Florida PorchViews Magazine - Issue 2

TM

The Magazine of the Florida Manufactured Housing Association • PorchViews.com/florida

WHAT'S NEW? PG. 4

Who Lives in Florida’s Manufactured Homes?

PG. 6

TOP 11 CITIES PG. 14

WINTER RETIREMENT LIVING IN FLORIDA PG. 26

™ VOLUME 2 • ISSUE 1 • 2023

ON THE WEB

PorchViews.com/florida

A Letter from

FMHA chief executive officer Jim Ayotte

FMHA STAFF

James R. Ayotte, CAE Chief Executive Officer

Beth Loftus Director of Administration

Jessica Ballard Office Manager/Membership Coordinator

Last year, we launched the inaugural issue of Florida PorchViews.

Laura Frandsen

Our goal with that first issue was to create a fun, yet informative magazine

Marketing/Communications Coordinator

for Floridians to discover the benefits of manufactured housing.

Lisa Cashulette, MBA, PMP, DASM

Now that we’re on our second issue, we’re expanding on that

Project Manager Workforce Development

promise by showcasing even more of our great state’s manufactured housing successes, with the hope that you will partake in them.

At the Florida Manufactured Housing Association, our mission is

PRODUCTION

Design & Production by MHVillage.com

to grow our readers’ knowledge about manufactured housing in Florida. In a state where we have thousands of FMHA-affiliated communities, and tens of thousands of homes for sale at any given point, you might be asking, “How much more can you grow?”

The answer is that our work in growing manufactured housing is never really done.

To that end, last year we also launched our revamped consumer website, MyFloridaManufacturedHome.com, giving us yet another way to make buying a manufactured home easy and convenient for everyone. Now, you can shop for homes from FMHA members, tour communities that are members of FMHA, and even explore

DISCLAIMER

Although every effort was made to ensure that the information in this issue was correct at the time of publication, Florida Manufactured Housing Association (FMHA), its members, agencies and affiliates do not assume and hereby disclaim any liability to any party for any loss, damage, or disruption caused by errors or omissions, whether such errors or omissions result from negligence, accident, or any other cause. Opinions expressed are those of the author or persons quoted and not necessarily those of FMHA or its members.

custom-designed manufactured homes to build your ideal home from the ground up.

There’s still a lot of great work to be done in 2023 and beyond, both at FMHA and for Florida’s manufactured housing scene as a whole. And with our latest issue of Florida PorchViews magazine, we’re going even further to bring more people into low-cost, high-quality factory-built homes.

Thank you for reading this issue and taking this manufactured

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

Copyright ©2023 Florida Manufactured Housing Association (FMHA). All rights reserved. Reproduction of PorchViews™ content other contributor content, in part or in whole, is prohibited without written authorization from FMHA. PorchViews™ is a trademark of MHVillage, Inc. and was used with permission by FMHA.

housing journey with us.

Sincerely,

Florida PorchViews™ is published by

Jim Ayotte

Chief Executive Officer, FMHA IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

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4

6

Explore the Latest Manufactured Housing News

Who Lives in Florida’s Manufactured Homes?

10

Florida is THE Destination State

14

Top 11 Cities in Florida for Manufactured Housing by FMHA Members

18

Manufactured Home Community Living in Florida

22

Manufactured Housing Trends Gaining Popularity in Florida

26

Calling All Snowbirds: Why Florida is Great For Winter Manufactured Home Living

30

What are Other Names for Manufactured Housing?

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EXPLORE THE LATEST

MANUFACTURED HOUSING NEWS M

anufactured housing has popped up in the news more and more these days.

While it’s no secret that they’ve become an increasingly popular way to own a home, there have been a lot of developments that have many benefits for potential and current manufactured homeowners.

