This post is sponsored by Clayton.
If you’re like me, you grew up with an idea about what home is all about. It meant a house built on some sort of foundation, with 4 outside walls, a roof, front door and garage or carport. My family homes growing up were not fancy at all and we lived in close quarters without a lot of extra square footage, but it was home sweet home to us. It seemed that back in those days, space was limited and living was done in close proximity to other family members. Most everyone I knew lived in modest smallish homes. Surprisingly, we didn’t even think twice about living in a small home, because well, it was home and where our family lived.
I also had preconceived ideas about manufactured homes. You too? I think about the fact that many people do live in them because they can’t afford to live elsewhere. Everyone needs a safe and dry place to call home. A place to lay their head at night and sleep. A place to gather their family behind closed doors and just live life. Everyone deserves a home of some sort, whether it’s an apartment, a manufactured home, or a small or large stick built home.
My first experience with a manufactured home was back in the late 70’s, in Florida where I went to college. I had decided to quit college after 2 years, my sister had graduated and we stayed in the town of Lakeland and moved into a manufactured home, or trailer, as we called them back then. It was the typical long metal cylinder of a home (really like a tin can) and my first and only experience living in a home like this. It’s not something that I would wish for, but at the time it felt like an adventure and we were young.
After 2 years, I moved back home to Atlanta, but I will never forget living in that manufactured home and how it felt. We decorated it as best we could on a very limited budget and had many of our friends over to hang out. It creaked and groaned, the propane gas tank would run out sometimes in the colder months, and it didn’t feel very substantial. I sure didn’t want to stay in a trailer for very long, but again we were young and considered it an adventure! But it was a learning experience for me and for sure colored my opinion of manufactured housing from then on.
Did you know that manufactured homes have changed A LOT over the years? I didn’t either, but in fact they have changed so much! You wouldn’t even recognize them now. These manufactured homes now can be set up on concrete foundations and made to look and feel like stick built homes, only they are built inside huge building facilities out of the weather with fine materials and craftsmanship. I had no idea they had evolved this far until Clayton contacted me about their homes and wanted to partner with me on a blog post.
I found it very fascinating that the home building process for manufactured homes has evolved and improved so much in the last few decades. These homes are full of innovative materials and trendy designs. They are energy efficient and really pretty. They are nothing like you would imagine a manufactured home to be, so today I’m going to share with you the new and improved manufactured homes that are being built today by Clayton.
Clayton has been building these homes for decades, although you may not know that. They have been in the industry since the 1950’s and their homes are beautiful to look at and impressive to see. These affordable homes have features that buyers are looking for in a home today. They are built inside a controlled environment away from the weather conditions with carefully controlled quality construction and materials.
In case you’re wondering about price, you can see more of that at this link. The Lulamae is one example and there are models that are even less expensive than this one. That’s the Lulamae kitchen in the above picture. It might surprise you that the base price of the home starts at $116,000 up to $151,000, plus required estimated delivery and installation charges of between $5,000 and $15,000.* (See below for additional pricing information. Local retailers can provide specific pricing information for a particiular home and location). Sounds pretty reasonable for a brand new home with so many amenities when compared to moving into older homes that usually need to be updated. And there are a lot of other models for far lower prices.
Local retailers can provide specific pricing information for a particular home and location. The cost for delivery and set up of the home also varies depending on the distance from the retailer, or in some cases from the facility where the home is built to the homeowner’s property. That is why Clayton’s home building facilities and retailers are located throughout the country. They can also build and deliver your home on average much faster than it takes to build a traditional stick built home.
Look at what’s included in features on many models:
- A deep soaking bath tub
- Walk-in tile showers with rainfall shower heads
- Subway tile or geometric backsplash
- Walk-in closets
- Large laundry rooms
- Sliding barn doors
- Crown molding
- Shiplap walls
- Built in coffee maker
- Roll away kitchen island
- Granite countertops
Does that surprise you? It did me! That’s a lot of nice quality features in these manufactured Clayton Built® homes that you might not expect.
