Better Homes And Gardens Little Shop Of Horrors

Where to Shop for Mobile Homes

CC0/RawPixel.com/Pexels

Mobile homes come with plenty of advantages. They're compact, easy to transport and available at a lower price point than most single-family houses. Whether you're in the market for one to serve as your permanent residence, short-term housing or rental property, it's an investment that can serve you well in the long term.

However, finding the perfect one for you might take some time. You'll need to take into account your overall budget, how you intend to use the home, where you want to locate it and more. Having access to a large inventory of options is often the best way to go. Today, we're taking a look at where to shop for the mobile home you need. Consult this guide before setting out.

What to Know Before You Go

Before you set out to shop for a mobile or manufactured home, it's important to have a clear understanding of what you can expect. Unlike shopping for traditional, stick-built homes where you'll view one property at a time, the experience of shopping for a mobile home is more akin to buying a used vehicle.

You'll likely see a large inventory of options all lined up beside each other. While this can be overwhelming to the uninitiated shopper, it doesn't have to be. Make your list of "must-haves" and "wants" beforehand so you can quickly eliminate options that don't fit the bill.

Searching through Online Options

There are many major manufactured home dealers that have an active online web presence, making it easy for you to search for one of your dreams. To comb through the mobile homes for sale, you can head to an industry site such as MobileHome.com and start searching. You can also fire up a Google search and simply type in "Mobile homes for sale near me."

Once you land on a dealer and model you like, you can usually arrange to have that specific home built just for you. How does this work? These homes are built in sections, with each one shipped across the country to a network of authorized dealers.

Input your location, and you can quickly find dealers near you. Visit one in person, and you can see the myriad manufacturer models available. Here, you may also be able to purchase mobile homes with land for sale. You can also specify the exact dimensions you need, such as a 16x80 mobile home for sale.

Visiting a Dealership in Person

Once you've found a dealership close by, you can always pay them a visit. Here, if you come across a manufactured home that is exactly what you're looking for, you can often buy the home right off of the lot.

Or, if you walk away without seeing the exact model you're after, you can always work with with the dealership to have a custom mobile home built to your specifications. You'll have your pick from a range of floor plans, interior design options, square footage and more.

As you search for your perfect mobile home, don't be afraid to ask questions and don't feel the need to sacrifice or rush the process. The ideal home is out there, just waiting for you to buy or build it.