Manufactured / Mobile Home Value

When it comes to selling a mobile home in Houston, owners of manufactured houses or mobile homes ask the same question: How much will I get for my mobile home?

The honest answer is: it depends on many different factors.

In this article, we’ll take a look at the variables that influence the value of mobile homes, exploring the ways you can find out your mobile home’s value in Houston, TX.

How Much is My Manufactured Home Worth in Houston?

The factors that combine to determine a mobile home’s worth include age, if it has been moved, the home’s type/size, location, current market conditions and special features.

Below, we will explore your home’s value factors one by one.

  1. How Old Is Your Mobile Home?

Age is the most critical factor in determining the value of a mobile or manufactured home. Unlike houses, mobile homes depreciate in value over time. This is because mobile homes are considered personal property, like cars, instead of real estate.

Your mobile home’s value depreciation could be canceled out if you own the land that your home sits upon. If your land in Houston increases in value while your home depreciates, you may still come out of the sale with a profit.

Depreciation percentages of mobile homes have historically been around 3-3.5%.

In 1976, HUD building codes went into effect for mobile homes. A national standard, the HUD codes override local codes. Among other things, HUD codes require mobile homes to have an attached permanent steel chassis.

The code also regulates ceiling height, number of windows and exterior doors, bedroom size, and house size.

Most mobile properties built before 1976 are not compliant with the HUD code for manufactured homes, which impacts their desirability and value. If your Houston mobile home was built before 1976, this could greatly impact the speed of sale and the overall value it now retains.

  1. Has Your Mobile Home or Manufactured House Been Relocated?

If you own a manufactured house, the prior movement of the property will affect its price. Manufactured houses that have been moved are generally priced lower than those that haven’t been moved after the initial delivery of the property.

Why are moved manufactured houses cheaper? Relocating mobile homes incurs more risk, as the chassis and structure are vulnerable to damage.

If they have been moved two or three times, potential buyers have a tough time getting financing, which will affect the sale of your manufactured house.

  1. What size is your mobile home in Houston?

The size of your mobile home will be a huge contributing factor to its overall value. A large, site-built home in Houston is usually worth more than a small site-built one, although this is not a hard and fast rule.

What sizes do manufactured homes come in?

Manufactured homes come in three standard widths: single, double, and triple. Single-wide homes range from 500-1200 square feet; double-wides from 1,000-2,000 square feet; and triple wides from 2,000 to 4,500 square feet.

Double and triple-wides are in higher demand than single-wides, meaning that the higher the square footage, the greater the value (in general).

For example, if you own a double-wide or a triple-wide, you’ll be able to ask more for it (per square foot) than your friend who is selling her single-wide in the same condition, at the same location, and of the same age.

This is simply because of higher demand and because financing is harder to find for single-wide homes. If your Houston manufactured home is a double or triple-wide size, you will be able to fetch a better price for it overall, although this is dependent on the other factors in this list.

  1. Where is your mobile home?

As with site-built homes, the location of your house impacts its prospective price.

Some highly regarded locations are:

  • On the oceanfront.
  • In an up-and-coming area.
  • In an area with low crime rates.

Some locations that will be harder to sell are:

  • Areas where crime is increasing.
  • Ghost-town areas that are emptying.
  • Near to manufacturing plants that emit smells or noise.

Also, the park condition will have a bearing on your asking price. Most parks offer amenities, and these fees may impact your property’s value.

  1. What is the current condition of the Houston housing market?

Just like regular real estate, the housing market’s conditions make prices fluctuate pretty wildly. This can even fluctuate within certain pockets of a state or city that are changing over time, thus becoming more, or less, appealing to buyers.

In order to have a realistic view of how you can price your mobile home, you need to first factor in the previous variables we have discussed. After that, do some research on the housing market in your area of Houston.

  1. Does your mobile home have special features?

Of course, if your Houston mobile home has any special features, including:

  • patios
  • decks
  • hot tubs
  • enclosed porches
  • upgraded kitchens and bathrooms
  • skylights
  • weatherproofing
  • energy-efficient appliances
  • solar panels

… then you could definitely be looking at a higher price for your mobile home than a standard manufactured home of the same size and age.

If you decide to add a feature, make sure it complies with the HUD requirements for manufactured homes, or it could make a buyer unable to get financing.

How do I calculate my mobile home’s value in Houston TX?

There are a few different ways to calculate your mobile home’s exact value. Two common options are:

  • Pay for an appraisal online.
  • Get an in-person assessment done by a professional appraiser, which will cost more, but yield more accurate results.

If you want a guide to your Houston mobile home’s price, you can check out the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA), which issues pricing for vehicles, RVs, and manufactured homes.

There are also free guides, blogs and videos to be found online, that can help you estimate your mobile home’s price value.

Don’t want the hassle of selling your Houston mobile home? Sell to an investor instead!

If you are a mobile home owner in Houston TX and don’t want to sell to a private buyer, consider selling to an investor such as Houston Capital Home Buyers (HCHB).

What is HCHB?

HCHB is an established and reputable investor in Houston. 3 reasons to sell to us are:

If you are searching for a fast sale of your mobile home with no hassle, this is the option for you.

When you sell your mobile home to HCHB, you get:

  • No repairs or renovations necessary
  • One quick inspection to assess the home’s resale value
  • Only fair offers
  • Close the sale in as few as 4-7 days.

If you are interested in this hassle-free, legal and legitimate option, give us a call to learn how we can help.