Mobile homes could provide affordable housing option, but industry says it needs help
It’s been a busy few years for the people in the mobile and modular home business.
“[We get] probably one to two phone calls every day, someone loves the idea, wants it, but has nowhere to put it,” said Karl Rutherford, manager of Clark’s Modular Home Sales in Guelph.
Interest has increased as homes become less affordable.
“Seeing the housing prices in town here in Guelph for a fixer-upper, you're starting at probably $700,000 and up. For a 1,000 square foot modular home, you know, you're all in at $200,000,” explained Rutherford.
Along with more interest, he’s also seeing a shift in demographics
“We got a lot of seniors and retirees looking to maybe put one on the farm as a secondary home, but we also have a lot of younger people, [who] just can't afford [a home], so this is one option for them. Because it hits the price points.”
Karl Rutherford, manager of Clark’s Modular Home Sales, in Guelph, Ont. (Jeff Pickel/CTV Kitchener)
According to Rutherford, the demand for mobile and modular homes is there.
“As far as supply goes, we can fill it no problem. We could do 100 or 200 [homes] a year.”
But what they really need is land.
“All we hear is we need more attainable housing and there's no help out there, we need someone to step up and start developing new modular home parks, we need it and it's just not happening.”
Melanie Jaffray is a realtor who works with clients at Mini Lakes Park in Puslinch Township.
She’s also seeing many of the same trends as Rutherford.
“In the last couple of years I've seen an increase in modular mobile homes. They are a lower price range, so it's an opportunity for a broader range of buyers to be getting into real estate,” Jaffray said. “Seniors are looking to buy mobile homes, but I have noticed in the past year I actually have first-time homebuyers.”
Her clients range from seniors to university students.
“It was never in demand as it is now for people to actually be pushing to develop these mobile home parks,” Jaffray said.
EXPERT INSIGHT
“The sense is the considerable demand could be met by manufactured homes, and there are lots of manufacturers coming on line now to meet that demand,” said Mark Seasons, director for the School of Planning at the University of Waterloo.
Manufactured homes can be built in half the time, are less expensive and more energy efficient.
“Overall it’s a really clever response, and it does produce a high quality product for the consumer,” Seasons said.
But there are other factors at play.
Zoning and planning policy can prevent the development of these communities.
Then there’s the reputation of mobile parks.
“There might be some stigma around this from established neighbourhoods, so there’s a psychological aspect to it,” he explained. “There is a marketing issue here in some communities."
Seasons believes municipalities should seriously consider developing mobile and modular communities and if they don’t, the province should step in.
“I think it’s a serious part of the solution package, and I think it might take provincial intervention expressed through the provincial policy statement that set out for municipalities to follow.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
From AI running wild to collapsing ecosystems, government report outlines future disruptions
From artificial intelligence running wild to collapsing ecosystems, a new Canadian government report outlines 35 disruptions that could rattle the country in the near future.
B.C. serial killer Robert Pickton hospitalized after prison attack
British Columbia serial killer Robert Pickton was attacked and sustained life-threatening injuries in a Quebec prison Sunday in what officials described as a 'major assault.'
opinion Tom Mulcair: With Trudeau spiralling, Mark Carney waits in the wings
In his latest column for CTVNews.ca, former NDP leader Tom Mulcair argues that if there's an unofficial frontrunner in the eventual race to replace Justin Trudeau as Liberal leader, it has to be former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney.
Toronto Blue Jays fan struck by 110 m.p.h foul ball offered tickets, signed baseball by team
The Toronto Blue Jays have offered tickets and a signed baseball to a fan who says she was struck in the face by a 110 m.p.h (177 km/h) foul ball at Friday’s game.
Matthew Perry's death is being investigated over ketamine level found in actor's blood, reports say
An investigation has been opened into the death of Matthew Perry and how the “Friends” actor received the anesthetic ketamine, which was ruled a contributing factor in his death.
OPP continues to investigate boat collision north of Kingston, Ont. that left 3 people dead
Ontario Provincial Police continue to investigate a long weekend fatal boat collision on Bobs Lake, north of Kingston, Ont.
Police in Ontario say suspects charged in armed home invasion near Toronto part of 'larger criminal network'
Police in Ontario say a group of suspects charged in an armed home invasion north of Toronto last year were driving a vehicle stolen in a carjacking in Calgary just one month earlier.
Stolen septic truck swerves through traffic, spike belt needed to stop it: Manitoba RCMP
A 29-year-old woman has been charged after police say she stole a septic truck from a Manitoba community and drove erratically on the highway.
Orphan orca's extended family spotted off northeast side of Vancouver Island
Members of a killer whale pod related to an orphan orca calf that escaped a remote British Columbia tidal lagoon last month have been spotted off the northeast coast of Vancouver Island.