
Help: Tiny home vs. Mobile home vs. Manufactured home. Can a manufactured home be moved, and which is better, more bang for your buck?


A tiny house costs more and is smaller. It is the worst option. Plus in most areas of the country it is actually illegal to have one on your own land due to its small size. A mobile home (not accurately pictures) is the old metal tin can type. The modern homes that people think of as a mobile home are actually legally termed a manufactured home. That means they were built after laws were passed so they had to meet HUD building code standards. They are only allowed to be moved twice in their lifetime. Once to a mobile home park and/or once to owned land and put on a permanent foundation. The modern manufactured homes (most people think of them as mobile homes) are the best option to get put on owned land because they use the same construction materials as site built (regular) homes, but cost less because they are made on an assembly line.
In many areas within a city's boundary, a manufactured home will need to be a double wide of 960 sq. ft. or larger to meet permit requirements. A pit foundation is often the best choice based on practicality for long term and cost.
When most people think of a manufactured home, they are actually thinking of a modular home, which often costs nearly twice as much as an actual manufactured home (that people think of as a mobile home) for the same size/quality.
I'd advise against a tiny home. They cost more than manufactured homes, are smaller, and are VERY limited on where you can have it.
Only certain banks will have loans for manufactured homes and often will only do it on a 15 year loan. The actual mobile homes/trailers (tin cans made before 1976 can't get loans at all and are very bad investments.
It also depends on what state you are in for permit requirements too. Are you planning on buying land to place it on permanently, or in a mobile home park?
What state/region of the country are you in?
I think it depends on your situation. A young, single person could live very efficiently in a tiny house. If you have a well-paying, stable job, the manufactured home would be a good investment especially if you plan on staying in it for a number of years. As far as I know, the manufactured home is designed to stay where they put it. Most houses can be moved, but at high expense. The mobile home is an efficient choice when you can't afford a manufactured one. I'd avoid the mobile option if you live in tornado prone areas. I don't think they appreciate in value like a "real" house would. If I had the money, I'd have a monolithic dome home built. It's virtually tornado-proof, fire-proof from the outside, and the shell will last several hundred years. See monolithic dot com for info. I have no connection to them, but they're pretty neat.
Nooo😭 a manufactured home can't move 🤦🏾♀️ makes me sad.
I selected tiny, because I don't have much "stuff" and don't need much room in order to feel safe and comfortable. Right now I'm living in a house that is just waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too big for me, but it's my sister's house, and at the moment I have no where else to go, so... here I am.
Opinion
4Opinion
If you want to be mobile and not taking a loss on your home every time you move, mobile home. Modular homes can be moved, but once they’re built in place, it’s just not worth it to tear it apart and relocate it. I’ve seen tiny homes engineered so that they appear movable. If aesthetics are important to you, that’s probably the way to go. If you want to be extremely mobile, the “van life” trend has caused some very interesting engineering gains in RVs and custom conversion vans.
But RVs don't come with washer and dryers though right? Tiny homes I like but I've never seen them with a washer and dryer. That is a major must have for me
As far as I know a manufactured is basically the same as a site-built home and should appreciate in value. I'm not sure that a mobile home will. I suggest speaking to some realtors, banks, or appraisers in your area.
a washer and a dryer would be fairly easy to install...
I've never seen one in a tiny home. Are they even capable of handling a washer and dryer?
Japan, New York... Paris, and other places with very limited space are able to do it, so yes
it can be done the smarter way
Tiny home all the way. More unique