# How do modern mobile homes compare to 'regular' homes in durability +other qualities?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-modern-mobile-homes-compare-to-regular-homes-in-durability-other-qualities/112272>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 4, 2002, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-modern-mobile-homes-compare-to-regular-homes-in-durability-other-qualities/112272 "2002-06-04T00:09:59Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\
**Post date:** [June 4, 2002, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-modern-mobile-homes-compare-to-regular-homes-in-durability-other-qualities/112272/1 "2002-06-04T00:09:59Z")

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I am looking for a vacation house and saw one really nice one but it’s a mobile home. As far as mobile homes go it’s the nicest I’ve seen and no way what anyone things of when they hear a mobile home.

It was built 5 years ago and it appeared to be done right (the guy didn’t cut any corners and went for the heavy duty version of whatever). It is a double wide ranch design on a slab. The manufacturer also does prefab houses (if that makes any difference).

How can I expect a mobile home to age compared to a prefab and a conventional frame house? Also what can I expect the w/ respect to the value of the house over time?

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**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\
**Post date:** [June 4, 2002, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-modern-mobile-homes-compare-to-regular-homes-in-durability-other-qualities/112272/2 "2002-06-04T03:01:19Z")

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Ha, I thought the subject said mobile Phones.

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**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\
**Post date:** [June 4, 2002, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-modern-mobile-homes-compare-to-regular-homes-in-durability-other-qualities/112272/3 "2002-06-04T04:08:01Z")

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If it’s just for a vacation house, I’d say “go for it”. I know the kind of house you mean (round here they’re called “double-wides”), and my impression is that they’re pretty sturdy, given decent maintenance, same as with any other stud-and-drywall construction house. Houses stopped being really “sturdy” when they stopped making lath-and-plaster walls, IMO. 😃

I wouldn’t try to raise a family in one full-time, though, because there is NO. STORAGE. :eek: When it comes to closet space, kitchen cabinets, and just generally “places to put things you’re not using right now”, double-wides are pathetic.