Frequently Asked Questions

What is a manufactured home?
What is a modular home?
What is a panelized home?
Which do I own - a mobile home or a manufactured home?
How safe are manufactured homes?
How do manufactured homes compare to site built homes?
Will I be happy owning a manufactured home?
What kind of amenities can I expect from the community in whichI place my home?
What are the benefits of a land lease over purchasing land?
What is the average price of a manufactured home?
What fees can I expect to pay as a resident of a manufactured housing community?
Are pets allowed at communities?
Are rental homes available within the communities?
Can residents have their own lawn and garden design?

What is a manufactured home?
Manufactured homes are built in factories, transported to a site location and installed. HUD Code federally regulates manufactured homes. HUD Code provides the design and construction requirements for the complete production of the entire home in the factory. Some modifications are allowed on-site for setup.

What is a modular home?
Modular homes are also built in factories, transported to a site location and installed. Modular homes are governed by the building code enforced in the jurisdiction where the home is to be located. These codes can be BOCA National Building Code, the ICBO Uniform Building Code, the Southern Standard Building Code or the ICC One and Two Family Dwelling Code.

What is a panelized home?
Panelized homes are flat factory-built panels that are transported to the site location where they are assembled. Panelized homes are governed by the building code enforced in the jurisdiction where the home is to be located. These codes can be the BOCA National Building Code, the ICBO Uniform Building Code, the Southern Standard Building Code or the ICC One and Two Family Dwelling Code.

Which do I own - a mobile home or a manufactured home?
The HUD Code defines manufactured homes. A factory-built home built after June 15, 1976, is commonly called a manufactured home. A factory-built home built before June 15, 1976 is commonly called a mobile home.

How safe are manufactured homes?
The building materials in today's manufactured home are the same as those used in a site-built home. The homes are engineered for wind safety and energy efficiency based on the geographic region where they are sold. Manufactured homes may be one of the safest housing choices available today because of federal laws requiring smoke detectors, escape windows and limited combustible materials around furnaces, water heaters and kitchen ranges. Properly installed homes can withstand 120-130, mph 3-second wind gusts in areas prone to hurricanes.

How do manufactured homes compare to site built homes?
The quality and amenities of modern manufactured homes has dramatically increased. Modern manufactured homes have many of the same features as site-built homes. A manufactured home is a single-family house constructed entirely in a factory rather than at a home-site, with generally the same materials found in site-built homes. Homes range from 500 square feet to 2,000 square feet or larger and can be both single-section or multi-section. Manufactured homes are available in a variety of architectural styles and floor plans, just like traditional housing and offer a variety of amenities and custom options including, among other things:

• Spacious floor plans
• Vaulted ceilings
• Drywall throughout
• Walk-in closets
• Fireplaces
• Brand name appliances
• Customization packages
• Jacuzzi tubs
• Shingled roof
• Vinyl, hardboard, stucco or wood siding

Will I be happy owning a manufactured home?
Studies have shown that homeowners are happy with manufactured housing. According to a 1999 study by Foremost Insurance Company, 88% of manufactured homeowners report satisfaction with their housing choice. The 1999 Owens Corning study, conducted by National Family Opinion, found that 93% of manufactured homeowners are satisfied with their housing choice.

What kind of amenities can I expect from the community in which I place my home?
Communities vary from place to place. Often times, modern manufactured home communities contain a variety of amenities to offer the residents, including:

Clubhouse
Pool
Playground
Basketball courts
Picnic areas
Tennis courts
Shuffle board courts
Cable television
Paved streets, curbs and gutters

For more information, visit our community pages.

What are the benefits of a land lease over purchasing land?
Many people ponder the "buy or lease" decision when choosing where to live. Some of the advantages of a land lease are:

1. Retirees desiring to preserve capital appreciate the safety net that a land lease provides. The resident is free to invest his capital in other ventures and is able to have a more flexible savings program.

2. The lessee's time horizon for living in a particular community is often unpredictable, making leasing advisable. The cost of buying and selling a piece of land (commissions, closing costs, title searches, surveys, etc.) can take a significant time period to recoup. When buying your own land, the costs of necessary site preparation needs to be factored into your decision making process.

3. Land ownership brings exposure to real estate taxes and volatility in the land market.

4. Owning a home in a community owned by a national company with a professional management team can also increase the liquidity of your home.

5. Community living offers individuals an opportunity to share common interests among those living in their own neighborhood. An abundance of activities and resort-style amenities combine to offer residents a fabulous lifestyle.

What is the average price of a manufactured home?
Depending on the region of the country, construction cost per square foot for a new manufactured home averages anywhere from 20 to 50 percent less than a comparable site-built home, excluding the cost of land.

What fees can I expect to pay as a resident of a manufactured housing community?
Some of the typical fees associated with living in a manufactured housing community (MHC) include site rental, utilities such as water, sewer, electric and gas, trash collection and cable television service.

Are pets allowed at communities?
Each community has its own guidelines concerning pets. Contact the property manager of the community you are interested in for specifics.

Are rental homes available within the communities?
Both long-and-short-term rental programs are available in some of our communities to our residents.

Can residents have their own lawn and garden design?
Residents are responsible for their individual lawn and/or garden design. We encourage our residents to take pride in their landscaping and many produce carefully maintained home sites with beautiful landscaping. Please check with the community manager for guidelines.