Manufactured Home Market Sheltering Storm, Establishing Growth Over Next Four Years

New York, August 21, 2007 — The manufactured home market, toppled by low unit shipments, low unit placements, and low average unit prices, is expected to undergo a rebuilding period, posting a one percent increase to $6.0 billion by 2011, according to Manufactured (Mobile) Homes in the U.S., a new report from market research publisher SBI, a division of MarketResearch.com.

Still adjusting to normal sales volume after the spike seen in late 2005 and early 2006 due to FEMA’s Hurricane Katrina-related purchases, the manufactured home market, which includes single-wide, double-wide, and triple-wide units, is expected to finish 2007 with a 21% decline in sales. SBI estimates that an excess of at least 43,000 units in the marketplace by the end of 2007 will further curtail new shipments.

Despite a dreadful “now,” Manufactured (Mobile) Homes in the U.S. forecasts a turnaround in 2008, driven in part by a 14% rise in the number of unit placements, but results from that turnaround will not be evident until 2009. By then, the value of shipments is expected to reach 17% to $4.6 billion as unit shipments gain momentum and further price increases take hold. SBI expects a 16% increase to $5.4 billion in 2010 and another 10% increase in 2011, propping the market up to the $6.0 billion mark.

“The market for manufactured housing is in a tough state, to say the least,” notes Tatjana Meerman, the publisher of SBI. “However, if you look deeper into the demographics of the housing market, there are long-term prospects for manufactured housing. Although home ownership reached an all-time high at 69% of households in 2004, there is an increasing need for affordable housing.”

Containing comprehensive data on end-use markets, purchaser demographics, and the competitive environment, Manufactured (Mobile) Homes in the U.S. identifies key issues, regulations, and trends affecting the single-wide, double-wide, and triple-wide marketplace. This report also profiles major marketers along with manufacturer and retailer strategies. This report is available from SBI by clicking: http://www.sbireports.com/Manufactured-Mobile-Homes-1461668.
It is also available at MarketResearch.com.

About SBI
SBI publishes research reports in the industrial, construction, materials, and consumer goods markets. For more information visit http://www.sbireports.com, or contact Tom Ehart at 240-747-3014, or tehart@marketresearch.com.