These homes are built to HUD Code building requirements, which includes building to meet the Hud Wind Zone requirements for where the house will be located, up to 100 mph fastest-mile wind speed resistant requirement.
Why would someone want to buy a manufactured home and have it built and installed on their land? To save money of course! Some people have bought lots for retirement or vacation properties which might be prime spots for a manufactured home. Or it’s a cost effective alternative to the regular home buying process that many of us have experienced.
Clayton partners with well known brands to provide stylish quality products and appliances. Masons will often hand lay stone, brick, and tile hearths and entryway pillars. There are a lot of things that you might not know about these manufactured homes, so it’s an interesting topic to bring up and share with you now. I do enjoy bringing information to my readers that they may have not considered or didn’t know was available in the marketplace today.
I hope you enjoyed seeing what’s new out there in the world of new home alternatives! It sure surprised me to see all the beautiful features and quality products used in these homes. I think it’s great that Clayton makes homes for so many people who may not be able to afford a new stick-built home.
Everyone deserves a “prefabulous” home of their own, no matter the budget!
Clayton has a sweepstakes running right now, so check it out below! The Have it made® Sweepstakes will give someone a chance to win a wonderful prize.
Enter for a chance to win a “Welcome Home” gift basket including a smart thermostat, coffee maker and more! Approximate retail value $250. One lucky winner to be selected on November 20, 2017.
NO PURCH. NEC. Legal residents of the 50 U.S. (excl. AK & HI) or D.C.who are 18+ (19 in AL & NE). Begins 10-24-2017 at 12:00:01 a.m. GMT, ends 11-17-2017 at 1:00 p.m. GMT. Visit this link to enter and for Official Rules. Limit 1 entry per person, Sponsor: CMH Homes, Inc. and CMH of KY, Inc. Administrator: Woobox. LLC.
Think you know what style of home best fits you? Take the Clayton online quiz to find out which #ClaytonDreamHome you match with!
**Advertised starting sales prices are for the home only. Delivery and installation costs are not included. Starting prices are subject to change, see your local Clayton Home Center for current and specific home and pricing information. Sales price does not include other costs such as taxes, title fees, insurance premiums, filing or recording fees, land or improvements to the land, optional home features, optional delivery or installation services, wheels and axles, community or homeowner association fees, or any other items not shown on your Sales Agreement, Retailer Closing Agreement and related documents (your SA/RCA). If you purchase a home, your SA/RCA will show the details of your purchase. Homes available at the advertised sales price will vary by retailer and state.
Being in the real estate business, I found this blog post very interesting! You are right , mobile homes today are quite different from trailers of the past!
This was VERY ENLIGHTENING! I grew up in a “mobile home”, in a trailer park across the street from The Milledgeville mall. My mom got the newest trailer on the market and we’re excited to have 4 brown columns on the end of it-it was a 12×65 and the extra 5’ contained those columns that we chose instead of living space. But at the time, we thought those colonial columns looked great and at age 14 i wrapped red ribbon around them at Christmas, to look like candy canes! Also at 14, i got two jobs at said mall. And could walk across the street to work for the next 5 years. When I met David,who would later become my husband, i asked him what he thought about picking me up for dates at a trailer, and he said he didn’t even think about it . Now I have my own home, and yes it has colonial columns that I wrap with red ribbon every Christmas. These new modular homes, mobile homes, trailers, have come a LONG way!
HI, Jan, awww, I love your story and how sweet that you wrapped those columns for Christmas. No matter where we live, celebrating is the most important thing and you did it well. And now you are have real Colonial columns. I just love this!
I like your story, Jan! My husband and I were teens when we married. Our first rental was an 8′ x 30′ Airstream! Those were the days when most homes didn’t have A/C. Several times that summer we were positive we were going to die! Of course, we were kids and everything was beautiful, so it served us well for 18 months, then our little girl was born! We didn’t know where to put the baby!
