The Manufactured Housing Forums

(1) What is the difference between a "mobile" home which looks very, very stationary to my eye and a "manufactured house" ? When I look for "communities" to investigate, most seem to have "....mobile home community" or "......mobile home park" after their names. Does mobile or manufactured terminology depend on the part of the country?

(2) I've seen mostly 1973 to 1975 "mobile" homes for sale in the "mobile" home communities. Are these too old if I expect my "mobile" home to last for 20 more years?

Technically the difference between “mobile” and “manufactured” homes is determined by the date of manufacture. In 1974 the original “Manufactured Housing Act” was adopted into law. That law created the HUD code, which is the national standard to which the homes are built.
If the home was built before the HUD code, it is considered a mobile home. If the home was built after the code and carries the certifications of compliance with the code it is considered a manufactured home.
Some of the older homes produced before the code adoption were very good homes, some were not. When you get a structure almost 30 years old, it matters less how it was built, ( site built – factory built) it matters more how it was cared for.
good luck

1) What is the difference between a "mobile" home which looks very, very stationary to my eye and a "manufactured house" ? When I look for "communities" to investigate, most seem to have "....mobile home community" or "......mobile home park" after their names. Does mobile or manufactured terminology depend on the part of the country?

No...just the names that parks give themselves...Candidly any park with "Mobile home" still in its name is probably a very low end park with no real care for the industry...just a place to park a unit...not likely to be a good home...

We recently purchased a manufactured home built in 1996. It is on 20 acres overlooking a river. I would like to to some remodeling including expanding the kitchen beyond the original foot print. I would also like to provide a front entry since the home was situated to make the most of the view. What would have been the back of the house is now the front of the house and we have to ask our guests to enter through the laundry room. Is this possible and how shoul I go about finding somneone to do this for us. Do I need someone who specializes in Mfg homes?
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Sounds like a fun project.....Lots of work...but any quality home improvement contractor should be able to do the job....Your current situation motivates to keep your laundry room very tidy....Mine would not make a good main entrance...Good Luck....Big project...bunch of bucks..but sounds like something that will make you happy...Go for it...