<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> <P> While site - built homes are rarely moved, single - wide owners often "trade" or sell their home to a dealer in the form of the reduction of the purchase of a new home . These "used" homes are either re-sold to new owners or to park owners who use them as inexpensive rental units . Single - wides are more likely to be traded than double - wides because removing them from the site is easier . In fact, only about 5% of all double - wides will ever be moved . </P>

What is the average length of a mobile home