The landlady had a wooden box that we lined with a quilt, and that was her home for three months, then we decided it was time for bigger and better things!
That is sweet Rose. My parents lived in one of those, on the St. mary’s River on Marylsnd. in the 60’s . It had a side porch built into it. They lived in that until i was born. It goes to show that home is what YOU make it. We didn’t know those were ‘the salad years’ until they were over!
Rose, that’s a great story too, thanks for sharing! I think many of us grew up with meager homes, myself included. We never knew we were sort of poor at all, since my dad was a pastor and didn’t make a lot of money. Home was still a great place to be.
Thanks for sharing your story…I love it!
What an interesting post Rhoda, I had no idea that such uptodate features with such nice finishes were available in manufactured homes these days. It’s been so many years since I looked into a new one. One of my sisters bought a 5 bed, 4 bath home to put on their lake lot as a weekend/vacation home with space for all the grandchildren about 20 years ago. It was nice but still looked like a ‘trailer’ to me. In looking at the homes on the Clayton web site I was pleasantly surprised by some of the more upscale options. Thanks for sharing this information, you never know when it might come in handy!! Have a great day!!
I was surprised too when I saw the new and improved versions of manufactured homes. Wow, what a difference from the old ones. I can still remember the creaking and the sounds it made. These are definitely worth considering.
Interesting post. I’m sorry you felt compelled to use the term “tin can’. While I am fortunate, and so are you, to live in lovely homes, there are many who don’t have that priveledge and your comment is insulting and unkind. I know a few people who live in older homes like this and would be terribly hurt by such a comment.
HI, Carrie, my choice of words in no way is meant to hurt anyone’s feelings. It’s just the way I felt when I lived in the mobile home myself. I was referring more to the sounds it made. I know that many people live in these type homes and as I said, everyone deserves to live in a safe and dry home, no matter the circumstances.
Rhoda, this is a very timely post as we have been considering a modular home. Our old house needs so much work that we have been debating whether to sink more money into it or to go with something new. I have not thought to look at manufactured homes because I have the same, preconceived notion of what they are like. So I will go check out Clayton’s website.
Hey, Jane, I’m so glad you will look into these homes. Your home is so cute, but I understand about sinking more money into it.
I live in Southeast Texas. We (my husband and I) purchased a manufactured/ mobile home in November of 2017. I believe it is the best decision we have ever made. We actually own our own home, and we are not house poor like so many of our young married friends are. Our light bill last month was only $109, with running the air and heat often. I would advise buying a new one off of a lot- easier to finance and they include the appliances, etc. and also they include the cost of moving it (which is more expensive than you’d think) in our loan. Our note is only $710 with tax and homeowners insurance, which is for a 2 bedroom 2 bath home. A one bedroom apartment in my area can easily cost $1000 or more, if that tells you anything. Also, I have cute cabinets, vinyl “wood floors”, a big tub in the master bathroom and a farmhouse sink. I love my house, and I am proud of it. To me this is so much better to me than living in a normal home that I only slightly like. Also, it is hard to sell homes. TO me, I can sell or rent my manufactured home if I decide to move, and it will more than pay for itself. Just saying, I think Clayton is the best available- I looked at many brands and they looked poorly made or “cheaper” than the Clayton ones, but were around the same price.
I mistyped. It is a 3 bedroom, 2 bath home. Sorry about that, ladies.
My mom has actually just ordered a home from Clayton Homes for our lot in Florida. My youngest sister and my mom went to shop for the home in Florida a few weeks ago and they both said the Clayton people were the nicest and most helpful people they met when shopping. My mom and I went to sign the paperwork a couple of weeks after they found the home, and everything went smoothly. We are really looking foward to getting the new home for our Florida house!
Hi, Kelly, thanks for sharing that, wonderful news for your mom!
