Manufactured homes give budget-conscious buyers the chance to make their dreams of owning a home come true. Factory-built manufactured homes are required to comply with Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) specifications and are often built with enhanced energy efficiency in mind, which can help lower your utility bills. On eBay, you can find manufactured homes in a variety of styles and sizes, with different floor plans, and at various price points.

Choose a Manufactured Home

When you shop for a manufactured home, take its features, floor plan, and cost into consideration.

Today's manufactured homes come with sophisticated floor plans to suit the tastes and lifestyles of most anyone. They usually range in size from 900 square feet to 2,500 square feet, and typically have two bedrooms or three bedrooms.

Manufactured homes may be single-wide manufactured homes, double-wide manufactured homes, and triple-wide manufactured homes.

Make sure the manufacturer is established and reputable before you buy. Ask about the manufactured home's structural components so that you feel comfortable with every aspect of your purchase. Visit other homes produced by the manufacturer. Consider the manufactured home's indoor and outdoor features

Many manufactured homes rival traditional or "site-built" homes with features such as skylights, recessed or whirlpool tubs, custom cabinets, walk-in closets, wood-burning fireplaces, bay windows, attached carports, and garages.

Choose an exterior for your manufactured home that matches your personal style. Options include wood, metal, hardboard, and vinyl in a wide spectrum of colors. Personalize your space further with a deck, steps, window awnings, or patio covers.

Set your priorities and look for the features that matter most to you when you shop. Get a manufactured home warranty in writing

Always check warranty coverage before you buy. Reputable manufacturers should be willing to offer a written warranty that covers the building structure, including factory-installed plumbing, heating, and electrical systems, as well as factory-installed appliances. Manufacturer warranties do not typically cover damage that occurs during transportation or installation. However, some retailers and installation contractors allow you to purchase this coverage. Know how much to pay for a manufactured home

Manufactured home prices vary widely, depending on size, floor plans, and features. Remember to consider additional costs such as insurance, utilities, property taxes, land rental fees, and routine maintenance fees. Also find out what type of foundation is required and how much it'll cost. Finance your manufactured home

Lenders offer a wide range of financing options for manufactured homes, with many offering fixed-rate and variable-rate loans. Down payments are typically 5% to 10% of the home's purchase price and loan terms range from 15 years to 30 years. If you own or plan to purchase the land where you will place your home, you should be able to arrange traditional mortgage financing. Insure your manufactured home

Look into home insurance before you buy. Some insurance companies will not insure manufactured homes, while others offer special or limited policies.

Find out more about manufactured homes by reviewing the materials of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

Find Manufactured Homes on eBay

Once you know what type of manufactured home you want, go to the Real Estate portal, click Manufactured Homes, and start searching for items on eBay.

Search eBay listing titles for specific words. For example, if you want to find a double wide manufactured home, type 'double wide' (without quotation marks) into the Search box. Click "Search title and description" to expand your results. Visit eBay's Search Tips page for more tips on searching with keywords.

If you can't find exactly what you want, try shopping eBay Stores, tell the eBay Community what you want by creating a post on Want It Now, or save a search on My eBay and eBay will email you when a match becomes available.

Buy Manufactured Homes With Confidence

The information contained in this Buying Guide is intended for general information purposes only. This guide is not intended to be a complete list of all things relevant to the purchase of real estate and should not be deemed a substitute for professional advice. You should conduct your own due diligence into all aspects of a real estate purchase and depending on your situation; you should get assistance from experts, including a licensed real estate broker, a property inspector, title/escrow company, attorney, and/or financial advisor.

Due diligence

As with all major decisions, in buying real estate, you will want to make sure you get full information and the best advice possible. You may want to consider using an experienced real estate broker who can help you with your due diligence, negotiations, and closing. Depending on your personal circumstances and investment goals, you may also want to engage an attorney and/or a tax advisor.

Know your purchase

Carefully read the details in item listings. If you want more information, ask by clicking the "Ask seller a question" link under the seller's profile. In some states, the seller may be required to deliver a specific disclosure statement.

Familiarize yourself with the seller's terms, including any guarantees and requirements regarding the acceptable forms of payment. Check to see what closing costs you are expected to pay. Determine who will insure the manufactured home during transit. Nature of bids in auction-style advertisement

Due to the wide variety of laws governing the sale of real estate, eBay Real Estate auction-style advertisements of real estate property do not involve legally binding offers to buy and sell real estate. A bid is not a contract between seller and buyer. Rather, bids represent a buyer's serious expression of interest in buying the seller's item. Learn more about eBay's bid policy for real estate and eBay Real Estate Rules and Policies. Know your seller

Research your seller so you feel positive and secure about every transaction.

* What is the seller's Feedback rating? How many transactions have they completed? What percentage of positive responses do they have?

* What do buyers say in their Feedback? Did the seller receive praise?

Know how to pay

Never pay for your eBay item using instant cash wire transfer services through Western Union or MoneyGram. These payment methods are unsafe when paying someone you do not know.

Visit the Security & Resolution Center to learn how to protect your account and use eBay's quick and efficient resolution tools.