I like that there's a diverse employment base here between the hospital and plenty of light manufacturing inside a 30 minute commute- NSK Steering Systems, Kaman Composite Structures, Energizer Battery, Mack Moldings. 

After closer inspection, we discovered that this manufactured home is literally separating where the walls and ceiling meet.

I decided to start work immediately after graduation as a Financial Analyst (Manufacturing Accounting at a Pharmaceutical company).

Everything from manufactured housing, mortgage lenders, education companies, staffing companies, internet, and IOT, to name a few. 

All complimented with Amazon fulfillment centers, google, and more tech manufacturing jobs.The bad reputation of “Detroit” comes from OOS investors wanting sub $40,000, D class properties.

You are best to stick with 1990 and newer manufactured homes for a number of reasons. 

However; you can probably find some good manufactured housing that would be affordable.

Florida is not surprisingly a gold mine for manufactured homes however (surprisingly) FL is still only #17 out of all the states for numbers of mobiles.You are taking the right first steps reading this forum and finding yourself a knowledgeable mentor to help you succeed and skip past most hurdles that have held up most investors here one time or another.

Should be your answer.https://data.illinois.gov/Public-Health/IDPH-Manufactured-Home-Communities/bwdr-3569/dataWhen in doubt Google it out.

Having been a licensed MH Contractor/Installer in Florida in the past as well as Arizona, Oregon and a General & Manufactured Home Contractor in California since 1986 I can tell you first hand that you'd be far better off dealing with a "LICENSED CONTRACTOR" any day of the week vs. a "HANDYMAN" who most generally doesn't have a license or they wouldn't be posturing as a handyman.You get what you pay for and hiring an unlicensed, unbonded and most likely uninsured handyman is a big liability that can end up costing you more time, money and grief as it obviously has already.