Suggested Reading
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"Buying a Manufactured Home""The Straw Bale House""The Passive Solar House"
Guide Rating - 
The Bottom Line
The title is somewhat deceiving, since this book isn't strictly about manufactured homes, the term used to refer to homes governed by the HUD code. The author uses the term manufactured to describe all homes built in factories, so you'll find modular homes, log homes, domes, and many other types of factory built structures.
Pros
- Quality considerations are discussed.
- Covers multiple types of factory-built housing.
- Includes tips for home design.
Cons
- Little information about financing.
- References to costs may be out-of-date.
Description
- Read specific details about four factory-built home types and their sub-categories.
- Learn what the author feels are the top ten moneysaving reasons to buy a manufactured home.
- Find ways to assess the quality of a manufactured home. Learn to recognize common limitations.
- Learn how to check the functionality of the floorplan.
- Discover which design flaws are somewhat common in factory built housing.
Guide Review - "Manufactured Houses, Finding and Buying Your Dream Home For Less" A. M. Watkins
Mr. Watkins sorts out the different types of homes that begin life in a factory. He discusses modular and panelized homes, precut houses, mobile homes, and includes log, dome, and A-frame houses. Learning how the structures differ helps you make informed decisions about which type of home is right for you.
The author points out common design flaws and offers advice about testing a floorplan. There's a chapter devoted to cutting energy bills, and another that focuses on solar heating. Kitchen and bathroom design are covered, since both rooms are very important to a home's overall appeal. Schematics and photos throughout the text help you visualize the homes.
This edition was published in 1994, so some of the costs are likely outdated and terminology has changed. But that doesn't detract from the book's ability to help you become a better educated consumer.