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HERE ARE JUST A FEW OF THE BIGGEST HEADLINES IN MANUFACTURED HOUSING SINCE THE LAST ISSUE OF FLORIDA PORCHVIEWS:

New Energy Standards Guidelines in Progress WHAT HAPPENED? As new energy

Office of Manufactured Housing Established by U.S. Government

standards for new factory-built homes make

WHAT HAPPENED? In June 2023, the

their way through the U.S. Department

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban

of Housing and Urban Development,

Development (HUD) announced the creation

WHAT HAPPENED? In 2022, the state of

the manufactured housing industry has

of a new independent office dedicated to

Florida reduced the sales tax on new man-

expressed concern that the guidelines to

manufactured housing causes — the Office

ufactured home sales from 6% down to 3%.

ensure they’re compliant with these new

of Manufactured Housing Programs.

This was part of a larger tax relief bill, CS/

guidelines aren’t clear enough, with not

HB 7071, that introduced a number of tax

enough time to adjust building processes.

cuts into law for a limited amount of time.

Enforcements for the new standards were

However, the reduction of the new manu-

pushed back by the Department of Energy

factured home sales tax is a permanent one.

before jurisdiction was granted to HUD. Still,

Florida Sales Tax Reduction

manufacturers and industry professionals

HOW AM I IMPACTED? If you buy a new manufactured home today, you’ll see a huge reduction on the amount of sales tax you’ll

are working together to find the best way to ensure compliance with the demands needed

• Support and potentially expand manufactured housing production • Update t he “HUD Code” for manufactured housing construction for the first time in more than a decade

for increased energy efficiency.

HOW AM I IMPACTED? The Office of

have to pay compared to just a few years ago.

In a time of economic uncertainty, the sales

HOW AM I IMPACTED? These new energy

tax reduction is a huge victory for consumers

standards ensure that newer, more energy

in the state of Florida looking to buy a home.

efficient technology is installed into new

In fact, last year FMHA Chief Executive

This new office will, among other things:

manufactured homes. This affects many

Manufactured Housing Programs will oversee safety standards for manufactured homes, whether that’s directly or through state-level agencies.

parts of the home building process, from

This means that, as a homebuyer or

insulation to appliances.

manufactured homeowner, you may notice

manufactured home in Florida by an

Ultimately, this means a lower energy bill

an even higher quality of homes being sold

average of $4,200.

on average for manufactured homeowners,

Officer Jim Ayotte estimated that the tax cut would reduce the cost of a new

A study commissioned by FMHA at the time also found that, as a result of this tax cut:

as well as ensuring new factory-built homes have a reduced carbon footprint, which is a win for manufacturers.

in your market. And, as a buyer, this Office will help regulate the installation of your home if you have it sited on private land.

2023 is shaping up to be yet another

• 40,000 additional Florida families

great year for the history of manufactured

would be newly enabled to buy a

housing. And with countless organizations

manufactured home

and groups going to bat for factory-built

• 1,800 additional new manufactured

housing all over the state and country,

homes would be sold compared

the brightest days for manufactured

to years prior, amounting to $148

homeowners are just on the horizon.

million in sales • Over 2,000 industry jobs would be created amounting to $70 million in new wages • The Florida economy would see $185 million in stimulation • State and local tax revenue would go up by $13 million While Florida was not the first state to enact such a tax cut for manufactured home buyers, Ayotte is confident it won’t be the last.

“Hopefully other states will benefit from the work Florida has done on this policy issue,” he said.

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Who Lives inFlorida’s Manufactured Homes?

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F

lorida’s manufactured homeowners come from all walks of life.

There’s often a misconception that manufactured homes are only for specific groups of people. But, the reality is that you can find all types of people who love everything that these types of homes have to offer.

Whether someone is in their early-20s or well into retirement age, people of all age groups and demographics make up the 22 million manufactured homeowners in the United States.

Here’s just a taste of who lives in Florida’s manufactured homes:

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Retirees are an important audience for manufactured homes. In fact, they’re so important that many manufactured home communities are specifically designed with retirees in mind.

This plays into manufactured homes being an excellent option for retirees who either want a second home in a yearround warm environment, or simply want to live in a great home at a great price.

