Section 1210.16 d) #(2) of the NYCRR requires that manufacturers warrent "that such manufactured home was constructed in accordance with all applicable federal, state, and local statutes, laws, codes, rules, and regulations,"

It's unfair to promote the idea that there are no regulations for manufactured housing, at least in my state.

the name of the forum is "manufactured homes", perhaps you are in the wrong forum.

These homes are built to standards as directed by the United States Congress, which has directed that they "...meet the highest standards of protection, taking into account existing State and local laws relating to manufactured home safety and construction." As I stated above, NY and other states have rigid standards for manufactured homes installed within the state. The federal guidelines meet these guidelines, or codes if you prefer.

Are these homes treated differently from stick-built homes? Yes. Modular homes are similarly treated differently from stick-built homes. Both systems are subject to strict inspection processes carried out in the factory by third-party inspectors who perform the services that would normally would be done by local building inspectors. Are the code requirements and process different? Yes. Why are there differences? Because the final product is different. Are they substandard? No.

Building code requirements vary within the same jurisdiction depending on the construction type and use of the structure. Just as there are limitations in manufactured home constructions that are possible in modular construction, there have been commercial applications that I have not been able to achieve using typical modular home construction because of stricter code requirements for the commercial application. Does that make modular construction substandard or of lower quality than the commercial counterpart? No. They simply are required to conform to a different set of standards because they are, in fact, different construction.

To vary your scenario, if one were to build a set of modules in his or her yard and then set them on a foundation, would a building inspector approve the construction? He certainly shouldn't as the series of inspections that follow each step of the construction process would not have been met, and the individual builder would not have been a pre-approved manufacturer following a set of sealed systems approvals and with the required quality control procedures.

Of course, all this has nothing to do with your wish to have an exclusive modular home forum where you would not have to feel resentful of your forced association with the manufactured housing folk, which, in my opinion, is all this boils down to. It is the "us vs. them" theme I mentioned in another thread.

Excuse me, but just because someone owns a modular or "stick-built" home doesn't mean that their home is better than MINE! This is MY home and I wouldn't dare put someone else's home down to them!

I'm so tired of the stereotype about trailers and mobile homes. So some are crappy and people don't take care of them and live like slobs but not EVERYONE is like that!

DH and I spend a lot of time remodeling and fixing up our home, inside and out. So what if I have paneling for walls? So do a lot of others! So what if my rooms are all lined up..some of mine are bigger than rooms in stick built houses!

We're planning to stay in our single wide until about 10 years from now when it's possible for us to get a double wide and yes, that's all we want. We like the styles and we can't complain about the home we have now!

Want me to take pictures of my two neighbors "stick built" houses? The ones that haven't had any work done to them in the last 15 years and are looking like crap? The ones that barely mow the grass and don't know how to trim a shrub? And I've seen the inside of the one house 15 years ago and it was a pig sty then and I know they haven't done anything to fix it since then! They're more "trailer trash" than I am!

New value? 109k. Not bad for three years, eh?

It sits on 58 acres but the appraisal only accounts for a one acre lot. So with our lot and well and septic, you could add about $10,000. In less than a year, our property (well only one acre of it) increased by about $80,000. We are out here in the middle of nowhere. Now, please tell me that if we had put a $85,000 double wide on this land if we could say the same??????

Somebody around here did just that. A six year old double wide on 2 acres sold for over $200,000. And there was a bidding war on it.

But let's look at that 85 grand, OK? If you were to pay that much for a double wide you would be getting a lot more in the home. And it would definitely be bigger. An EQUALLY sized modular and double wide would be priced very differently. And the DW would surely cost less. And therefore, resale would be lower.

But manufactured housing has come a loooong way in just a few years. Our local dealer has double wides that are log homes as well as cape cods complete with upstairs bedrooms. Long gone are the days of two sections bolted together with a 3/12 roof pitch and T-111 or vinyl siding.

I like my modular very much. The value has more than doubled in four years. But I refuse to look down my nose at a segment of housing that fits the needs of many people. Respect it for what it is. Affordable housing for those starting out, those that don't have large incomes, or retiring. They fill a very important niche in American housing.

Even though my living has derived from the modular home industry for over 16 years, I have no problem with associating with the good folks whose primary interest is in the mobile home side of the industry. If your interest is in yurts, welcome also.

You can lobby for an exclusive modular home forum here but I think what really is needed is more informative postings about all types of manufactured housing and less of the "us vs. them" silliness. Yes, we all know there is a difference but where's the harm in sharing this forum? I see none of the "dealer hype" you refer to in this forum.

Wayne

We all make a choice either modular or mobile homes. Some feel the modular homes are better made. I am buying a mobile/double wide home with upgrades next year. I already have two 10 by 50 mobile homes that are over 50 years old. There still standing. I am going with double wide home I think I will be going more for the money I chose to spend. they certainly have improved over the years. But I believe you can get a mobile/double wide poorly made as a modular. But once it gets to your location its up to the dealer who made the deal how good the work is going into it. As I can't order direct for my new Pine Grove Manufactured home. I have to re lie on the dealer to set up my home properly. And to service any problems that appear after purchase. One thing I haven't heard was the prices of both homes. I found buying the same home. Comparing apples to apples each dealer have there price they charge you for the same home. So my advice is to pinpoint what kind of home and options you want and get a written price and shop around. Believe me there are a lot of options one would think were included in the price but are not. One dealer told me it would cost another $3,000 to finish the set up. The ends come with out the siding when shipping and have to be put on as well as hang and level all doors and a few other things. Be aware of hidden cost. Don't forget Sales Taxes. And if your ground is wet and the truck can't make it in there..they hire extra equipment at your cost. I enjoy learning as much as possible. So talk away its very interesting.

This is a misnomer. Both are NOT "manufactured" housing. Modulars are not in this catagory. They are in essence stick built homes made in a controled environment. They must be made to higher standards than "mobile" homes.

And once they are set on a foundation, they are considered the exact same as a site built home. And once they are set, you cannot tell the difference between a modular and a site built hime.