This Southwestern City Has the Most Built Homes in the US as Buyers Stock up on Affordable Homes
Manufactured homes, especially mobile homes, remain one of the most affordable housing options in the US—about half the cost of a typical home. In one Arizona city, buyers are snapping up these houses at a rapid rate.
Mesa, AZ, has the highest manufactured housing inventory in the country, with an estimated 29,300 mobile homes, according to a new study by Storage Cafe. That represents 13.1% of all housing in the city.
Mesa is the third largest city in Arizona and is often ranked as one of the best places for retirees.
“Mesa is part of the Phoenix metropolitan area, which has experienced high housing prices and price reductions following an increase in demand [COVID-19] the development of houses during the epidemic,” said Hannah Jonessenior economic research analyst at Realtor.com®.
“Manufactured homes are common here, and many of them are used as second homes for people who come to warm weather during the snowbird season,” said real estate agent Mesa. Mindy Willertof Dragonfly Homes by Mindy, tells Realtor.com.
Most of these homes are built in 55 and over communities.
“People love these retirement communities because they are in their prime,” a Mesa real estate agent Tranatta Adeyanjuof the Primrose team, he tells Realtor.com. “They want to make new friends and stay active, and they tend to downsize and want to stay on the same floor.”
Willert says retirees are particularly attracted to pre-owned homes because the price is right.
“Since the price of houses is increasing, the houses that have been built are the fastest, most accessible and affordable option,” he said.
There are currently about 60,000 manufactured mobile homes on the market, with an average list price of about $150,000.
In contrast, the national average list price for a single-family home reached $415,000—meaning manufactured homes are going for $265,000 less on average.
This huge difference in cost comes as the ideas of manufactured homes are growing.
“People used to feel like you couldn’t find something stable or safe, or that it was something you looked at as a last resort—it was really offensive,” Adeyanju said. “But with the cost of single-family homes out of reach for many people, they are now realizing that mobile homes are affordable, good quality, with many modern upgrades.”
Some of the top cities are the houses that have been built
The real estate market is booming across the country.
Rounding out the top five cities with the highest number of mobile homes are Phoenix (20,500); Jacksonville, FL (15,400), Largo, FL (14,100), and Tucson, AZ (14,100).
“Cities with a lot of manufactured housing tend to be more affordable and are mostly located in the Sun Belt, where land costs are generally lower,” Jones said.
Florida real estate agent Jeff LichtensteinCEO of Echo Fine Properties, says in Jacksonville and Largo, affordability is what really draws buyers to mobile homes.
“Forget location, location, location—it’s price, price, price,” he boomed.
Retirees have tended to buy mobile homes in the Sunshine State, because they “like the low maintenance, easy lifestyle, and sense of community,” Ron Myers of Ron Buys Florida Homes tells Realtor.com.
But that demographic is changing, according to Lichtenstein. “For the first time, we are starting to see small buyers entering this area,” he said.
The remaining top 10 cities with the highest number of mobile homes include San Jose, CA (11,700), San Antonio, TX (11,200), Houston (11,000), Los Angeles (10,600), and Sunrise Manor, NV (10,000).
“The rapid population growth in these cities has increased the demand for available housing,” Jones said.
Daniel Cabreraowner and founder of Sell My House Fast SA, agrees.
“San Antonio has more homes built because they provide quick and affordable ownership close to where people work,” he said. “Retirees and first-time buyers are the main demographics here.”
Mobile homes are getting a makeover
Mobile homes built before 1976—before federal regulation existed—are not like today’s manufactured homes, which meet today’s strict construction, inspection, and financing requirements.
“There are a lot of other funding options available now,” Willert said.
Today’s manufactured homes are built on a permanent steel chassis, according to federal HUD standards, and can be classified as real buildings if they are permanently attached to the homeowner’s property.
A specialist in the manufactured housing industry Glenn D. Esterson tells Realtor.com that one of the most attractive things about manufactured homes is “its ability to appreciate in value.”
In fact, manufactured homes have appreciated almost as fast as locally built homes over the past 24 years, according to an Urban Institute analysis of FHFA data.