Many retirement communities also offer loads of amenities that make them appealing to senior citizens, such as reg ula r shut t les for shopping excursions, exercise facilities, and more!

FAMILIES

RETIREES 8 • 2 02 3 P O RC H V I E WS ™

RETIREES

FAMILIES Manufactured homes aren’t JUST for retirees, however.

Families are also flocking to factory-built homes in droves for a variety of reasons.

For one, they're incredibly affordable. On average, the price of a manufactured home compared to a site-built one is lower by several tens of thousands of dollars. This makes them incredibly appealing to all types of people.

Another important thing to note is that all-ages communities are great for families, too. Some even have resort-style amenities that are perfect for families with young children, such as pools and playgrounds!

Manufactured homes are perfect for couples at all stages of life looking to cohabitate, including young adults.

Why? Because it offers all of the advantages of living in a sitebuilt home — independence, security, and peace of mind —

FIRST-TIME HOMEOWNERS

(COUPLES)

YOUNG ADULTS

YOUNG ADULTS (COUPLES)

without having to spend sitebuilt home prices. This also

means you don’t have to settle for an apartment where you’ll have neighbors on all sides of you.

They’re also a great gateway into homeow nership for

couples just starting to live together, too. Because many

manufactured homes can be rented or are rent-to-own, it’s

an easy, yet appealing first

step into homeownership for

those just taking the plunge.

Speaking of which…

FIRST-TIME HOMEOWNERS Whether you’re with a partner or on your own, becoming a new homeowner is a huge step in life. In the state of Florida, let alone everywhere else, manufactured homes are PERFECT for first-time homebuyers.

Not only are they a more affordable option with more accessible financing routes available, but they offer so many benefits of site-built housing and almost none of the negatives of apartment living.

This means that for thousands of young Floridians, owning a manufactured home is the best way to go.

In fact, the state of Florida has made it even easier by cutting the sales tax on all new manufactured homes sold starting in 2022.

Want to become a Florida Manufactured Homeowner?

Finding a FMHA member manufactured home for sale has never been easier! Head to MyFloridaManufacturedHome.com to get started today.

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P

icture your ideal tropical vacation: miles of golden beaches, golf and outdoor adventures galore, and the best, most diverse food selection you could imagine.

With all this in mind, why settle for experiencing

GOLF

everything Florida has to offer once a year on vacation when

It’s one of the most popular

you can enjoy it everyday as a resident?

sports in the state of Florida,

Take a peek at just a few of the great treasures in store for those who live the manufactured home lifestyle in Florida:

and when the weather is great for it year-round, why wouldn’t it be?

Florida has over a thousand golf courses — closer to 1,200, actually — which means that it’d take you over three years to golf on every single course. That’s if you were to visit one course every single day.

Of course, very few people golf every day, but our point is that for those looking to move to Florida and want to get some practice swings in, you’ll have endless chances to do just that.

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BEACHES If you prefer a locale that’s more tranquil, however, Florida’s miles upon miles of beaches are sure to fit the bill.

There are a ton of beaches that offer family-friendly environments for swimming, sunbathing, and other fun activities under the sun.

Depending on which beach you visit, you may also find some that have pet-friendly walking trails!

So whether you’re a morning dog walker or a beach volleyball

THEME PARKS

champion, Florida’s beaches will

We could probably create a whole

be right for you the moment your

magazine about Florida’s theme

feet hit the sand.

parks, but instead we’ll just say this: For ANY manufactured homeowner in the state of Florida, you’re doing yourself a disservice if you skip out on all of the great theme parks that Florida has to offer.

Whether you’re looking for movie magic, the magic of the mouse, or the magic of aquatic life, Florida’s theme parks have the most diversity and grandeur that you’ll find anywhere in the world.

If you’re a theme park fanatic yourself, or want to invite your family to stay at your manufactured home for a weekend, then one of these attractions has to be in the books.

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HISTORICAL ATTRACTIONS Besides the entertainment and leisure factor, Florida is also a state teeming with rich history dating back to before Florida even was a state.

