Trailer homes are prefabricated homes built in factories, rather than on site like a normal home, and then taken to the place where they will be occupied and used. Many of these homes can then be moved later (so called mobile homes). Trailer homes are usually moved by tractor-trailers (hence the name) over public roads to sites that are usually in rural areas or high-density developments. In some countries, these homes are used for temporary accommodation on campsites since they are inexpensive. While trailer homes are usually placed in one location and left there, they do retain the ability to be moved on a trailer again if needed. Behind the cosmetic work fitted at installation to hide the base of the house in the ground, there are strong trailer frames, axles, wheels and tow-hitches that are also hidden.

The two main sizes for trailer homes are single-wides and double-wides. Single-wides are eighteen feet or less in width and 90 feet or less in length and can be towed to their site as a single unit. They are much smaller and easier to transport in the future. Double-wides are twenty feet or more wide and are 90 feet in length or less and are towed to their site in two separate units, which are then joined together. Sometimes there are even triple-wides and even homes with four, five, or more units that are built, although they are not very common.

Trailer homes also are different from site built homes in that it is not uncommon for owners to “Trade up”, like with a car. While site-built homes are rarely moved, mobile home owners often “trade”, or sell their home to a dealer in the form of the reduction of the purchase of a new home. These “used” homes are either re-sold to new owners or to trailer park operators who then rent them out. Single wides are more likely to be traded than double wides since removing them from the site is much easier.

Trailer homes are often thought of as the homes of rednecks, Katrina victims, and poor people in the south. We often think of “Trailer Park” trash when we think of trailer homes. However, people from all walks of life and all over the country live in trailer or mobile homes. They are a much more affordable means of housing than a traditional home. While it is true that most of the occupants are of lower income, it is because these homes are simply more affordable. they make better economic sense for people with low wage jobs who might not be able to afford a mortgage.

Yet trailer homes offer another benefit for people- they are cheaper to keep and help you get rid of consumerist lifestyle. Since trailer homes are smaller than regular homes, they cost less to heat and cool and can lead to lower utility costs saving money and helping to save the environment. Moreover, the small space ensures that you only have room for what you need. You can’t have as much stuff in a trailer home so you are a less of a consumer. That’s a good thing in my opinion.

There are many different types of mobile and trailer homes on the market and many things you need to consider when buying a trailer homes. Make sure you do your research when looking for a mobile or trailer home so you don’t end up with one of those FEMA trailers! It’s important to consider everything before you purchase a home and I hope this website helps!

The popularity of trailer homes has caused many complications in our legal system. Originally, trailers homes were always taxed as vehicles rather than real estate since they could be moved, which resulted in very low property tax rates for their inhabitants. However, since property taxes are more than vehicle taxes, there is move towards classifying mobile and trailer homes as property.

One thing to consider when purchasing a trailer home is the rapid depreciation often of these homes. Unlike normal homes, these properties lose value over time not gain. Early homes, even those that were well-maintained, tended to depreciate in value over time, much like motor vehicles, rather than appreciate in value, as with site-built homes. Your trailer home is cheap but a depreciating asset.

A combination of factors has caused most jurisdictions to place zoning regulations on the areas in which factory built homes are placed, and limitations on the number and density of homes permitted on any given site. Many areas have strongly limited or forbidden all single-wide models, which tend to depreciate in value more rapidly than modern double-wide models. Lots of trailer homes can cause the value of the town to go down and might attract a bad crowd.

Moreover, there is also the constant discussion about legal fixture and the legal status of a trailer is, or could be, affected by its incorporation to the land. This sometimes involves whether or not the wheels have been removed or not.

In regions not considered “high-wind” zones, over-the-top tie-downs have not historically been used for single-wide manufactured homes. Piers or pilings comprised concrete and/or wooden blocks, placed on-grade at intervals beneath the trailer frame, have historically been accepted as the norm in most parts of Canada.

Tie-downs consisting of spun steel cable, wrapped around the trailer frame and fastened to driven or screw anchors are typical in most locales, although not necessarily consistent among all manufactured homes.
The mounting and tie-down methods typically employed may, or may not comply with the manufacturer’s recommendations.

Under some circumstances (leased land, for example) a lender or insurer may want some assurance that a mobile home is still transportable. In this case, the wheels of the home must always be on the home in case it needs to be moved.

The actual process of moving a mobile home as a vehicle is a point of interest which a home inspector cannot address or confirm, and involves considerations which only the selected mover could evaluate. It is however reasonable to believe that if axles could not be installed for any reason, or if the unit is found to be not roadworthy as a vehicle in its original configuration, it could possibly be moved by other means, much the same as any small house.

There are many legal issues tied to mobile homes, most of which have to deal with their status tied to the land, what rights the homeowner has versus which rights the landowner has (if the two are different), zoning rules of the county the home is placed in, and the value of the home. Before you buy a trailer or mobile home, make sure you consult a lawyer and read the rules of the area in order to ensure minimal future legal complications if a problem were to arise. In many parts of the country, mobile homes are encouraged and the law is clear. However, in other parts, the law is used to reduce trailer homes and if you get into trouble, you might have many legal problems.

Before you purchase a trailer home, look up the legal issues that might arise and the town’s laws on these times of home. You can also consult a laywer or real estate broker who might be able to help you.