55 and Over Communities: Manufactured vs. Site-Built Homes

Are you considering a move to a vibrant 55 and over community in Ocala, Florida? Welcome! Here at Highland Homes, we build beautiful new construction homes in the established Falls of Ocala community. Before you envision your future here, you may have some questions. One question we hear is about existing manufactured homes within the community.

So, let’s compare manufactured homes to our new site-built new construction homes at Falls of Ocala!

Manufactured Homes

Let’s clear something up first: manufactured homes are not the same as mobile homes or trailers. Manufactured homes, also known as prefabricated homes, are built in a controlled environment to meet strict federal building codes. They offer advantages, including:

• Affordability: They generally offer a lower initial cost than site-built homes.
• Quick move-in: Manufactured homes can often be built and installed faster, meaning you can settle into your new life quickly.
• Modern designs: Today’s manufactured homes are stylish and offer modern design options, and they’re available in sizes similar to new construction homes, ranging from 1,000 to over 2,000 square feet. They can include a garage and a porch and in some cases, are virtually indistinguishable from site-built homes.
• High construction standards: The Department of Housing and Urban Development set federal construction guidelines for manufactured homes, ensuring a high standard in the home’s design, body and frame requirements, thermal protection, fire safety, energy efficiency, and plumbing and electrical systems.

Site-Built Homes

A site-built home is also conventionally known as a new construction home or a stick-built home - though here in Florida, the exterior walls are typically constructed with concrete blocks vs. wood framing or sticks! This type of house is built by a homebuilder on the job site, following state and local building codes. Benefits of site-built homes include:

• Equity and appreciation: Historically, site-built homes have shown a higher potential for property value appreciation over time.
• Financing options: Financing options for site-built homes can be more readily available.
• Customization: Site-built homes offer greater flexibility for customization, allowing you to personalize your space to your specific needs and design style.
• High construction standards: In Florida, the Florida Building Commission is responsible for the Florida Building Code, a set of construction regulations and standards specific to homes in Florida's unique environment, for your health and safety. Local codes add extra safety regulations and can differ by city and county for things such as wind speeds. During new home construction, certified inspectors conduct many inspections to ensure the Code standards are being met.
• Structural home warranty: Most new construction home builders include a warranty - here at Highland Homes, our triplicate warranty protection provides 1 year of protection against material defects, 2 years of systems coverage, and 10 years of structural warranty protection.

Now, let’s talk about your dream home!

Ultimately, both types of homes offer distinct advantages depending on your needs and priorities. Here at Falls of Ocala, an active Homeowners Association (HOA) ensures each homeowner maintains their property and structures, creating a consistently attractive community environment for everyone. The HOA plays a vital role in maintaining property values, fostering a sense of community pride, and ensuring a community is a great place to live for owners of both manufactured and site-built homes.

At Highland Homes, we specialize in building attractive, low-maintenance, site-built homes perfect for active adults. Our site-built new construction homes at Falls of Ocala offer:

• Light-filled one-story layouts: Enjoy the convenience of single-level living with two to four bedrooms and 1,479 to 2,537 square feet of living space.
• Modern features: Open layouts, outdoor living space, energy-efficient features, and low-maintenance finishes make living easy and enjoyable.
• Personalization: With flexible plan options and hundreds of design features to choose from, you can ensure your new home perfectly suits your style and needs.
• Peace of mind: Our new construction homes come with the benefits of a warranty and construction to the latest building codes.
• Attainable pricing: These new homes in Ocala are now selling from the $280’s.

And Falls of Ocala is about more than just your home! This active adult community boasts a vibrant lifestyle with:

• Resort-style amenities: Enjoy days filled with activities at resort-style amenities including a clubhouse, sparkling pool, fitness center, shuffleboard courts, horseshoes, walking trails, and more!
• Social events and activities: Find your community within the community with regular events and activities at the clubhouse.
• A convenient location: Enjoy easy access to shopping, dining and entertainment in Ocala. 

Ready to explore the possibilities? Call or email our Ocala New Home Specialists today to learn more about your new home in this exciting active adult community!