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- About 20 million people (about 8 percent of the
U.S. population) now live full-time in over 10 million
manufactured homes.
- In 2001, one out of 7.5 new single-family housing
starts were manufactured homes.
- Eight-eight percent of manufactured homeowners
report satisfaction with the manufactured housing
lifestyle.
- In 2001, the industry shipped about 190,000 homes
from 275 manufacturing facilities.
- Multi-section shipments in 2001 outpaced single-section
shipments, commanding 74.7 percent of total shipments.
In 2000, multi-section shipments accounted for 70.1
percent of the total.
- Manufactured housing retail sales were estimated
at $9.5 billion in 2001.
- According to the Census Bureau, 2001 figures
show that 67 percent of new manufactured homes were
located on private property, and 33 percent of new
manufactured homes were located in communities.
- The average sales price of a manufactured home
was about $50,000 in 2001.
- Single-section homes average about $30,000, while
multi-section homes average about $55,000.
- The most popular way to buy a home is new from
a dealer-41 percent of people surveyed bought their
home that way.
- 49 percent of surveyed homeowners have their
homes on their own private property. 33 percent
are in a park and do not own their lot.
Sources:
Manufactured Housing Institute, 2004
"The Market Facts" by The Foremost Insurance Group
of Companies, 2002.
The
Changing Face of Manufactured Homes
Over the past 20 years, the quality and appearance
of manufactured homes have changed dramatically, giving
them much greater appeal to homebuyers. Ever-improving
production technologies have allowed manufactured
homes to be better constructed, roomier, and built
to suit any lifestyle, at any locale, with plenty
of amenities usually found in site-built homes such
as fireplaces, built-in grills, and swimming pools.
Site-built construction is becoming increasingly
expensive and time-consuming, and manufactured homes
are being considered by more and more people who might
otherwise not be able to own a home. The manufactured
housing industry primarily targets those segments
of the population that are most price sensitive. It
faces the challenge of providing the kind of living
environment today's homeowners want at prices that
are affordable. That means cost-effective choices
must be made at every step of the homebuilding process.
Fuel
Choice in Manufactured Homes
 All
manufactured homes have to be built in accordance
with federal standards known as the HUD code (enacted
in 1976 and upgraded in 1994) that is administered
by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
This code regulates manufactured home design, construction,
strength, durability, fire resistance, and energy
efficiency. In 2000, the Manufactured Housing Improvement
Act was passed into law. Among other measures, it
makes provisions for updating the HUD standards and
funds additional staff and resources to oversee the
regulatory program.
To meet HUD energy-efficiency standards, manufacturers
are offering owners of manufactured homes a variety
of energy-saving options, including better insulation,
energy-efficient windows, and the choice of a home
energy fuel. Energy choice plays an important role
in the marketing of manufactured homes. Propane presents
the opportunity for manufacturers, housing retailers,
and homeowners to reap significant capital and operating
cost savings. It is the ideal fuel for manufactured
homes because it helps maintain both the affordability
and attractiveness of manufactured homes in a market
of value-conscious buyers.
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