Mobile Home vs Manufactured Home: What’s the Difference?

A mobile home is a factory-built home constructed before June 15, 1976.

Before that date:

• There were no national construction standards

• Building quality varied by manufacturer

• Safety regulations were inconsistent

• Financing options were limited

Because of these inconsistencies, older mobile homes are often:

• Harder to finance

• More difficult to insure

• Valued lower than newer manufactured homes

The term “mobile home” is technically outdated but is still widely used in online searches like:

• Mobile homes for sale

• Sell my mobile home fast

• Mobile home near me

Manufactured Home (Built After June 15, 1976)

A manufactured home is also factory-built — but it was constructed after June 15, 1976, when the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) implemented federal construction standards under the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

These are commonly called HUD Code homes.

HUD Standards Require:

• Strict wind resistance guidelines

• Fire safety standards

• Energy efficiency regulations

• Federal inspection and certification

Every manufactured home has a HUD certification label (HUD tag) attached to the exterior.

Because of this:

• Manufactured homes are generally safer and more consistent in quality

• Financing is more accessible

• Insurance is easier to obtain

• Resale value tends to be stronger

Are They Built Differently?

Both mobile and manufactured homes are:

• Built in a factory

• Transported to a site

• Installed on a permanent or semi-permanent foundation

The difference isn’t the concept — it’s the federal building code implementation in 1976.

Why the Terminology Still Gets Confusing

Even though “manufactured home” is the correct term for post-1976 homes, the public — and even some professionals — still use “mobile home” generically.

For SEO purposes (which is important for Manufactured Home Works), buyers still search:

• Mobile homes for sale in Orange County

• Mobile home parks near me

• Sell my mobile home

So both terms matter — even though technically, most homes today are manufactured homes.

Quick Comparison Table

Feature	Mobile Home	Manufactured Home
Built Before/After	Before 6/15/1976	After 6/15/1976
Federal Building Code	No	Yes (HUD Code)
Financing	Limited	More Available
Insurance	Harder	Easier
Resale Value	Typically Lower	Typically Stronger

Final Takeaway

All manufactured homes are factory-built homes. Not all factory-built homes are manufactured homes.

If it was built:

• Before June 15, 1976 → Mobile Home

• After June 15, 1976 → Manufactured Home