Manufactured Homes vs. Modular Homes: One and the Same

In the affordable housing industry, a common question centers on the difference between “manufactured” and “modular” homes. The different terminology has bred universal confusion about whether the two are different at all, and if so, what the differences really are. 

The answer?

They are essentially the same. The disparate terms are applied based on whenthe homes were made.

Pre vs. Post-1976

Homes built prior to 1976 were labeled “modular” homes because they were constructed in accordance with the HUD standards in place at that time. For homes constructed post-1976, we apply the term “manufactured.” 

Beyond the timeline, the differences between the two are minimal. Both modular homes and manufactured homes are constructed the same way: Both are versions of prefabricated mobile homes, created in pieces in factories before being shipped to building sites, where they are assembled. They are both built to conform to relevant state, local, or regional building codes, and are checked by local inspectors for compliance with structural requirements. 

In most jurisdictions, manufactured or modular homes are less expensive per square foot than site-built homes. Nonetheless, they are intended to have the same quality and longevity. 

HUD’s Regulation of Manufactured and Modular Homes

HUD sets reasonable standardsfor the construction of mobile homes, ensuring that they are as safe as possible for their residents. The post-1976 standardsthat labeled these homes “manufactured” representan increase in quality, as the recent HUD standards have required subsequent updates to the homes. 

For instance, HUD requires manufactured homes to be a minimum of 400 square feet and have ceiling heightsin habitable rooms and bathrooms of at least seven feet. They also must have at least two exterior doors located at least twelve feet from each other in single wide units and twenty feet in double-wideunits. 

Some other guidelines include:

• Each one-person bedroom must have at least 50 square feet of floor space, and those meant for two people must have at least 70 square feet of floor space. 
• The homes must have enough windows for ventilationand must feature mechanical ventilation systems in kitchens and bathrooms. 
• Each bedroom must have at least one exterior window, along with ready access to an exterior egress point.

As standards continually evolve, manufactured and modular homes will continually be made safer, better quality, and more habitable for their residents. To learn more about manufactured homes or for additional resources, please visit the WesternManufactured Housing Communities Association’s websiteor the website for the Manufactured Housing Institute.

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At Harmony Communities, we feel strongly that each resident has a sense of home. That they come home from work and feel pride in their environment and in their place in the greater community. That families are comfortable raising children in our neighborhoods, and that couples and singles know that they belong to something bigger than their four walls. In other words, we seek to create harmony within each community, making our communities not just passable, but peaceful, safe, functional, and beautiful.