Thank you so much for this post. My husband and I are starting to think about selling our home and downsizing. And lately, I’ve been looking at manufactured homes and especially the Clayton homes of your post. But all the vender pics I’ve looked at so far have “blown my socks off” in a good way! Energy efficiency, Decor, and Pricing—>WOW! When i mentioned to my husband about making an appt to see a Clayton home, it “blew his socks off” but NOT in a good way! I’m going to forward your post to him. I need all the help I can get in order to convince him to make an appt just to see a manufactured home. They are definitely worth consideration.
Do these homes increase in value, though? In the past, the issue with modular homes has been that they are complete sunk cost with no hope for equity value. I can imagine the value of the land or lot you place the home on increasing for sure, but I wonder about the home itself. Could be a nice option for older folks who want to stay and are not worried about having to get money out of the investment through resale.
Hi Rhoda, a manufactured home is a great option for people wanting a lake or mountain home. The Clayton homes are beautiful and so spacious.
I am feeling confused by the terms everyone has used here. “Manufactured”, “mobile”, and
“modular” are three I picked up on. There is a real difference in a “mobile” home and a home that is built somewhere else and shipped to you, and then set up on your lot. In our area, we call them prefabricated homes and you cannot tell the difference between those homes and any other homes. Their value also runs the same as other homes. The homes can come in several pieces and, once put together, are finished like any other home. Can you define what you mean by “manufactured” home in this article?
Hi, Linda. Clayton uses manufactured home which is exactly what you are picturing with setting the house up on land somewhere on a slab. The old trailers or mobile homes I don’t think were put on slabs, although I remember patios being next to them. So there is a lot of difference between the old and the new ones. I think modular and manufactured would be the same.
My brother n law and his wife have a prefabricated home that they live in. They live in Albany New York and their winters are long and very cold , always with LOTS of snow. I have been there in the winter and I have to say that there home is so tight and warm. Absolutely no leaking at the windows or doors no cold air at all coming in. Their home was built at another location and delivered to their site , it is a very pretty country style home with the covered front porch and HUGH basement that is always warm as well. I was amazed at how comfortable it was with snow outside. It is a nicely built home and we were impressed with it a lot.
Hi, Carole, thanks for sharing your BIL’s home, it sounds very nice and I would never guess you could have a basement too. That’s amazing!
Manufactured Homes have gotten a bad rap over the years. I live in NC and many people live in them in my area. Our first house was a “Double Wide” on a permanent foundation. It was a cute, Home Sweet Home” first home. I do not care for the Train Car look of old single wide trailers and have been saying for years how the Double Wides would look more appealing if they added character to the facade. So many of them are just flat with no character. 12 years ago we moved into our current home, a brand new two story stick built home with a porch and garage.
Manufactured Homes are built well and possibly better that stick built homes because they are built in a factory under strict guidelines. I know many people who live in them. My brother just bought one and let me tell you the gourmet kitchen is gorgeous! They really have come a long way.
HI, Lisa, thanks for chiming in, I love your perspective as well and you’re right, they have gotten a bad rap, but wow at the differences now.
I have lived in 3 manufactured homes in my lifetime – one with my parents after college, one when I was a single mom, and the last one , a gorgeous new one, with my husband. Circumstances were very different and so were the manufactured homes. Yes, they are vastly improved these days. Yes, it’s hard to tell you’re in a manufactured home when you live in them. The layouts are tried and true and the building standards high. When my husband and I recently retired, we moved to Oregon where we could finally afford to buy land and built our dream home. Guess what my favorite home is…the oldest one when I was a single mom! It was so well laid out, there was a fabulous breeze that sailed right through the house on hot nights, and it was safe. Thank you for a wonderful article that highlights the manufactured houses many thousands have come to love and call HOME.
HI, Janet, goes to show that a bigger house doesn’t necessarily turn out to be the best, so thanks for sharing your experience too.
I just want to add a good word for the Clayton company. Growing up in East Tennessee, they were always know for their generosity and being a fair employer. I have watched their business grow from the local mobile home business to the large conglomerate it is today! Here’s a link to Jim Clayton’s website and a free download of his book if you want to learn more about the company you are doing business with!
http://www.jimclayton.com/
THank you for sharing!
