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The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) “Unease in the Housing Market Amid a Worsening Affordability Crisis” article noted a 60% home price increase in early 2025. Housing unaffordability is a shocking reality, creating roadblocks for anyone who wants to buy a house or plan a local, intrastate, or interstate move.
Read “How Do Movers Perform Intrastate, Interstate, and International Moves?” To learn more about local, intrastate, and interstate moving.
One of life’s milestones, buying and moving into a home, is harder to reach these days, and a lot of people hope this frustrating change is temporary. The percentage of people buying their first home is shrinking. The National Association of Realtors (NAR) “NAR 2025 Profile of Home Buyers, Sellers Reveals Market Extremes” report noted that 21% of first-time homebuyers in 2025 is the lowest percentage since 40% in 2008.
We’re exploring barriers to buying a first or repeat home, how different generations are reacting to today’s unaffordable reality, how tiny home cost and modular house affordability are a manufactured home trend, and the best ways to move if you buy one.
Higher Average Age of a First Time Home Buyer: & The Top Reason Why
Down payments are a major barrier to buying a first home. The same NAR 2025 Home Buyers and Sellers Profile showed higher median down payment percentages for a buyer’s first home between 10% to 19% and 23% for repeat buyers. Young adults are finding resourceful and less traditional ways to buy a home. The National Association of Realtors’ article, “More Young Adults Are Buying a Home, But Need Help to Do It,” noted that the percentage of Millennials ages 25 to 43 in the homebuying market rose to 38% in 2025.
NAR’s research in its article, “Home Buyers and Sellers Generational Trends,” provided a detailed overview of homebuyers in 2025. Here is what they found:
Generation Z
- Buyers 18 to 25 = 3% of homebuyers
Millennials
- Younger millennials 26 to 34 = 71% bought first home
- Older millennials 35 to 44 = 36% bought first home
Generation X
- Gen Xers, ages 45 to 59, accounted for 24% of recent home buyers.
Baby Boomers
- Boomers 60 to 69 = 26% of recent homebuyers
- Boomers 70 to 78 = 16% of recent homebuyers
Americans still want to buy a home. In the article “Gen Z And Millennials Are Locked Out of Homeownership,” National Mortgage Professional (NMP) showed that over 80% of buyers felt buying a home was a good financial investment. That sentiment was higher for people 25 to 32 at 86%.
Read about generational moving trends in this article - “How Age is a Growing Move Trend & Where Millennials are Moving in CO & UT.”
First Time Home Buyer Colorado or Utah: Can You Still Achieve Your Dream?
Colorado and Utah often rank as the best states or cities. Ironically, they also rank as the most expensive states. Utah, for example, is third on Norada’s “10 Best States to Buy a House in 2025” list. The Beehive State’s natural beauty, high-quality lifestyles, and job market make it highly rated. Median home prices are higher than the national average, making it less affordable for buyers with tighter budgets.
Want to know about Colorado & Utah neighborhoods? Read our “2025 Local Moving Guide.”
It's Ironic! Local & Interstate Moving is Easier Now, but Harder to Buy a House
Remote jobs and moving companies make it easier to uproot your life and replant it somewhere else, but now you must find an affordable city to buy or rent. Denver and Salt Lake City were named in MSN’s article, “10 US Cities that Became Unaffordable Almost Overnight,” which is disappointing for potential Coloradans and Utahns.
Dream vs. Reality: Take Advantage of Tiny Home Cost or Move in With Your Parents?
The Reality of high housing costs is derailing plans to buy a home or even rent for Americans across generations. Many are sacrificing and making lifestyle changes to afford rising rent and mortgage payments.
Redfin News highlighted how affordability is affecting Gen Z and Millennials in its article, “Avocado Toast No More: Struggling Young Renters Forego Restaurants, Skip Meals to Afford Rent." The struggle is real for these younger generations. Combined, 12% of renters and 4% of homeowners moved in with their parents.
Older Gen X and Baby Boomers Struggled Less but Still Made Sacrifices
The same Redfin article showed these details:
Gen X Renter and Homeowner Sacrifices
Renters
- Delayed or said “no” to healthcare/medical treatments= 18%
- Skipped meals = 21%
- Used retirement savings = 13%
- Worked an extra job = 12%
- Added a side hustle = 14%
- Worked more hours/shifts = 16%
- Sold belongings = 19%
Owners
- Delayed or said “no” to healthcare/medical treatments= 15%
- Skipped meals = 11%
- Used retirement savings = 16%
- Worked an extra job = 7%
- Added a side hustle = 8%
- Worked more hours/shifts = 9%
- Sold belongings = 15%
Baby Boomer Renter and Homeowner Sacrifices
Renters
- Delayed or said “no” to healthcare/medical treatments= 12%
- Skipped meals = 14%
- Used retirement savings = 17%
- Worked an extra job = 12%
- Added a side hustle = 5%
- Worked more hours/shifts = 6%
- Sold belongings = 19%
Owners
- Delayed or said “no” to healthcare/medical treatments= 18%
- Skipped meals = 4%
- Used retirement savings = 26%
- Worked an extra job = 5%
- Added a side hustle = 12%
- Worked more hours/shifts = 20%
- Sold belongings = 7%
Finding Affordable Homes: Why More People Are Buying Homes Built Offsite
Denver and Utah are still popular destinations for residents leaving their home states for greener pastures. But housing prices are edging many buyers out.