For example, you can check out Castillo de San Marcos, Florida’s oldest building from the New World days in the 17th century.

Or, if you want to visit something more modern, there’s the

DINING After a full day at the beach, maybe you want to grab a bite to eat. Or, maybe you just need to get out of the house for an evening and want to dine somewhere local.

No matter your taste, Florida’s dining options — whether they’re down the street or near a vacation hotspot — have something for you.

In fact, just about every city in the state has a wide offering of food options for any meal.

Yes, even the brunchers reading this will have hundreds of options to choose from, no matter where in Florida they live.

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Kennedy Space Center on Merritt Island, chronicling our journeys beyond Earth’s atmosphere.

STATE AND NATIONAL PARKS If you’re a kayaker, hiker, or simply want to get out and be amongst nature, then Florida’s state and national parks are for you.

Perhaps one of the most popular national parks in our state is Everglades National Park, where you’ll find wildlife and natural beauty you’d be hard-pressed to find anywhere else on the planet.

There’s also Biscayne National Park, a stone’s throw from Miami yet its own perfect world for diving, fishing, and exploration.

Oh, and did we mention the Gulf Islands National Seashore?

We haven’t even begun to touch the other hundreds of parks out there, let alone the hundreds of other incredibly fun and exciting things to do in the great state of Florida.

If you want to become a manufactured home-owner in Florida and start experiencing everything the Sunshine State has to offer for yourself, you’re in luck! MyFloridaManufacturedHome.com has everything you need to get started.

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TOP 11

CITIES IN FLORIDA

For Manufactured Housing

by FMHA Members

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W

e’ve spent a lot of time talking about how Florida is perhaps the best state in the country for manufactured homes. But what about which cities are the best within the Sunshine State?

The truth is that just about anywhere you go in Florida will be the PERFECT place to buy a manufactured home. But, there are eleven cities in Florida that have more options and opportunities for buying manufactured homes, and we’re going to go over them together right now.

These are the eleven most popular cities in Florida for manufactured homes, based on the number of for-sale or for-rent listings from FMHA members on MHVillage.com.

©OpenStreetMap contributors

LAKELAND

ORLANDO

With nearly 200 listings in Lakeland by FMHA members, your choices are practically limitless.

Want a manufactured home with a garage? Or a doublewide in a pristine retirement community? What about a newly renovated home with an open floor plan and the latest appliances? Lakeland’s FMHA manufactured homes have you covered.

LEESBURG

NORTH FORT MYERS Over 140 homes in North

Maybe it’s not the biggest surprise that a city as bustling as Orlando made this list with its 130 or so FMHA manufactured homes for

Leesburg’s 100+ manufac-

Fort Myers means you can

tured homes are not only in

find the perfect home that’s

some of the greatest com-

right for you. If you want to

munities in the state, but

live near your favorite beach,

are located within the Greater

or find a manufactured home

Orlando area, meaning you’re

that’s optimal for your work

With that in mind, man-

right by all the action.

commute, you’ll find it in

ufactured homes in Or-

North Fort Myers.

lando provide a great op-

From all-ages parks to retirement communities to homes on their own private land, Leesburg offers incred-

sale. After all, it’s considered by many to be the world capital for theme parks and family entertainment.

portunity for families or young couples looking to buy their first home.

ible variety to earn a spot on this list.

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©OpenStreetMap contributors

ORMOND BEACH

SARASOTA

Ormond Beach is an easy pick for our list, partially be-

Sarasota has over 100 man-

cause of the nearly 100 man-

ufactured homes for sale by

ufactured homes for sale and

FMHA members, making it

partially because of how close

PORT ORANGE

state to buy or rent the perfect

it is to scenic waterfronts enjoyable for all ages.

Some communities in Ormond Beach even have their own lakes with homes on the water for sale, making for the perfect scenic view.

