MANUFACTURED HOME SALES ON A ROLL

Manufactured home sales may be on a roll, but they are not so mobile these days.

Over the past decade, manufactured housing has been the fastest growing segment of the U.S. housing market.

The Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI) estimates that the number of manufactured homes will reach the 9 million mark in the United States this year.

"About 95 percent of mobile homes never shift once they've been trucked from the factory to the consumer," said a MHI spokesman. "Wheels and axles are used simply as a built-in means of transportation to the home site."

Mobile homes aren't called mobile homes any more. Mobile homes, modular housing, paneled homes, log and kit houses are grouped under manufactured homes. Congress changed the name to manufactured housing in 1980 in all of its laws and publications.

Call them what you want -- and many do still call them mobile homes -- but the popularity of manufactured housing has drawn a lot of attention in recent years.

A variety of floor plans, up to 1,400 feet for single wides and more for double-wides; cathedral ceilings, wood-burning fireplaces, whirlpool baths, bay windows and attached garages are among the attractions.

Last year, more than 345,000 units sold resulted in more than $16 billion to the nation's economy.

The 1990s have been boon years for the manufactured-home industry. Over the past five years as many as 1.8 million units have been sold nationally, adding more than $70 billion to the economy.

Mobile home sales have been great the past two or three years, say Southeast Missouri dealers.

"Sales have been steady in the area a long while, but have been "especially good the past few years," a dealer says.

Manufactured homes represent an important segment to the nation's economy. Some 16 million people -- 7 percent of the population -- live in more than 8 million manufactured homes across the nation, according to the 1990 census.

In Missouri about 335,000 people live in 165,000 manufactured homes, according to the census.

A number of new mobile home parks have emerged in the Cape Girardeau area over the past few years.

Cape County statistics reveal 2,421 mobile homes -- 1,947 single wides, 71 double wides, and 403 modular homes -- house up to 3,500 people.

The Bureau of the Census calculates that 6.7 percent of all Missourians make their home in a manufactured home. Some of the percentages for Southeast Missouri counties include 14.1 percent in Bollinger; 9.5 percent in Dunklin; 7.8 percent in Mississippi, 12 percent New Madrid; 8.2 percent in Pemiscot; 9.9 percent in Scott and 9.6 percent in Stoddard.

The number of manufactured homes has doubled in Missouri during the past decade. Manufactured housing made up 4.8 percent of the housing starts in 1980, but by 1990 the proportion had risen to 7.5 percent.

The Illinois Manufactured Housing Institute reports 309,000 people live in 151,000 manufactured homes.

Florida, California and Texas have the most manufactured-home owners. Florida is the leader, with 1,290,000 people living in 762,000 homes. Texas has 1,198,000 people living in 547,000 homes and California has more than a million people living in 555,000 homes.

More than 100 companies build manufactured homes in more than 300 factories throughout the nation. The average manufactured home factory has 64,000 square feet of space, and takes about 250 hours to build a home. There are more than 10,000 home retailers nationwide.

Manufactured homes are relatively maintenance free. They include wood and stucco siding, bay windows, vaulted ceilings, split-level floors and other amenities.

Homes are not only sold as the long, rectangular single-wide units but as two sections -- double-wides -- and multiple sections of modular homes that are joined at the site.

There are also "expandables" with extra rooms that can fold in case a change of sites is desired.

Affordability is a big plus for the industry.

Prices for new manufactured homes range from $18,000 to $85,000. Single-wides range in prices from $12,000 to $25,000.

A double-wide home can contain three bedrooms, dining room, kitchen, den and living room. Many buyers add screened-in porches, patios, or both.

Manufacturers have mastered the art of using every inch of space in the homes. Even a single-wide may have three bedrooms with plenty of space for a dining area and kitchen and large living room, with a couple of baths.

Manufactured homes are often placed on the purchaser's land or in mobile-home parks.

Nowadays, manufactured home communities are environmentally attractive and appealing. Many of them provide recreation areas, swimming pools and, or, lakes.

Most spaces in area mobile-home parks are filled.

Many mobile-home owners place homes on property they have purchased.

Manufactured Homes

Annual Manufactured Home Shipments over the past decade, according to the National Manufactured Home Association.

Year Units to dealers Retail sales

1999 347,671 $16 billion

1998 373,843 $15 billion

1997 353,377 $14.9 billion

1996 363,411 $13.9 billion

1995 339,601 $12.3 billion

1994 303,982 $10 billion.

1993 254,276 $7.7 billion

1992 210,787 $5.4 billion

1991 170,713 $4.7 billion

1990 188,172 $5.23 billion.