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A mobile home is a type of prefabricated home that is built within a factory. It’s typically delivered to the site where it will be permanently located and set up on a foundation or concrete slab. Mobile homes are also referred to as “manufactured homes” and “modular homes.”
Mobile homes were first introduced in the early 1940s and have evolved over time. Before 1953, the term “trailer” was used to describe these types of homes. According to MobileHomeLiving, with time, these homes evolved, and in order to distinguish travel trailers and factory-built homes, the term mobile home was introduced.
There were no federal regulations about the building standards. Therefore, each state had different rules regarding these types of construction materials until 1968 when the National Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards Act (NHCSSA) was passed by Congress.
Manufactured homes, also known as mobile homes or trailers, were once considered subpar housing options due to their poor build quality and lack of regulation. However, in 1974, Congress designated the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to regulate and improve the quality of these homes. HUD established federal standards that covered everything from design and construction to energy efficiency and overall quality.
Under these new regulations, manufactured homes had to meet strict guidelines for strength, durability, and transportability. They also had to be fire-resistant and energy-efficient, ensuring that they were safe and cost-effective for homeowners. By setting these standards, HUD helped to improve the reputation and quality of manufactured homes, making them a viable housing option for many Americans.
Today, manufactured homes are built to much higher standards than they were in the past, thanks in large part to HUD's regulations. These homes offer affordable housing options to millions of Americans, and their quality and safety continue to improve with each passing year.
It's important to note that HUD's regulations also included a change in terminology. HUD mandated that on official documents, these types of homes should be called "manufactured homes," rather than "mobile homes." This distinction was made to emphasize the higher quality and safety standards that these homes now had to meet.
Today, the term "manufactured home" refers specifically to homes built under the HUD code, which sets standards for design, construction, and safety. These homes are inspected and certified by HUD-approved inspectors to ensure that they meet all applicable codes and standards.
It's worth noting that manufactured homes are different from modular homes. Modular homes are built in sections in a factory and then transported to a site for assembly. Unlike manufactured homes, modular homes are not regulated by HUD codes. Instead, they are subject to the same building codes and regulations as site-built homes.