Speaking of beaches, Vero Beach is yet another city on our list with well over 100 FMHA homes for sale. From

Port Orange is a perfect

home for you.

place to make your Florida

It also goes without saying

manufactured home dream

manufactured homes run the

that Sarasota is one of the best

a reality. With 125+ homes

gamut of quality AND quantity

gulf cities for relaxing on the

for sale by FMHA members,

in the Sunshine State.

beach or exploring Florida’s

it’s hard to go wrong finding

history with attractions such

a home that you love in

as the Ringling Museum of Art.

this city.

You’ll have a lot of options, to o, b e t we en homes i n communit ies, homes on their own private land, homes that are brand new, and so much more.

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one of the top cities in the

VERO BEACH

new to pre-owned, Vero Beach

Similar to Sarasota, Vero Beac h is k now n for it s museums. There are also a number of parks and nature trails to check out, making it great for the outdoorsy types.

©OpenStreetMap contributors

BRADENTON Of course, we can’t talk about gulf cities without

ELLENTON

mentioning Bradenton. This is one of the most popular cities in Florida for retirees,

Ellenton

CLEARWATER Clearwater is one of the most popular cities in the entire country for retirees looking to take advantage of the

has

dozens

and with dozens of homes to

up o n d o z e n s o f F M H A

choose from, there’s a home

manufactured homes for

out there for everybody.

sale. Like every other city on this list, you’ll have more t han enough opt ions to choose from when buying your home, meaning you can pick the one that meets all of

And with its state parks,

This, of course, extends to

nearby beaches, and multiple

Clearwater’s manufactured

downtown scenes a short

home scene.

drive away, you’d be hard-

highly sought-after for its retirement communities and

O u t s i d e o f t h e h o m e,

home, whether it’s one on this

Br adenton of fers plent y

list or anywhere else in Florida,

of beaches, museums, golf

you’re in good hands when you

courses, and scenic places

start your home buying journey

to explore.

with an FMHA member.

your needs.

year-round warm weather.

Of course, Clearwater is

No matter which city you choose for your manufactured

pressed to pass up Ellenton

Simply head to

MYFLORIDAMANUFACTUREDHOME.COM and browse your location of choice to look for homes for sale or rent by FMHA members today.

when searching for a Florida manufactured home.

the amenities that they offer.

But, there are a number of homes for sale in Clearwater on their own private land, too.

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D E R U T C A F MANU Y T I N U M M O C E M O H A D I R ARROW-ALT-CIRCLE-RIGHT O L F LIVING IN

W

hen you talk about manufactured homes — and especially manufactured homes in Florida — you’ll hear the term

“community” pop up quite a lot. In fact, we’ve already used the term in this magazine multiple times!

You might be asking yourself: what is a manufactured home community, exactly? And what does community living have in store if I want to own a manufactured home?

You’re about to dive into a crucial part of this lifestyle, but it’s a journey that you’ll find incredibly satisfying right alongside the thousands of Florida community residents that have come before you.

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Types of Community Amenities ARROW-ALT-CIRCLE-RIGHT Swimming Pools WHAT IS COMMUNITY LIVING? A manufactured home community is a collection of homes that are overseen by a property manager or owner.

In exchange for a monthly lot rent, community residents may see a number of their utilities provided as a courtesy.

This can include water, trash pickup, and internet access, among others. And, by paying your lot rent, you can benefit

In fact, there are nearly 600 FMHA member communities in Florida as of November 2023.

WHAT TYPES OF COMMUNITIES ARE OUT THERE? It might seem obvious, but there are a few different types of communities that you should know about: Retirement Communities

from a number of amenities that your

These are one of the more common types

community provides.

of communities out there. Retirement

When you live in a manufactured home in a community, you live among others in that same community. This provides a sense of neighborly bonding that you might not find in other neighborhoods.

IS COMMUNITY LIVING POPULAR?

communities, also known as age-restricted or 55+ communities, are for residents who are above the age of 55, or otherwise of retirement age.

These communities are highly sought after by retirees all over the country. In fact, many move to Florida to live in a

YES! Community living is incredibly

community because of the year-round

popular among manufactured homeowners.

warm weather, among many other reasons.

