Manufactured homes are built according to a strict set of building guidelines. Learn more about how these residences are actually constructed.

Since the 1960s, manufactured homes have risen in popularity both as vacation homes and permanent residences. In 1978, the national building code, nicknamed HUD, was established by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, effectively shaping the manufactured home industry that we have today. Thanks to this HUD code, manufactured homes are built to meet or exceed a strict set of regulations that oversee nearly every aspect of home building. But how are manufactured homes actually built?

1. The Frame

Every manufactured home begins with a frame. Belly paper is first unrolled to the appropriate length and stapled to the wooden frame around the perimeter of the house. Pre-assembled sewage and water lines, as well as the ductwork for the AC/heat, are then dropped into their assigned places.

2. The Floors

Once the frame is completed, it is lifted entirely and placed onto axles. Liquid glue is spread over the floor joists and then nailed into place. This step is especially important because it will determine the straightness of the walls later on.

3. The Walls

Like the floor, the walls are positioned into pre-cut jigs and then nailed into place. Paneling is then laid over adhesive studs and stapled to the wall. Holes for the windows and electrical outlets are cut out at this time, and the whole structure is lifted with a hoist and put onto the previously assembled floor.

4. The Roof

A layer of insulation is then blown into the ceiling of the manufactured home. The roof is now ready to be papered with shingles or fitted with a metal or tin roof to your specifications. Once the roof is complete, the new home is ready to go!

If you are interested in learning more about the construction of manufactured homes, feel free to contact one of the associates at UMH Properties, Inc. today.

If you live in a manufactured home, odds are that you have wondered how you could better utilize your space. It might seem difficult to live small without overwhelming clutter, but you might be surprised to learn that there are several steps you can take to make your limited space really count.

Shine a Little Light on the Subject

A quick and easy way to make your home feel more spacious is to leave the blinds open when it’s appropriate. You don't want to sacrifice your privacy, but letting natural light in can do wonders to make your home feel much bigger. For artificial light, consider having skinny floor lamps instead of tabletop structures or hanging fixtures.

Bigger Can Sometimes Be Better

Rather than having many small objects in a manufactured home room, consider having one or two big pieces. You'll actually manage to save floor space, and if you decide you want to rearrange your furniture, it immediately becomes a much easier process. However, be mindful of big prints on your furniture! Opt instead for simpler pieces that are either monochromatic or dichromatic for the sake of simplicity. Decorate your walls with a few big pieces rather than many small ones.

Go Up, Not Out

Make your cabinets and other similar fixtures tall instead of wide. You'll have more space if you utilize the entirety of the walls. Find ways to use the inside of cupboard doors, and try to decorate with light colors.

Your manufactured home doesn't have to feel small and cramped. These simple tips are great ways to make the most of your space. Experiment to see what works the best for you.

Most homeowners agree that any enhancement they can make to their property that will save them money in the long run is a good one! At the same time, most of us are looking for ways we can lessen our impact on the environment. Fortunately, there are lots of things you can do to your manufactured home that merge both of these interests. From easy changes to bigger projects, there are almost limitless ways to save yourself some money while helping the environment, too. Here are just four ideas to get you started:

1. Paint your roof. A light-colored roof reflects heat and light, lowering the inside temperature of your home. That means you can give your air conditioner a bit of a break, which translates to lower bills, all while helping to reduce smog in your area.

2. Replace outdated light bulbs. Experts say that ten percent or more of your energy bill is directly linked to lighting. With energy-efficient bulbs in place, you’ll use a fraction of that.

3. Seal your windows and doors. Your heater and air conditioner have to work extra hard to keep the temperature in your manufactured home comfortable, especially if there are leaks around windows and doors. Stop the leaks by caulking or placing weatherstrips along windows and doors, and you’ll see your energy consumption go down in no time.

4. Add insulation. Both the under-floor and roof cavities can lead to significant heat loss, which means your heater will have to work longer and harder to maintain a warm temperature. Hiring a professional to add insulation to these empty spaces can make a real difference.

The best home improvement projects are those that save you money and help the environment. There are almost limitless ways to do this at your manufactured home, from quick fixes like replacing your light bulbs, to larger projects like adding insulation. No matter your budget or level of handiness, there are plenty of options for you to try!

If you live in a manufactured home located in a high-risk area for hurricane impact, you should always be proactive in the prevention of water damage from hurricanes.

Here are five ways to help protect your home.

1. Seal gaps. Windows and doors should be completely sealed. Replace damaged caulking. Inspect areas around pipes or wires coming into your home, and seal gaps and cracks to guard against leaks.

2. Guard your roof. Purchase a sealant that will eliminate wind uplift on shingle roofs, which causes of over 60% of reported damage. A low roof pitch is the most vulnerable. Look for products that have passed the Florida Wind and Water test or that adhere to or exceed FEMA recommendations.

3. Cover your windows. Make sure you have pre-cut plywood that will fit over your windows. Mark the panel so you can easily place it. This will help prevent water from coming into your house, and it will help save money on window replacements.

4. Replace solid skirting. If you have solid skirting, it’s harder for wind to move around your home. This can lead to damage due to lifting. Instead, you’ll want to have latticed or grill work, lessening wind resistance.

5. Install ground or French drains. To redirect pooling water and ground flooding, you’ll want to install drains. This is basically a trench filled with rock that drains water away from your dwelling. They work similar to the gutter system on your roof.

