Definition: Custom-built small dwellings on trailers, often under 400 sq ft.
Purpose: Full or part-time living, often off-grid or as an accessory dwelling unit (ADU).
Construction: Built with residential materials (framing, insulation, roofing), often to meet local codes or IRC Appendix Q.
Mobility: Road-legal, but heavier and less aerodynamic than RVs.
Aesthetic: Designed to look and feel like a traditional home, with lofts, wood finishes, and real home appliances.
Regulations: Zoning can be restrictive; often classified as RVs unless built to code and permanently placed.

Definition: Factory-built motorhomes, travel trailers, or campers used mainly for travel or temporary stays.
Purpose: Recreational use—camping, road trips, seasonal living.
Construction: Lightweight, manufactured with materials like fiberglass, plastic, and aluminum.
Mobility: Highly mobile, designed for frequent towing and travel.
Aesthetic: Utilitarian, built for functionality and efficiency over home-like comfort.
Regulations: Certified by RVIA (Recreational Vehicle Industry Association); legal in most campgrounds and RV parks.

Definition: Homes built in factory sections (modules) and assembled on a permanent foundation.
Purpose: Permanent residences.
Construction: Built to local/state residential building codes (IRC or state-specific); high-quality materials and customization options.
Mobility: Not mobile after installation.
Aesthetic: Indistinguishable from traditional site-built homes once completed.
Regulations: Treated like site-built homes in terms of financing, appraisals, and zoning.

Definition: Homes built entirely in a factory on a permanent chassis, then transported to a site.
Purpose: Permanent or semi-permanent living.
Construction: Built to HUD Code, not local building codes.
Mobility: Technically mobile, but typically placed permanently on-site.
Aesthetic: Can resemble traditional homes, but often more standardized.
Regulations: Classified as personal or real property depending on placement and title conversion.