ARROW-ALT-CIRCLE-RIGHT Saunas ARROW-ALT-CIRCLE-RIGHT Clubhouses ARROW-ALT-CIRCLE-RIGHT Libraries ARROW-ALT-CIRCLE-RIGHT Golf Courses ARROW-ALT-CIRCLE-RIGHT Athletic Courts ARROW-ALT-CIRCLE-RIGHT Waterfront Views ARROW-ALT-CIRCLE-RIGHT Boathouses ARROW-ALT-CIRCLE-RIGHT Walking Trails ARROW-ALT-CIRCLE-RIGHT Dog Parks ARROW-ALT-CIRCLE-RIGHT Gated Security And More!

And, Florida is one of the most popular states in the entire country for communities.

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All-Ages Communities

Resident-Owned Communities

Utilities

These communities are very similar to

Though less common than other types of

Like we mentioned earlier, paying your

retirement communities in terms of what

communities, a resident-owned comm-

lot rent may entitle you to having some of

they offer, but with one key difference.

unity is an all-ages or age-restricted

your utilities covered, like water, sewage,

Here, anyone of any age can live in them

community that’s owned by the residents

or trash pickup. This varies and is not the

— you don’t have to be of retirement age!

that live there.

same everywhere you go, so check with

Of course, there are generally some rules

Also called a co-op community, the residents

that come with this. Obviously, you have

are responsible for maintenance, upkeep

to be old enough to buy or rent a home,

and the community’s general wellbeing.

Amenities

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF COMMUNITY LIVING?

in a community. You can take advantage

By living in a manufactured home

to you as a resident.

And, some communities have guidelines on how many children, pets, or housemates can live with you.

Resort-Style Communities Resort-style communities offer amenities that you can find at many resorts. These include pools, saunas, golf courses, and more.

A resort-style community can be either an all-ages community, or age-restricted.

They’re not mutually exclusive!

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community, you have many key benefits that you can take advantage of as a resident:

your community’s guidelines if you’re not sure what’s covered.

This is one of the biggest perks of living of a number of amenities that are available

If we were to try and go over every single amenity a community could have, we’d take up the entire magazine!

HOW CAN I FIND A MANUFACTURED HOME IN A COMMUNITY? Ready to begin the manufactured home lifestyle in a community? FMHA is here to help. By heading to MyFloridaManufacturedHome.com, you can find a community that’s perfect for the lifestyle you want, nearly anywhere in Florida!

Just click on the “Explore” button on our homepage to start browsing FMHA member manufactured home communities today.

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N

ot only are manufactured homes a great foundation

for the latest designs and trends taking hold in 2023, but many of them even find their start with factory-built homes.

Here are just a few of the latest design trends to take note of this year for your manufactured home:

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2 02 3 P O RC H V I E WS ™ • 23

1

NATURAL LIGHTING Whether it’s your bedroom, living room, or front entryway, natural lighting is coming back in a big way.

Arranging a space so that you can prioritize the amount of natural light that comes in through doors and windows is huge. This is most easily achievable in a bedroom or living room, depending on the size, placement, and number of windows in any given room.

Naturally, this can have a huge energy savings impact. By relying on natural lighting during the day and keeping the lights off, you can save on your electric bill while letting in some sunlight!

2

MULTI-FUNCTIONAL ROOMS This is a design trend that has seen immense popularity among man-

ufactured homeowners. These days, it’s really popular to arrange rooms so that they can be used for more than one purpose.

For example, you can use a home office on one side of a spare bedroom, with the other side being a proper bedroom. Or, maybe have a room that’s both a dedicated fitness room and a playroom for the kids.

There are limitless combinations you could play with here. The idea is to make the most of the space in your home in unique, creative ways that work for you. A bedroom inside of a home office isn’t going to work for everybody, but it may just work for you!

24 • 2 02 3 P O RC H V I E WS ™

4

STONE SLABS When it comes to countertops and other kitchen surfaces, stone slabs have been making a huge re-

surgence in popularity. They provide a rustic, earthy flair to any kitchen and make for a great talking point at any party or family gathering.

