<P> The homes were given a rectangular shape, made from pre-painted aluminum panels, rather than the streamlined shape of travel trailers, which were usually painted after assembly . All of this helped increase the difference between these homes and home / travel trailers . The smaller, "eight - wide" units could be moved simply with a car, but the larger, wider units ("ten - wide", and, later, "twelve - wide") usually required the services of a professional trucking company, and, often, a special moving permit from a state highway department . During the late 1960s and early 70s, the homes were made even longer and wider, making the mobility of the units more difficult . Nowadays, when a factory - built home is moved to a location, it is usually kept there permanently and the mobility of the units has considerably decreased . In some states, mobile homes have been taxed as personal property if the wheels remain attached, but as real estate, if the wheels are removed . Removal of the tongue and axles may also be a requirement for real estate classification . </P> <P> Mobile homes built in the United States since June 1976, legally referred to as manufactured homes, are required to meet FHA certification requirements, and come with attached metal certification tags . Mobile homes permanently installed on owned land are rarely mortgageable, whereas FHA code manufactured homes are mortgageable through VA, FHA, and FNMA . </P> <P> Many people who could not afford a traditional site - built home, or did not desire to commit to spending a large sum of money on housing, began to see factory - built homes as a viable alternative for long - term housing needs . The units were often marketed as an alternative to apartment rental . However, the tendency of the units of this era to depreciate rapidly in resale value made using them as collateral for loans much riskier than traditional home loans . Terms were usually limited to less than the thirty - year term typical of the general home - loan market, and interest rates were considerably higher . In this way, mobile home loans resembled motor vehicle loans more than traditional home mortgage loans . </P> <P> Mobile homes come in two major sizes, single - wides and double - wides . Single - wides are 18 feet (5.5 m) or less in width and 90 feet (27 m) or less in length and can be towed to their site as a single unit . Double - wides are 20 feet (6.1 m) or more wide and are 90 feet (27 m) in length or less and are towed to their site in two separate units, which are then joined together . Triple - wides and even homes with four, five, or more units are also built, although not as commonly . </P>

When did the mobile homes act 1983 come into force