bars or nooks, plus counter space and cabinetry. Master bedrooms open into master baths, and walk-in closets may be available too.
• Great locations. If you’d like to live in a desirable area but you find that you’re being priced out of the traditional home market, a manufactured home community allows you to live where you desire. You can be close to cities, in a rural area, or right in the suburbs, and close to shopping, dining, entertainment, and recreation.   
• Personal service for owners and renters. With professional, 24-hours-a-day on-property management available, plus timely maintenance service, community residents always have someone to depend on. Many manufactured home communities also have playgrounds, basketball courts, outdoor pools, and clubhouses that residents are free to use year-round.

UMH properties owns 98 manufactured home communities in seven states throughout seven states in the United States. Our affordable homes allow you to live where you want. Call or contact us today to learn more about our modern, spacious homes.