Over the last decade or so, manufactured homes (still commonly known as mobile homes) have become a great option for new home buyers. Unlike the old shoddy mobile homes in trailer parks that people think of, manufactured homes now come as two-story homes or even row houses and include features like high ceilings and chimneys.

However, the basic configuration of manufactured homes is still single or double width. Single width or single section mobile homes are made from one main unit. The average single-sided manufactured home typically has around 1,100 square feet of living space, while double-wide ones average around 1,700 square feet. Needless to say, there are larger manufactured homes as well, but single and double widths are still the most common sizes.

Manufactured homes have their problems. According to Consumer Reports, single-section homes have more problems with floors, roofs, windows, and doors, while multi-section homes’ problems tend to be related to the joining of the sections.

In part, the problems relate to the fact that the house is built in a factory and then transported elsewhere on a flatbed truck. The movement involved can have a negative effect on joints and connectors. However, quality housing manufacturers go to great lengths to correct any problems that may arise during shipping.

Today, it can even be impossible to tell the difference between a mobile home and a site home unless you’ve seen how it’s built. The most common difference is that manufactured homes tend to have a lower roof pitch because the home has to go under highway bridges.

On the other hand, the materials used now tend to be comparable in quality to houses built on the site and, apart from the slope of the roof, generally resemble “normal” houses. In fact, if a manufactured home weren’t located in a “trailer park,” most people would have a hard time telling the difference.

Today more double widths are sold than single widths. In large part, this is because the typical home buyer wants more space, not less, and double-width homes offer that at a much cheaper price than a traditional home of the same size. Not only that, but zoning in many areas actually means that double-wide manufactured homes are the smallest size allowed.

As a homeowner, you should also know that double-width manufactured homes tend to maintain…or even increase…in value compared to single-width homes.