Now, this is where customizable

3

manufactured homes come into play.

If you’re building a new manufactured

FOCUS ON WELLNESS

home, you’ll get to choose many

2023 has continued the trend of prioritizing wellness in all areas of life,

aspects of the home to your liking,

and that especially extends to the home.

including the countertops!

In your bedroom, living room, home office, or bathroom, consider

There are tons of stone slab styles

ways to make your space more calming and inviting. This can be via

you can choose for your countertops,

the use of calming candles with your favorite scent, mood/ambient lighting, or

including color, types of stone,

even re-painting a room altogether to a color that brings you to a calmer state of

texture, and more.

mind. Blues and light purples and greens tend to work very well for this purpose.

Of course, you have all the power in the world to personalize this process, too.

Even something as small as photos of your family and friends displayed around the house can lead to increased mood, or even a photo of your pet if you have one!

5

STATEMENT RUGS Hardwood floors are still hugely popular in factor y-built homes, but statement rugs have

become a way to introduce some variety to your flooring.

If they’re under a table, couch, or even just in the center of a room, the right statement rug can add even more artful color to a living room or bedroom. There’s also the added benefit of heat retention, too, along with sound absorption you’d see from a carpeted floor.

Design trends are like a river: always flowing, moving and changing.

They’re also always changing. Hopefully this guide will serve as a useful tool for staying up to date with a few of the most popular design trends today. Happy decorating!

2 02 3 P O RC H V I E WS ™ • 25

–

Calling All WHY FLORIDA IS GREAT FOR WINTER LIVING IN A MANUFACTURED HOME

26 • 2 02 3 P O RC H V I E WS ™

F

lorida has some of the most idyllic weather across all of the United States. It’s a state chock-full of things to do and places to see.

That’s why some people choose to live here part-time in the winter months, typically from November to March or April. Florida offers a great way to escape the cold and

snow of the northern states in a way that’s appealing and affordable.

Here’s what you need to know about manufactured home living in Florida during the winter months.

FLORIDA AS A SECOND HOME Like we mentioned earlier, many people — especially retirees — choose Florida as their winter home.

If you live in a colder northern state, you may have thoughts about having a temporary residence in a warmer state to escape from frigid temperatures and February blizzards.

While there are a few states that work great for this purpose, Florida is the best of the best. This is because Florida is already a great state for manufactured housing, between a lower sales tax on new homes and the high number of manufactured homes and communities available.

So, for those who want to maintain a second home in another state, Florida is a no-brainer.

2 02 3 P O RC H V I E WS ™ • 27

YEAR-ROUND WARM WEATHER

SO MANY THINGS TO DO!

Whether it’s January or July, you can count on the state of

The weather alone makes Florida one of the best states, if not

Florida to deliver when it comes to year-round warm weather.

THE best state, for winter living in a manufactured home. But what about things to do outside the home?

It probably doesn’t come as much of a shock at this point, but Florida has no shortage of things to do across the entire state that’ll keep you entertained for years.

According to Florida State University, the average temperature in Florida reached 72.4° F in 2022. That’s the PERFECT temperature for an afternoon walk, a dip in the pool during the warmer months, or an excursion to the beach or your local park.

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Here are just a few ideas…

• Tourist attractions: from the House of Mouse to the other classic theme parks in Florida, you can ride and play to your heart’s content in entertainment capitals like Orlando and Tampa Bay. • Historical attractions: from Cape Canaveral to the historical roots of big cities like Miami, Florida is teeming with history.

• Beautiful scenery: chances are, you’re not too far from your local state or national park wherever you are in Florida. Filled with walking trails, hiking paths, and other natural wonders, you’ll be well off if you’re an outdoorsy type.

CAN I OWN A SECOND HOME IN A COMMUNITY? Generally, yes! Many communities allow for their homes to be used as temporary residences. So, if you live in Michigan or Minnesota and want to live in a community during the winter months, you can do just that!

