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A Guide to the Most Affordable Types of Homes

By Laura Bourland, Rise Writer
Last Updated: Feb 11, 2025

While home values have increased, incomes have not kept pace. In 1950, a family needed only a single income to buy a home. Today, many families with two full-time salaries struggle to buy their first home.

Unfortunately, your dream home in your ideal neighborhood may still be out of the question. But, a little research and creativity could land you in exactly what you never knew you wanted. Today, we're taking a look at the most affordable types of homes you can afford to buy.

Let's start with a brief overview of your options.

  • Manufactured Home: A type of prefabricated home assembled in a factory and transported to your property.
  • Modular Home: A kind of prefabricated house consisting of modules created in a factory and assembled side-by-side, end-to-end, or stacked on your property.
  • Mobile Home: A type of prefabricated home built on wheels to be towed by a vehicle.
  • Container Home: A kind of dwelling made from steel shipping containers stacked and arranged to fit your unique home needs.
  • Monolithic Dome Home: A type of home cast in a solid concrete shell on-premise that can be joined to create a multi-dome home.
  • Tiny Home: A kind of home characterized by its size of 500 square feet or less.

Table of Contents

  1. What Is a Prefab Home?
  2. What Is a Mobile Home?
  3. What Is a Manufactured Home?
  4. What Is a Modular Home?
  5. What Is a Tiny Home?
  6. What Is a Container Home?
  7. What Is a Monolithic Dome Home?
  8. Pros and Cons
  9. Affordable Homes Are Available
PhoenixHaus Factory
Phoenix Haus Factory. Photo Credit: Phoenix Haus

What Is a Prefab Home?

Affectionately termed "Pre-fab" (for prefabricated), these types of houses are built in a factory and delivered to your property for final assembly. This fact alone significantly reduces the costs of building and cleanup.

Manufactured and Mobile homes are, for the most part, complete when they arrive at your location. Set one of these new homes down, and you'll be ready to move in and decorate almost immediately.

eagle homes mobile home
Photo Credit: Eagle Homes

What Is a Mobile Home?

Mobile homes derive their name from the key benefit of having wheels. These homes are ideal for families who prefer not to be tied down to a physical location. Mobile homeowners enjoy the flexibility of relocating for a better job and moving whenever they feel like trying a new town. And they can be purchased for as little as $25,000.

When the time comes to move, these homes can be towed behind a suitable vehicle anywhere. Mobile homes can be parked in designated mobile home parks or on land using wheel blocks to prevent them from moving independently. Be sure you verify any permits needed to move your home before hitching it up.

Because mobile homes have wheels, most states will require a title to be maintained through the DMV. Click here to learn more about mobile home requirements in your state.

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monolithic dome home
Photo Credit: offgridworld.com

What Is a Monolithic Dome Home?

Dome homes are arguably the cheapest site-built home available. These homes are constructed of a steel frame, covered in a fabric form, and then sprayed first with foam and concrete. The result is a solid structure capable of withstanding all types of natural disasters, including tornadoes, hurricanes, and earthquakes.

Dome homes can consist of just one dome or several domes connected. A single livable dome home can be built for $60,000, but the price does climb as windows and doors are cut out and as more domes are added. Still, finished dome homes are 10-15% cheaper to build than traditional site-built box homes. Dome homes require a foundation and are not moveable once completed.

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Article By

Laura Bourland

Laura grew up in the California suburbs, far removed from environmentalism, but nature always has a way. She uprooted her life in 2015, moving to the countryside of Washington to live a more sustainable and simple life on 12 acres. She and her fiancee are learning on the job as they attempt everything from gardening and natural pest control to eco-friendly building and home improvement.

Laura Bourland