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Buying a Home or Cottage

2025 Manufactured Home Trends to Know Before You Buy

Jamaica Bay Village - Interior Home Kitchen

Erase everything you thought you knew about manufactured homes. Modern manufactured homes have come a long way in the past 50 years and offer better value than ever.

It’s why manufactured homes are more popular than ever. 

New Demand in 2025 for Manufactured Homes

There’s heightened demand for affordable housing in the United States.

And that need is pushing more people to explore prefabricated or manufactured homes. It’s a trend reflected in the current production figures. The Manufactured Housing Institute shows that manufacturers shipped more than 100,000 homes across the United States in 2024. 

Home for sale at Jamaica Bay Village in Fort Myers, Florida.

You can even find manufactured homes for sale on Amazon

The rise in demand in 2025 can be credited to elevated housing prices and mortgage rates. Both pushed homebuyers to explore more affordable housing options. Plus, safety improvements and modern style upgrades are making manufactured homes more attractive. 

Real estate data shows more than 20 million people live in manufactured homes in America. The largest percentage live in Florida where 55 and older communities offer manufactured homes paired with resort community living. 

Home buyer satisfaction is on the rise too. A recent study shows that 85% of people like living in their manufactured home communities.

Building Safer Manufactured Homes

Current home building trends offer greater energy efficiency, safety improvements, and modern trends. The changes make manufactured homes comparable to newer site-built homes. 

Gone are the mobile homes and trailer parks from yesteryear. Lawmakers upgraded federal building standards in 1976. Manufactured homes are comparable to site-built housing for energy efficiency, fire safety, wind resistance, and hurricane conditions with additional code upgrades in the past 30 years.

However, the changes in manufactured homes go beyond the required federal upgrades.

Cove Communities proudly operates 15 manufactured home communities in Florida. Each one is age-restricted for 55+ residents and offers resort amenities. The homes for sale include high-end appliances and modern designs. 

Modern Manufactured Homes with Style 

Real estate trends are also changing the features offered in tiny homes and manufactured homes.

You’ll find more open-concept floor plans and modernized exterior features. Inside, the upgrades extend beyond appliances in these to include: 

  • Walk-in closets
  • Ensuite bathrooms with double vanities
  • Fully equipped kitchens with islands and breakfast bars. 

Mid-century modern designs with clean color palettes are among the best-selling manufactured home styles. You can compare popular manufactured home styles online with a virtual tour on YouTube, or book an in-person tour to find your next home.

Or shop by home builder to find a manufactured home style you like. 

Cove Communities homes are built in factories and then transported to our 55+ locations throughout Florida. You’ll find a variety of styles crafted by the top manufactured home companies:

  • Clayton Homes
  • Palm Harbor
  • Skyline Champion
  • Hamilton HomeBuilder
  • Jacobsen
  • Legacy Homes

Manufactured Home Trending Real Estate 

Cost is a driving force for buyers considering manufactured homes. 

Compare home sale prices and you’ll see why manufactured homes are a popular choice.

On average the new manufactured home listed at $124,351 in 2024, according to national real estate market data. By comparison in 2025, the average price of a traditional home is slightly over $356,000 according to Zilliow. 

However, the biggest difference comes when you compare manufactured homes to site-built, traditional single-family homes. The U.S. Census Bureau and HUD report that manufactured homes are half the price per square foot of a site-built home. 

Benefits of Buying a Manufactured Home

The benefits of buying a manufactured home go beyond cost. Convenience plays a big role in why these housing communities are a popular option for those 55 and older. Factors like low maintenance, cost of living, and community lifestyle are ideal for empty nesters looking to downsize.

The community lifestyle or resort-style living is often found in land-lease housing developments. Buyers own the home, but not the land it sits on. Instead, they pay a monthly lease or lot rent in addition to their monthly mortgage payment.

The benefits vary by community. Land lease fees often cover additional expenses like lawn care, water, sewer, and access to community amenities like pools and sports courts. Lot rent amounts vary depending on location, community size, and what the fees cover. 

However, these fees can increase over time. National data shows the average lot rent increases by about 7.1% yearly.

Find a Manufactured Homes for Sale Near You

A Palm Harbor Homes floor plan available at The Meadows in Tarponm Springs, Florida.
A Palm Harbor Homes floor plan available at The Meadows in Florida.

Cove Communities provides a range of manufactured housing options throughout Florida. Each 55+ community encompasses a vibrant lifestyle with resort amenities, activities, and most importantly active, friendly neighbors. 

Each community offers a variety of activities and amenities to suit everyone’s interests, from social gatherings and sports tournaments to resort-style features like heated swimming pools, pickleball courts, gyms, shuffleboard courts, boat marinas, and golf courses. Residents can enjoy diverse activities such as card games, woodshop classes, workout sessions, and more.

Florida’s subtropical climate is ideal for retirees, seeking to downsize and enjoy life in the Sunshine State. With a range of housing options—including new, pre-owned, and renovated homes—available in prime locations, whether in the city, countryside or near the beach, you’re sure to find a perfect fit. 

We know the weather in Florida can sometimes be unpredictable. Rest assured, our modern manufactured homes are built to meet stringent federal standards for wind resistance. Don’t let the weather hold you back—ask us about home insurance options before you buy to ensure your home is fully safeguarded.

Looking for a community? 

Check out these three top-rated Florida options during your home search.

The Meadows – Tarpon Springs, Florida

Located near Central Florida along the Gulf Coast, The Meadows offers the perfect balance of city convenience and beach proximity. As a resident, you’ll enjoy access to a range of resort-style amenities, including a swimming pool, hot tub, fitness centers, billiards, indoor and outdoor shuffleboard, cornhole, pickleball, and more.

Jamaica Bay Village – Fort Myers, Florida

Located on 230 acres of tropical paradise, Jamaica Bay Village is a gated 55+ community with a packed social calendar and amenities including three clubhouses, sports courts, and a fitness center. Three stunning lakes surround the property. 

Rolling Greens Village – Ocala, Florida

Located in Central Florida on the edge of the Ocala National Forest, Rolling Greens Village offers the perfect blend of city convenience and natural beauty. 

Choosing Rolling Greens Village as your home means you can enjoy amenities such as an 18-hole executive golf course and driving range, a 12,000-square-foot community center, a fitness center, an aquatics center, sports courts, and much more, all at your leisure.

Rolling Greens is an hour’s drive to Disney and Universal theme parks in the Orlando, Florida area.