More than 22 million Americans live in manufactured homes, yet many real estate professionals have limited experience navigating this segment. But as affordability challenges reshape buyer decisions, manufactured housing is emerging as a market opportunity real estate professionals may want to give a closer look.
Still, experts say one of the biggest challenges has been access to reliable data. Unlike site-built homes, manufactured housing transactions have historically lacked standardized records, comparable sales and market transparency.
New technology platforms, however, are beginning to address those challenges. LotRoll, a manufactured housing data platform, is among the companies working to bring more visibility to the market by compiling property details, ownership information and comparable sales data into a centralized resource for real estate professionals, lenders and consumers. The company was recently selected as part of the 2026 REACH program through the National Association of REALTORS®’ Second Century Ventures, which supports emerging companies developing technology solutions for the real estate industry.
In this Q&A, LotRoll CEO and co-founder Grayson Gibson discusses how manufactured housing is evolving, the opportunities it presents for agents and how better data could help improve transparency in this growing market segment.
Manufactured housing is getting a lot more attention lately. What’s driving the interest?
GIBSON: More than anything, it comes down to affordability. The typical buyer now needs a six-figure income to comfortably afford a median-priced home, while manufactured housing remains one of the last unsubsidized paths to homeownership. A new manufactured home costs around $120,000, on average, compared with roughly $410,000 for a median existing site-built home.
Financing has also improved significantly. Programs such as Fannie Mae’s Manufactured Homes Advantage and Freddie Mac’s CHOICEHome have introduced conventional pricing and terms that were not widely available a decade ago.
There is also growing recognition at the federal level that manufactured housing needs to be a larger part of the country’s housing strategy. The bipartisan 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act includes several provisions designed to remove outdated barriers, modernize manufactured housing programs, and expand access to financing. When you combine real affordability, better financing and increased policy support, it is easy to understand why more buyers and REALTORS® [members of NAR] are taking a closer look.
One of LotRoll’s goals is bringing more transparency to the manufactured housing market. What’s been missing, and how does your platform address that?
GIBSON: Reliable, standardized data has been the biggest missing piece. Site-built real estate has benefited from decades of MLS history, comparable sales and public-record infrastructure. Manufactured housing has not. Ownership records are often spread across state titling agencies, county systems, community managers and other sources that do not communicate with one another. Even verifying something as basic as a home’s HUD certification can require locating a data plate inside the home.
LotRoll brings that fragmented information into one place, including location, community placement, square footage, condition, ownership details and comparable sales. That gives agents, lenders, appraisers and consumers the information they need to evaluate manufactured homes with the same level of confidence they expect in the site-built market.
Many buyers don’t realize manufactured homes can be an affordable path to homeownership. What are some of the biggest misconceptions you hear?
GIBSON: There are three that come up most often. The first is that a manufactured home is “just a trailer.” Modern manufactured homes are federally certified under the HUD Code and built to specific engineering standards for wind, snow, safety, durability and energy performance.
The second is that manufactured homes do not appreciate. In reality, manufactured homes classified as real property have appreciated at rates much closer to site-built homes than most people realize.
The third is that buyers cannot obtain a traditional mortgage. FHA, VA, USDA and conventional programs can all finance qualifying manufactured homes. The homes and financing options have evolved much faster than the public perception of them.
How does giving real estate professionals better access to active listings and pricing data ultimately benefit buyers and sellers?
GIBSON: It helps prevent the issues that cause transactions to fall apart. Manufactured home loans are denied at a much higher rate than site-built mortgages, and many of those denials stem from avoidable problems such as inaccurate pricing, weak comparable sales, missing documentation or professionals who are unfamiliar with the asset class.
When agents have access to verified listings and pricing data, they can price a home accurately from the beginning, support the appraisal with relevant information, and identify potential financing issues before they delay the closing. That creates a better outcome for the seller, a smoother experience for the buyer, and a more efficient market overall.
For real estate agents who haven’t worked much in manufactured housing, what opportunities could they be overlooking in today’s market?
GIBSON: They are overlooking a large and underserved client base. More than 22 million Americans already live in manufactured homes, representing approximately 7% of the country’s housing stock, with an even larger share in many rural markets.
Demand continues to grow among first-time buyers, retirees looking to downsize and workforce households that have been priced out of traditional housing.
Most agents have never received training on manufactured home titling, financing, community requirements or transaction logistics. The agents who take the time to build that expertise can quickly become the go-to resource in their market. It is one of the clearest remaining niches in residential real estate.
Looking ahead, where do you see the manufactured housing market heading over the next few years? Do you think technology will play a bigger role in its growth?
GIBSON: I believe we are still in the early stages of manufactured housing becoming a more mainstream part of the housing market. We are seeing more conventional financing options, greater interest in zoning reform, and increased attention from municipalities, housing organizations and institutional operators. The bipartisan support behind the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act also shows that manufactured housing is increasingly being viewed as a meaningful part of the solution to America’s housing affordability and supply challenges.
Technology will play an important role in supporting that growth. Site-built real estate became more efficient and professionalized as accurate data and standardized tools became widely available. Manufactured housing is approaching a similar inflection point.
