What is the difference between a mobile home and a manufactured home? The key difference is the date of construction and the building standards that govern them. All homes built after 1976 are “manufactured homes”, while homes built before that are called “mobile homes”. A mobile home is an older home while a manufactured home is a newer home with updated construction and better curb appeal. However, both are built in sections to a federal housing code in a factory. The completed sections are transported to a homesite by a truck with a hitch pulling the section fitted with axels and wheels. It can be moved or relocated in the same way.
At the site the sections are assembled into a home that is set up on piers with earthquake bracing, which is required in the State of California for new and relocated manufactured homes.
Mobile homes were treated like travel trailers many years ago and were licensed by the Department of Motor Vehicles. New manufactured homes are now on the property tax roll and pay personal property tax.
