Manufactured homes and mobile homes are regulated by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The only difference between the two types of homes is the date they were built. According to HUD, a factory-built home prior to June 15, 1976 is a mobile home and one built after June 15, 1976 is a manufactured home.
Both manufactured homes and mobile homes have several common traits:
Usually built in a factory and taken to the property where they are set up
May be built on a metal frame instead of a crawlspace or basement
Sometimes have tie downs in place of a permanent foundation
The Difference Between Modular Home and Mobile Homes
Modular homes and mobile homes are also built in factories and then installed on site. From there the similarities start to fade. Modular homes must follow local building codes in the state and county they're installed. Panelized homes also fall under this category. Modular homes tend to have a few characteristics in common:
Often delivered in 2 or more pieces
Typically built on crawlspaces or basements
Usually look like traditional “stick-built” homes in both size and features