When it comes to expectations, they are just that; something you expect. However, there are many misconceptions we all tend to carry every day. After a night of watching trailer park boys and a few glasses of wine, I came to realize something we all tend to misconceive; how we perceive mobile homes.  So I blew the dust off my keyboard and started looking deeper into this. I went to the internets gateway to everything -Google, and typed “mobile homes for sale near me” and something happened I didn’t expect I was stuck on my computer for 3 hours scrolling through all these charming mobile homes! I live in Florida so I started getting more specific. I looked up mobile homes in Boynton Beach FL, West Palm Beach FL, Lake Worth FL, Palm Beach Gardens, the list goes on. I found myself invested, I was obsessed -I wanted to know more. So I went to “the front page of the internet” Reddit. I figured I could find answers straight from the source and to my surprise, I wasn’t the only one who has asked this question!  

Heres what people had to say.

Some are quiet and pleasant

I live in a trailer park. Calgary, Alberta. I actually bought it from my Auntie and took possession in September of last year. Got my mortgage for $50,000. It’s a single unit however its been modified to have a bigger living room so it’s actually pretty big. I love the park I live in, a majority of it is seniors so it’s pretty quiet. Good people and good neighbors.

It’s nothing like Trailer Park Boys though haha

Some seemed to miss the question..

I think it would be really nice to buy a trailer! Put it on your own land with no neighbors right beside you. Idk why trailer get such a bad rep they’re essentially apartments for country folk

Some were concerned about the finances

They’re affordable, you have your own place so you don’t have to worry about security deposits. You can typically have pets, your bills are much cheaper, it’s basically a home at an apartment price.

We did find some bad apples in the bunch too though

I lived in a trailer park when I was in like grade 1 and I can tell you that there’s lots of drama. Oh, I remember doing things like taking the glass lights that you put around your house for Christmas and throwing them at girls at the park. one time I and my lil shit-friend named Donovan were looking at the newspaper dispenser thing that you put a quarter in and it took our quarter. Then proceeded to kick it and probably tried to break it to get the quarterback and a lady yelled at us and said she was calling the cops. I also remember pushing a girl over because she was fucking with my friend or something.

Some got philosophical about it

I really like the idea of affordable living. People have become too obsessed with their properties having to increase the value, that many don’t have an interest in fixing the housing shortage. Where I’m from there are no tornadoes, so it would be really cool if Trailer Parks weren’t illegal. I’d love to live in one – even if irl it’s not as cool as on Netflix.

So What Does This Mean?

Nothing yet, we’ve only hit the tip of the iceberg. Now that I’ve surveyed some opinions I wanted to dig deeper; back to google. I wanted to learn more about mobile homes, like what is the difference between a mobile home, and a manufactured home? So let clear that one up right now

First things first, it turns out no one calls them trailer homes, the correct terms are mobile homes, manufactured homes, and modular homes

Mobile homes vs. Manufactured homes vs. Modular homes

Mobile homes

The term Mobile Home is often and Manufactured Home are often used interchangeably. zHowever, they mean rather different things. “Mobile Home” refers to homes that were built PRIOR to 1976 when the HUD code governing building standards for factory-built homes was instituted, greatly improving quality standards.

Manufactured homes

Homes built AFTER 1976 (when the HUD code came into place ) should no longer be referred to as Mobile Homes. They should be called Manufactured Homes which are built to a higher standard of quality than yesterday’s “Mobile Homes“. Manufactured Homes are built under the federal building code administered by the Department of HUD. These homes are constructed to meet the Federal Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standard Act of June 15, 1976.

The federal standards regulate manufactured housing design and construction, strength and durability, transportability, fire resistance, energy efficiency, and quality. The HUD Code also sets performance standards for the heating, plumbing, air conditioning, thermal and electrical systems. HUD is the only federally-regulated national building code. Each home or segment of a home is labeled with a red tag that is the manufacturer’s guarantee the home was built to conform to the HUD code. On-site additions, such as garages, decks, and porches, often add to the attractiveness of manufactured homes and must be built to local, state or regional building codes. Manufactured homes generally come in single or two-section units and their dimensions range from 8 feet or wider and 40 feet or more long. Manufactured homes can be placed on a basement and include multi-wides and expandable manufactured homes. Excluded are travel trailers, motor homes, and modular housing.