I grew up in a mobile home and didn’t think anything about it till friends and kids at school would point out that it wasn’t a “real house.” ( In Arkansas, there is such a stipulation of being “white trash” when you live in a manufactured home.) It confused me because my mom has always been such a good decorator and our “fake house” was a lot nicer looking than most of my friends homes that were 2 story brick houses. I guess because of the teasing, I’ve always had a bad taste in my mouth about ever living in a manufactured home again; until recently. My family owns a large plot of land that is in a trust where it can’t be divided up till after my mom and uncle have passed away; which means we can’t borrow against it to build a home. It’s a hot mess, we have had attorney’s look at it and it’s air tight. We don’t think our grandmother realized what she was doing. (she was trying to prevent my mom and uncle from selling it and me and my sisters not having it when we became adults) Anyway, all that to say that at this point in time if we want to live on the land our only option is a manufactured home or build a house and pay cash (yeah, right.) I am a single woman and recently the Lord has been dealing with me about adopting a sibling group. My current house is perfect for me but would be really small for 3 or more people. When the Lord first put this on my heart my first thought is I would need a bigger house and also, if I were to be a single mom I would need help. The Lord spoke to me and said “use what you have,” so I have been considering the option of getting a manufactured home and moving out to land for more room and to be closer to my family. I had honestly never, ever considered that (not just because of the manufactured home, also it’s in the country and a pretty good drive to anywhere.) Also, I have worked in the real estate business and I’m currently in the mortgage business so I understand the importance of property value . Part of me relives the feelings I had as a child when considering a manufactured home. I have been doing research (as recent as yesterday) about manufactured homes and was becoming really discouraged reading some of the horror stories about the actual process of ordering/buying from manufactured home dealers. This post and the comments were very encouraging to hear that many have had good experiences. It seems like every time I turn around I am getting confirmation about moving forward this plan. Manufactured homes have come such a long way and we have a Clayton Homes in my city, I would never be able to afford a site built home that looked like these in the pictures. I know kids in the foster system that are waiting to be adopted don’t care about the type of house, they just want a home. Rhoda, to you this may have been a sponsored post but it was a word in due season for me 🙂 Thank you!
I once worked at a tech firm and one of our clients was Clayton Homes. I will never forget how they explained that they do not have set price for their products, but try to get the most money out of each customer that they could. They are little better than used car salesmen. Very disappointed in your post and the fact that you would sell out like this for your own profit.
HI, Donna, I don’t have personal experience with buying from Clayton, but others here do and have shared that, so I would certainly go by what they shared. I can’t speak to your experience since it’s not mine, but I do not feel as if I’m selling out by sharing information that people may not know about. THat’s what this post was about.
Please, read this:
https://www.seattletimes.com/business/real-estate/the-mobile-home-trap-how-a-warren-buffett-empire-preys-on-the-poor/
People need to do their research regarding “manufactured” and “modular ” homes as there is a HUGE
difference between the two. I would fill an entire page with the differences. A modular is no different than any site built home except it’s made in a factory, same joist, wall studs etc…………. Building codes allow for modular to usually be built in any town on any lot. There are great restrictions for manufactured homes, aka Trailer Parks. Both of these homes can travel down a highway, try that with a stick built on site home.
Can’t even believe the evolution, it’s too much! It’s amazing too, tho..and your post was very enlightening, so thanks!
Memories! When our children were small, I was a new nurse, my (ex) husband decided to go back to school. We lived in a 14’x 70′ trailer in the woods on my grandparent’s property, we bought it used and never had keys for it. The bedroom, for some reason, had a huge bay window, but since we were deep in the woods it worked. I have never had a home with such a beautiful view before or since then. We had a washer and dryer, such a luxury for our one income family w/college expenses. We had a little garden, the kids were so free to play in the dirt and in the woods. The times you think were so hard can be your best memories