Bathroom bliss: Upscale Touches Top Manufactured Homes Trends in 2015

The trend toward affordable luxury has resonated in the hearts of American homeowners, including those in the market for a manufactured home. Today's manufactured homes deliver affordability and convenience, as well as the kind of designer elements found in site-built homes. The convenience and affordability of manufactured housing is well-known; a manufactured home costs less than a comparable site-built home and takes about one-fifth the time to build, according to the non-profit Corporation for Enterprise Development ("CFED"). Because the homes are precision-built in a factory and delivered to the home site, construction is less hindered by weather delays. What's more, manufactured homes built to federal energy-efficiency standards can yield savings on energy costs when compared to standard HUD code built manufactured homes, CFED says. Owners of manufactured homes can also enjoy many of the luxury features found in new site-built homes. "Buyers don't need to sacrifice quality, luxury or beauty in order to enjoy the advantages of buying a manufactured or modular home," says Kevin Clayton, CEO of Clayton Homes, a leading maker of manufactured homes, including the popular model, The Centre. "If you want a great bathroom with double vanities, marble tile and a garden-style soaker tub, you can have it - all while enjoying the affordability traditionally associated with manufactured housing." This trend toward affordable luxury is most evident in master bathrooms, where manufactured home buyers will demand - and get - many of the most popular elements found in site-built homes. "Great bathrooms are a must for homebuyers, no matter if they're buying a resale, having a home site-built or opting for a manufactured home," Clayton notes. Among the most popular master bathroom options chosen by manufactured home buyers are: * His and hers double vanities * Granite countertops * Solid oak cabinets * Additional built-in shelving * Leaded glass block windows above tubs and in shower stalls * Window benches Focal points such as double sinks and vanities, showers and tubs are also receiving a more upscale treatment. Buyers may opt for built-in sinks, or choose raised china vessels and add brushed nickel hardware for a sophisticated effect. While traditional shower/tub combinations will always have their place, many master bathrooms in manufactured homes now separate the two. Buyers can choose to incorporate a garden-style soaking tub or Whirlpool(R) jetted tub in their master, paired with a marble-tiled stand-up shower complete with a glass outswing door. Waterfall or rainfall showerheads elevate the shower to a luxurious experience. Additional storage is also popular. Buyers can choose to add an attached walk-in closet to the master bathroom and incorporate built-in shelving for storage in the bathroom itself. Space-saving touches like pocket sliding doors, a chute to an adjacent laundry room and a Jack-and-Jill layout also enhance the master bathroom's livability. Finally, Clayton predicts, in 2015 manufactured home buyers will embrace spa-like design elements. Window benches, leaded glass block windows, vessel sinks and rainfall showerheads all evoke the restful, oasis-like atmosphere of a luxury hotel or spa. "Modern manufactured homes are far from cookie cutter," Clayton says. "Dozens of models are available with hundreds of options that allow buyers to truly customize their manufactured home with the features and look they desire." To learn more about manufactured homes and to find a Clayton Homes location in your area, visit www.claytonhomes.com. For more information on the non-profit Corporation for Enterprise Development's report on manufactured housing, visit http://cfed.org/programs/innovations_manufactured_homes/about_manufactured_housing/facts_about_manufactured_housing/