Information released by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) on November 20, 2025, reported that the national median price for existing single-family home sales was $415,200, representing a year-over-year increase of 2.1%.
While mortgage rates are trending lower, the overall costs of single-family homes remain high, pricing many Americans out of the market.
Then, there is manufactured housing.
According to a recent report from StorageCafe, “Manufactured housing remains a cornerstone of affordability in the U.S.” Specifically, in the ten states where manufactured housing is 10% of all home inventory, the median prices in 2024 were well below the national average.
Facts about Mobile Homes
The report explained that there are 7.9 million manufactured housing units nationwide, accounting for 5.4% of the total housing stock. However, the footprint isn’t even. Mesa, AZ, leads in overall inventory, while Largo, FL, leads by share. On the other hand, places like Hawaii, Massachusetts and California have less manufactured housing stock—and higher single-family home prices.
Additionally, mobile homes tend to have deep roots in the Sunbelt and Southeast. It’s here that “warm weather, flexible zoning and wide-open land make them both a practical and popular choice,” the report said.
Why the Popularity?
StorageCafe analysts acknowledged that mobile homes were once a “practical choice for retirees and downsizers, offering comfort, lower costs and a sense of community without the financial strain of traditional homeownership.”
Now, Millennials and Gen Z want in, especially as home prices continue to rise. These cohorts are interested in affordable, quality housing alternatives. With manufactured housing moving from the trailers of the past, their designs and appeal “are a far cry from the temporary structures many people still imagine,” the report indicated.
Then, there is the manufactured housing lifestyle. Younger buyers are drawn to the efficiency, flexibility, simpler lifestyle, and minimal maintenance of this housing type.
Additionally, “with the rise of remote work, more Millennials and Gen Zers are exploring the idea of living affordably in smaller, well-designed spaces, often in communities with shared amenities or scenic settings that were once thought to appeal only to retirees,” the report pointed out.
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