First time home buyer, are manufactured homes risky?

[Zac Shybloski]

Hello All,

I am a first time home buyer in the Pittsburgh, PA area. I found a deal on the MLS with an asking price that's about 30k under market value that I'm interested in.

After doing a walk through of the property, I found out that it is a manufactured home. My realtor told me that it is now a permanent fixture and they consider this home a ranch.

I have heard that these manufactured homes are really tough on resale value. My issue is, I do not have a set strategy with any home I purchase at this moment. I need a place to live for a few years so I plan on doing mostly cosmetic work on my own throughout the 2-3 years I occupy a property and depending on market or what fits best for my situation when that time comes, hold and rent or resell.

So my question is; are manufactured homes worth purchasing for either rental or “flip”? And am I even allowed to do renovations on this style of property? I’m torn between whether or not it is a good idea for a first time buyer/future investor to buy a manufactured home.