A mobile home is an otherwise stationary home that has been made “mobile” via some form of violent weather, such as a tornado or a hurricane. Actually, that is not what a mobile home is. There are many definitions of mobile homes, but that is not one of them. However, tornadoes seem to have a high frequency of hitting mobile home parks, and staying inside a mobile home is not a safe place to be during a tornado. So, that’s all fine and good, but what is a mobile home? A mobile home is something that is built in a factory, rather than on a piece of land.

Yet once they are transported to a location, they are usually left there permanently. The homes are built on a chassis with wheels and tires so they can be moved easily if the need arises. The two most common sizes of mobile homes are single-wides and double-wides. Single-wides are smaller and can be towed as one unit. Double-wides are transported in two separate pieces and then joined together at their site.

So if I buy a mobile home can I just plop it down wherever I like? No! In the US, the homes are regulated by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The homes must be acceptable under state laws and building codes. Financing for mobile homes can be tough to attain. When someone is trying to get financing for a mobile home without owning a plot of land, banks become very hesitant to give out loans. However, there are companies that specialize in mobile home financing.

Mobile homes are seldom seen by themselves. Most are part of a mobile home park. The land is leased and the community provides utilities such as gas, water, sewer, electricity, and garbage removal. There are over 30,000 mobile home parks in the U.S. A mobile home is a wise choice for a short term living option. If you keep the home in good condition, it can turn out to be a good investment.