Manufactured homes have come a long way in design, durability, and buyer perception. Today, they are a legitimate and attractive housing option for first-time buyers, retirees, and investors alike.

Manufactured housing is part of federal efforts to improve affordability, but negative stigmas continue to impact the industry.

This 2,800-square-foot home was built with an expansive porch in Menlo Park. Photo courtesy Toby Long Design. For decades, factory-built homes carried a stigma. People pictured boxy, cookie-cutter ...