You don’t want to wait until there’s a storm bearing down on your manufactured home before you begin preparing. Water damage can lead to mildew, mold, and rot. It can be a death sentence to some of your most prized possessions, including photographs, books, and important documents. These tips will help reduce damage.

Regardless of price point, factory-built homes are the cost effective way to create quality housing. Based on factory built housing's indisputable cost advantage, factory built homes should increase market share compared to other forms of housing.

The increase in manufactured home shipments occurred every decade but the last one. The billions lost in conventional home mortgages the last ten years was a direct result of government policies that encouraged the purchase of houses without regard to affordability. As rational standards are again applied to obtaining housing, manufactured home shipments will likely increase.

Manufactured home community owners who have embraced rentals are having no problem finding customers for those rental units. The lack of barriers to entry into rental homes encourage increased occupancy of rentals.

Rental units solve the down payment issue that so many working families otherwise cannot overcome. Imagine how difficult it is for a young family of four to save $6,000 on a family income of $50,000 to $70,000 per year. This challenge prevents countless young families from purchasing homes.

Down payment is just one hurdle to home ownership. The second hurdle is credit score. Many people have scarred credit as the result of making bad housing choices in the past.

But a person with bad credit who moves from a $300,000 house to an $80,000 house should have no problems making the payment if their monthly income is unchanged.

Current rules and regulations may prevent financing that buyer. Renting provides that person with a manufactured home they can easily afford while they repair their credit.

Our cost advantage as an industry over conventional housing is substantial. Apartment construction averages $200 per square foot, depending on the market. We can buy communities for $40,000 per site and add a $40,000 house creating almost 1,000 sq. ft. of brand new housing for $80 per sq. ft.

If an apartment owner needs rent of $14 per sq. ft. we can operate with rent of only $7 per sq. ft. That means where they charge $1,400 per month, while we can charge $700 per month. Clearly we benefit the customer and society. UMH's 92 percent – and steadily increasing – rental occupancy demonstrates that when the regulatory barriers and down payment barriers are removed the consumer accepts our product.

The customer appreciates and accepts our appealing home product based on their cost benefit analysis, the enhanced privacy and other factors.

The issue becomes what will bring more buyers back to factory built homes? One answer is a stronger economy. When wage earners feel more secure in their jobs, more will buy homes. When wage earners earn more money they will have the down payment for our homes. When demand increases prices for pre-owned manufactured homes, repossessed homes and new homes will all rise.

As occupancy in properties increases and waiting lists for residency return, don't be surprised when people who bought during the last ten years make money on their homes. That's the law of supply and demand. People talk, so word will get out that manufactured homes are a good investment. As prices of all housing rises, it will become more and more obvious how cost competitive factory built housing is. Sales will increase.

The Other Big MH Issue…

In order for UMH to minimize the time required to fill our 2,000 vacant sites, we would like to see an industry-wide marketing and public relations campaign. UMH believes all legislative problems affecting our industry are due in part to our industry not marketing the benefits of our industry.

How can anyone be against increasing the quality of housing for families with children, the elderly, those with mobility issues, and all people who need housing?

We as industry professionals know the benefits of our product, just as Steve Jobs knew the benefits of personal computing. We need to sell America on the benefits of factory built housing. Steve Jobs sold America on the benefits of Apple products by employing a major national advertising firm.

One of the people at that firm was Ken Segall. I am looking forward to introducing Ken Segall, author of Insanely Simple, and the person who put the “i” in iMac, at the MHI national convention.

Great products do sell themselves. I know that because of our success with rental homes.

But we still need to sell regulators, bankers, zoning officers, and people who otherwise will never see our product on the beauty and benefits of manufactured homes.

Yes it’s as simple as getting people to visit our product. But we need to know how to do that. Our mission is complicated by the fact that most of us have never seen a picture that really does the factory-built home justice. Our house is a home.

When the potential customer brings their family into our home, it becomes easier for them to visual as their home, and we end up with more leases and sales.

But we need to bring that customer from their current residence into our sales center for that to happen. I’m looking forward to the MHI Congress and Expo in Las Vegas in April, and hearing from Ken how we can simply create the best marketing.

by Sam Landy

Decorating a new manufactured home can be an exhilarating experience. New furniture, new décor, new everything—and who doesn't like a fresh start?

Of course, it's possible to get carried away. Since these are affordable homes, you may have a little extra money to spend on furniture. Resist the urge to splurge! Spend some time thinking about your new space. There are certain pieces of furniture that just don't work well in tight quarters. If you're out shopping, we recommend giving these items a pass.

Oversized Items

Space is your most limited resource here, so be sure to use it wisely. Sprawling sofas and large tables are probably going to take up more room than they're worth.

Sharp-Cornered Tables or Shelves

No way around it, walking through a crowded manufactured home can be a bit of an obstacle course, especially for guests that aren't used to narrow walkways. A coffee table with right-angled corners is a spiky, ground-hugging trap for unwary knees. Round tables are more appropriate in manufactured affordable homes.

Always be mindful of how much space you have. You may have to pass on certain furniture pieces, but in the long run you'll appreciate the extra space. 

Nestled in the heart of the resplendent New Jersey town of Millville, Fairview Manor, a premier UMH Properties, Inc. community, has been selected as the 2014 Best Manufactured Housing Community by The Daily Journal.  UMH Properties prides itself in progressing and cultivating high-quality manufactured home communities, and it is truly an honor and a privilege to have Fairview Manor recognized.  We here at UMH Properties, Inc. would like to personally thank the individuals who made this tremendous achievement possible, and we yearn to obtain this award in the future.