Name: Are manufactured homes the key to homeownership?
Uploaded: 2025-12-31T00:33:12.824Z
Duration: 1 min 47 s
Description: New research shows Florida leads the nation in factory-built housing, with more residents turning to manufactured homes amid high prices.

New research shows Florida leads the nation in factory-built housing, with more residents turning to manufactured homes amid high prices.

Safety Harbor

Florida now has more than 824,000 manufactured homes, making up 8% of all housing in the state, according to new research. Builders and residents report that modern manufactured homes offer improved quality, energy efficiency, and hurricane resilience, with an average price of $135,000 excluding land—about a third of the state's median home price.

In cities like Largo, manufactured homes account for roughly 28% of housing, attracting both first-time buyers and retirees. Realtors advise buyers to choose newer models, avoid coastal locations, and prioritize owning the land to ensure better equity and appreciation.

Are manufactured homes the key to homeownership?

John Bender says he doesn't regret buying a new manufactured home to replace the much older one he had in this Largo community. It's really great. I mean way better than my 1969 was. The retired postal worker tells me everyone he invites inside is impressed. Basically it doesn't look like a manufactured home or mobile home or whatever they want to call it. New research from Storage Cafe shows Florida now leads the nation with more than 824,000 manufactured homes. That's 8% of all housing. We build multiple grade levels. One of the state's top builders is Jacobson Homes in Safety Harbor. That's where Mike Winnick says he's trying to shake people of the perceptions of what manufactured homes are really like. But it's gotten better and better and better and today's product anybody could be proud of, could love living in. New manufactured homes average around $135,000, not including the land. That's about a third of the cost of Florida's median home price. Winnick says they can be as luxurious as you want, they are energy efficient and can also handle hurricanes. Every one of our homes have stood up to every storm that's come to Florida. Every single one. Largo stands out nationally with manufactured homes here accounting for about 28% of housing in the city. That means one in four houses in Largo are factory built. We have everything from family, first-time homebuyers up to the the golden oldies. I also checked with realtors to find out about the downside of manufactured homes. They do recommend not buying one near the coast and making sure it's a newer model. Owning the land the home sits on is also key in keeping equity and appreciation as opposed to renting a lot in a mobile home park. I feel what I got was a lot better for the buck. Eric Waxler, Scripps News.

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