Over the past decade or so, manufactured homes (still commonly referred to as mobile homes) have become a great option for new homebuyers. Unlike the old shoddy mobile homes in trailer parks that people think of, manufactured homes now come as two-story homes or even town homes and include features like cathedral ceilings and fireplaces.

The basic configuration for manufactured homes, however, is still single wide or double wide. Single wide or single-section mobile homes are made of one main unit. The average single side manufactured home usually has about 1,100 square feet of living space while double wides average about 1,700 square feet. Needless to say, there are also larger manufactured homes, but single- and double-wides are still the most common sizes.

Manufactured homes do have their problems. According to Consumer Reports, single-section homes have more problems with floors, roofs, windows, and doors while multi-section home problems tend to be related to the joining of the sections.

In part the problems relate to the fact that the home is built in a factory and then transported to another location via flatbed truck. The motion involved can have a negative effect on the joints and connectors. However, manufacturers of quality homes do their best to correct any problems that may occur during transport.

Nowadays it may even be impossible to tell the difference between a mobile home and an on-site home unless you have seen it being built. The most common difference is that manufactured homes tend to have a lower roof slope because the home has to be moved under highway bridges.

On the other hand, the materials now used tend to be comparable to the quality of site-built homes and, other than roof slope, generally resemble “regular” homes. Indeed, if a manufactured home were not located in a “trailer park”, most people would be hard-pressed to tell the difference.

Nowadays more double-wides are sold than single-wides. In great part this is because the typical home buyer want more space, not less, and double-wides offer that at a price that is still far less expensive than a traditional home of the same size. Not only that, but zoning in many areas actually means that double-wide manufactured homes are the smallest size allowed.

As a homeowner, you should also know that double-wide manufactured homes tend to hold…or even increase…their value as compared to single-wide homes.