Considering the purchase of a home, a highly regarded option is the consideration of mobile homes. According to the latest report from LendingTree, the sales prices of new mobile homes are significantly higher than those of traditional brick-and-wood structures. Data from the online financial services market indicates that between 2017 and 2022, the average sales prices of mobile homes increased by 77.1%, compared to a 46.7% increase in the average sales prices of single-family homes (excluding land costs) during the same period.
Furthermore, the construction costs of new mobile homes are relatively lower, averaging $127,300, compared to the average cost of $430,808 for newly built traditional single-family homes (excluding land costs).
Jacob Channel, a senior economic analyst at LendingTree, pointed out, "With the prices of single-family homes remaining high, more and more homebuyers are turning to mobile homes." He added, "If costs continue to grow at the current rate, traditional homes may become increasingly unaffordable. In some cases, they have already become an elusive choice."
To reach this conclusion, LendingTree analyzed data from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Census Bureau's Manufactured Housing Survey and Construction Survey (Note: Data from Alaska, Hawaii, and Rhode Island were not included in the report).
So, in which states did mobile home prices rise or fall the fastest?
Wyoming led with a 127.6% price increase, doubling the average sales prices of new mobile homes from 2017 to 2022. Illinois and Kentucky followed closely with increases of 110.1% and 107.3%, respectively.
However, Massachusetts was the only state where mobile home prices decreased during the same period, with a decrease of 5%.
In terms of the highest mobile home prices, Idaho ranked first at $168,500, followed by Montana ($160,600) and Arizona ($160,500).
Buyers looking for the lowest mobile home sales prices may consider Kansas, Ohio, or Nebraska. In these states, the average selling prices for mobile homes are $100,800, $101,200, and $101,900, respectively.
Before purchasing a mobile home, buyers should be aware of the following:
Firstly, selling a home can become challenging if the homeowner does not own the land on which the home is situated. In some parks, owners may need to pay trailer parking fees or land use fees.
Additionally, park owners may raise rents at any time. It is worth noting that despite being called "mobile homes," these homes are not necessarily easy to move.
Nevertheless, Channel emphasizes that these homes have stricter safety regulations in modern times, making them a quite good and safe investment choice. He stresses, "Modern mobile homes comply with relevant safety standards."