Some communities have different guidelines on this sort of thing. Before you buy a manufactured home in a community, check their guidelines to make sure you’re not breaking any rules that have to do with temporary residence.

MOVE HERE PERMANENTLY! Many snowbirds choose to temporarily live in Florida during the winter months. But what about those who want to move here permanently?

Luckily, manufactured housing in Florida is a perfect fit for that, too!

With manufactured homes in the Sunshine State, you can soak up the sun year-round and retire in sunny paradise or start your family in a great state for entertainment, commerce, and business.

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What are Other Names for

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Manufactured Housing? hen you read about manufactured homes in a newspaper, magazine, or blog, you’ll likely come across many different terms used to describe them.

The reality is that, while some of these terms are correct, other terms used to describe manufactured homes are either outdated or just plain factually wrong.

Still, it’s important to recognize these terms and learn where they came from. Let’s take a history lesson together, shall we?

Manufactured Homes This is the official term used by the vast majority of manufactured housing professionals.

After the passing of the 1976 HUD Code, “Manufactured homes” refers to factory-built homes that are built entirely in a manufacturing plant. They are then transported from the factory to the home site once they’re fully built.

Manufactured homes are held to very strict safety and quality guidelines under this HUD Code, with the exception of modular homes which conform to local building codes. If a home was built before the 1976 HUD Code went into effect, then it’s technically a mobile home.

Mobile Homes This is by far the most commonly used moniker for today’s manufactured homes. However, mobile homes only refer to homes built before the 1976 HUD Code went into effect.

But, this term is so popular that you’ll often see it used interchangeably with “manufactured homes.”

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Trailer Homes Now we’re getting into the realm of terms that are no longer used to describe factory-built homes.

Many people still refer to mobile and manufactured homes as “trailer homes,” or to communities as “trailer parks,” but this term is plain incorrect.

This is a term that’s been used for decades, because moving mobile homes like a trailer was far more common in the mid-20th century than it is today.

Modular Homes These are an entirely different type of factory-built home, but you’ll still see this term used alongside manufactured homes.

Because modern manufactured homes are rarely moved once they are assembled and placed on their permanent home site, this term is no longer accurate. So, the next time you hear someone use the term “trailer home” or “trailer park,” you can start a friendly conversation about what they’re called nowadays!

A modular home is a factory-built home that’s built in sections in the factory, and then assembled into its final form once the sections are brought to the home site.

There’s another key distinction to make here. We mentioned earlier that manufactured homes are built to a federal HUD Code that’s been in effect since 1976. However, modular homes are subject to state building codes. In Florida, modular homes are built according to the Florida Building Code, making them that much different from manufactured homes.

Snap-together Homes This is a term that some states in the U.S. have used in the past to refer to what we now call manufactured homes.

Calling a manufactured home a “snap-together” home used to be especially common in the late-20th century for homes with more than one section. Nowadays, we call them double-wide if a home has more than two sections. If a home has three sections, it’s a triple-wide. Double-wide and triple-wide homes are also sometimes referred to as multi-section homes.

Park Model Homes This is another term that you’ll see thrown around a lot, but they’re also quite different from manufactured and mobile homes.

Park model homes, or park model RVs, are much smaller than your standard single-wide manufactured home. On average, a park model home will not (and cannot, according to laws in most states) exceed 400 square feet. Florida is one of just a few states where you’ll find park model homes larger than this requirement.

The bigger difference, however, is that park model homes are almost never used as permanent accommodations, unlike a manufactured or modular home. More often, they’re used as a seasonal home or for camping purposes. This is why they’re referred to as “park model RVs” on occasion.

Motor Home Calling a manufactured home a “motor home” confuses factory-built housing with RVs and other large vehicles used for recreation on the road. While there’s some historical connection — communities and parks often have RV storage — it’s not accurate to use this term to refer to modern manufactured homes.

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The Magazine of the Florida Manufactured Housing Association • PorchViews.com/florida