Modular homes

A modular home is manufactured in a production facility and is built in two or more sections in a controlled factory setting that are then transported and assembled on location. The assembly process typically uses a traditional concrete foundation (permanent). Unlike a mobile home, a modular home cannot be moved once built. These homes are treated just like a traditional home you’d buy in a neighborhood. They offer outstanding features, a huge assortment of pre-designed homes, and their price per square foot is sometimes lower than the traditional stick built home. Modular homes are homes assembled at the building site, built to either local or state building codes as opposed to manufactured homes (sometimes still erroneously referred to as mobile homes) which are also built in a factory but are governed by the federal building code. Modular homes can be completely customized to meet home-buyers needs and tastes.

Okay, Now That we’ve got that out of the way

What Now? Simple. I had to hit the streets and see what these mobile home communities were all about!I went to over 10 communities but I’ll only mention 3 for now.

We Took A Closer Look at Mobile Homes In South Florida

Palm Beach Colony, West Palm Beach

The city of West Palm Beach, FL has more to offer than just sand and surf; it also boasts the attractive mobile home community of Palm Beach Colony! Located in the West Palm Beach metro area, this all-age, pet-friendly community features a wealth of amenities such as a spacious clubhouse, beautiful banquet room, well-maintained boat dock, and great fishing opportunities. Life at Palm Beach Colony also includes opportunities to play billiards on-site, a scenic picnic area for residents and their guests to enjoy, and a wonderful on-site library! There is even a community swimming pool and whirlpool-spa-hot tub. All in All this place is nice

Royal Manor Estates, Boynton Beach

Royal Manor Estates is located in the heart of beautiful Boynton Beach, South Florida’s East Coast. Boynton beach’s beaches are less than 3 miles from your front door; several golf courses just minutes away. Public parks are located all over the city. Natures surround the city including the ocean, Intracoastal Waterway and the Loxahatchee River. There are no nicer places for a leisurely stroll, healthy bike ride, or relaxing picnic! Restaurants abound, featuring your favorite national chains, as well as local farm-to-table and organic offerings. Shopping choices are exceptional, with big-city variety and local convenience sharing the spotlight. Travel is convenient, too, as nearby Palm Beach and Ft. Lauderdale both offer a range of flights and airlines at their international airports. This neighborhood features Two Clubhouses, Billiards Tables, Fitness Center, Tennis Courts, Shuffleboard Courts, Basketball Courts, Two Swimming Pools, Hot Tubs, RV and Boat Parking, Neighborhood Walkways and more

The Meadows Florida, Palm Beach Gardens

Featuring a spacious clubhouse and huge community swimming pool, The Meadows in Palm Beach Gardens, FL takes full advantage of the West Palm Beach metro area. Located just 10 miles from the coast makes day trips to the beach easy and enjoyable. The PGA National Headquarters, local area shopping, and dining opportunities, and several entertainment options are also less than 2.5 miles away. On-site management and community organized activities also add to the overall quality of life you will experience at The Meadows, so call today and let us help you get started! This community features, Activities, Billiards, Clubhouse, Game Room, Laundry Facilities, On Site Management, Pets Allowed, RV Storage, Shuffle Board, Picnic area, Swimming Pool, Jacuzzi, and Tennis Courts.

So, in conclusion…

It’s not as bad as what you see on TV. A lot of mobile home communities are actually pretty cool; there’s just a different energy. When it comes to mobile homes for sale near me or florida or anywhere for the most part it’s not what you see on TV its just about your choice in location.

Want more?

If you wanted some more trailer park boys fun we added a cool little info graph on realistic rental prices in Sunny Vale thanks to the guys at Forrent.com