When you hear about mobile homes, you’d probably think of one of the quaint mobile home parks in Sacramento managed by Storz Management Company. But did you know that they also have some interesting stories (and history) behind them?
Take note that when the Second World War ended in 1945, the housing demand skyrocketed as the US veterans returned home. With the country facing high demand and a short supply of properties, businesses started offering mobile homes that were quick and cheap to construct.
However, the “real” history of mobile homes stretches far beyond war history. As far back as the early 1500s, gypsies traveled with their horse-drawn dwellings throughout Europe. Then less than 400 years later, around the 1870s, some wealthy Americans invested in movable beach-front properties along the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Meanwhile, these beach-front homes were moved by horses.
Bigger and safer mobile homes
In 1976, the US Congress passed the National Manufactured Housing and Construction and Safety Act to ensure that all homes were built based on strict safety and quality standards. In short, they should be fire and weather-resistant, energy efficient and easy to transport.
Before the Safety Act was passed, the average width of a trailer was 8 feet while its length was 20 feet, with 3-4 sleeping sections but no bathrooms. But around the late 1940s, they grew in size and later on introduced toilets and baths.
Mobile home vs. manufactured home
The only difference between them is the date of their construction; anything that is factory-built before June 15, 1976 is called a mobile home, while anything that’s made beyond this date is a manufactured home.
Then in 1980, the US Congress approved changing the term “mobile home” to “manufactured home.” Nevertheless, many people these days still use the terms mobile homes and manufactured homes interchangeably.
Modern home design
Modern homes built after 1976 meet the current safety standards, which makes them as strong as the stick-built or traditional houses during a storm or other severe weather conditions.
In short, today’s manufactured homes are as safe and durable as traditional houses, provided they are properly installed.
Meanwhile, safety inspection begins even before production. With a government-backed inspection agency called the Design Approval Primary Inspection Agency or DAPIA, the consumers are assured that their manufactured homes and the production facilities that construct them meet rigorous quality standards.
Mobile home parks
These homes are often situated in land-lease communities where homeowners can access basic utilities such as electricity, natural gas, and sewer.
If you’re looking for an affordable housing option in California (see Bamboo Tree Mobile Home Park as an example), Nevada or Oregon (you may check Santiam Village Lebanon Oregon), you may want to visit Storz Management, which is known for its quaint mobile home communities with excellent amenities that typically include swimming pools, playgrounds, clubhouses, walking trails, and/or gardens.
Storz Management manages several mobile home communities that specialize in young families, seniors and even furry parents (i.e., some neighborhoods have dog parks). To learn more about these amenities, visit our website.
As of this writing, around 22 million people live in mobile or manufactured homes in the US, a trend that’s expected to continue in the coming years as they’re becoming the preferred choice over stick-built homes, especially among people looking for an affordable housing options.
