Have you ever driven down the road and passed by a large track of land with hundreds of smaller, trailer looking homes, and wondered what you were looking at? Or did you have the preconceived idea that it was just a trailer park and most likely not desirable? Let me set the record straight, prior to getting into real estate, I might have shared those feelings, but not anymore! 

I still remember the first time I walked into a manufactured home, it was a double-wide located within a 55+ community. The size, layout, and finishing touches were absolutely amazing. Many of the traditional stick-built homes I tour everyday aren't half as nice as this one was. I had a newfound appreciation for manufactured home parks. 

In most parks you will find a large variety of manufactured home styles and sizes, manufactured by different companies. From single-wide, to double-wide, and multi-sections, you have numerous floor layouts available ranging from 600 to 3000 sq. ft.! Many of these homes feature amazing outside features as well, such as large decks and spacious sunrooms. 

I like to save the best for last, so let's talk about the cons first...

1. High monthly fees can seem out of reach for the budget buyer.
2. Credit score and background checks might feel too restrictive.
3. Two-n-one: You don't own the land so you can't get a traditional mortgage.
4. Your kind of buying a car, there's even a VIN number. They don't always gain value like traditional homes.

Some of the pros to living in a manufactured home community...

1. Large well-kept tracks of land that you can enjoy walking around
2. Some offer amenities such as playgrounds, pools, and community activities
3. Can be much more affordable than traditional stick-built homes living
4. Easier upkeep and maintenance on a smaller property and home.

Although not the solution for everyone, I think manufactured homes offer a great living solution for those interested. Not all real estate agents work with those who are selling or buying manufactured homes, but I do.

-Jeff Ferrell, Team Leader and Associate Broker