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Buying a Home or Cottage

2024 Manufactured Home Trends to Know Before You Buy

Rolling Greens Village - Manufactured Home Exterior

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. 

Safety improvements and 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. With additional code upgrades in the past 30 years, manufactured homes are comparable to site-built housing for energy efficiency, fire safety, wind resistance, and hurricane conditions

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 accommodations. 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
  • Fully equipped kitchens with islands and breakfast bars. 
  • Ensuite bathrooms with double vanities

Mid-century modern designs with clean color palettes are among the best-selling manufactured home styles. Compare popular manufactured home styles online, housing inventory, take 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 are comprised of homes 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. 

Even with record interest rates in 2023, existing home sales were steady with the manufactured housing market anticipating growth in the coming years. 

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

The median home price for a new manufactured home was $113,951 in 2023, according to national real estate market data. 

  • $69,781 – existing manufactured home
  • $106,629 – new single-section home
  • $193,103 – for multi-section homes

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

Manufactured Home Trends - Kitchen

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 the low-maintenance, affordability, 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% year over year.

Find a Manufactured Home Community Near You

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 floor plans for a manufactured home in The Meadows.

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.

Explore Tarpon Springs: Enjoy nature along the Pinellas Trail, discover the charm of downtown Tarpon Springs, experience live performances at the local performing arts center, or visit Fred Howard Park’s 155 acres of shoreline along the Gulf Coast. 

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. 

Explore Fort Myers: Jamaica Bay Village is close to the yearly spring training games and offers convenient access for a quick trip to the Florida Keys. 

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.

Explore Ocala: Known as “horse country,” Ocala provides Rolling Greens residents with opportunities to explore miles and miles of nature on foot or by horse. Ocala also offers art galleries, fine dining, festivals, and live concert series. 

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