Colorado’s population growth in recent years has pushed the Centennial State to fourth on the list of expensive states, according to Redfin’s article, “The 10 Most Expensive States to Buy a House in the U.S., Ranked.” Utah’s job market has attracted a steady influx of new Utahns, ranking the Beehive State seventh in that same article.
Mobile, Tiny, or Modular: Sound the Same but Different & How to Choose
People are resilient and exploring a few interesting alternatives. More affordable single-family home options are gaining momentum.
- Mobile home
- Tiny home
- Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU)
- Modular home
- Manufactured home
These homes have been around for years, some more well-known than others. Let’s explore each option to define what they are, main differences, sizes, and pros vs. cons.
Let’s clarify what these homes are and clear up common misconceptions. First, we need to talk about manufactured homes. The official term is off-site built housing, according to Colorado’s Department of Local Affairs. It includes all structures not built on a construction site, transported to a destination, and connected to utilities. You might know them as modular, HUD-Code manufactured, mobile home, tiny home, and multi-family unit.
Modular vs Manufactured Home? Details That Matter to Help You Choose
We went to the Colorado Department of Local Affairs’ Division of Housing’s website for information. Here’s what we found. Colorado’s Division of Housing (DOH) considers these as manufactured homes:
- Mobile Homes
- Housing and Urban Development Homes (HUD)
- Modulars
- Tiny Homes
They are in this category but have different structure types and compliance requirements. Read on as we explain what they are and how they are different.
What is a Mobile Home: Top Reasons to Buy One
Mobile or trailer parks often come to mind. The simple definition is a manufactured or factory-built home.
The Colorado Department of Local Affairs’ Division of Housing provides details on its “What Counts as a Mobile Home” webpage. Colorado law states that mobile homes must include six characteristics:
Mobile Home Characteristics:
- A single-family dwelling
- Built on a permanent chassis
- Designed for long-term residential occupancy
- Have complete electrical, plumbing, and sanitary facilities
- Designed to fit permanent or semi-permanent installation with or without a permanent foundation
- Can be drawn over public highways
Mobile home parks, as defined by Colorado’s statutes and regulations, include conventional “mobile home parks” and manufactured housing communities, which are properties used by and accommodating at least five mobile homes.
The owner or management:
- Has a rental agreement with a mobile home resident for the home or the lot it’s on.
- Or they receive rent payments from a resident or a third party for a home or its lot.
The Centennial State’s definition of mobile home parks includes:
- Parks that cooperatives, non-profit organizations, and government entities own and operate.
- The landowner owns all the mobile homes on their property and rents them out.
- A landowner owns land parcels next to each other or in the same neighborhood, and combined, have at least five mobile homes.
What is a HUD Home: Top Reasons to Buy One
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development regulates HUD home construction. HUD manufacturers follow federal Title 24 construction standards, not state statutes or rules. States do regulate HUD home sales and inspect the installation of the units.
In Colorado, SAA-certified HUD homes can be installed anywhere that local zoning allows and meets Wind Zone, Thermal Zone, and Roof Load Zone requirements. HUD is familiar with Colorado’s snow and wind risks and will not install this type of home in riskier areas without mitigation measures.
What is a Modular Home? Top Reasons to Buy One
Modular home builders submit plans for approval before construction can start. Builders consider site location, geographic conditions, and climate when they construct this type of home. Because they are dwellings approved for long-term living, permits are only issued for permanent foundations. Modular homes are more versatile and can be built as a single-family tiny home, a multi-family apartment, a condo, a townhome, or as a commercial building, depending on standards and requirements.
Most modular structures are built to meet commercial standards, but single-family and multi-family modular homes can meet different standards and be processed through different Factory-Built (FB) programs. Single-family and multi-family homes that meet residential building codes are processed through the Factory-Built (FB) program. Multi-family homes that meet commercial standards are processed through the Factory-Built Non-Residential (FBNR) program.
Multi-family and other modular homes are installed in the locations for which they are specifically certified. In Colorado, these homes can be moved within the state to a different location that meets the same design criteria, or the structure can be modified for the new location’s criteria.
Tiny Homes Colorado: What is a Tiny Home and What Makes Them Different?
Tiny homes need a plan submittal and approval before construction can start, and the builder considers the site location, climate, and geographical conditions. They are approved for long-term living at the location and have a permanent chassis that’s installed on a permanent or temporary foundation.
Like modular home installations, tiny homes are certified for and installed on a specific site. You can relocate and reinstall the home with or without modifications, depending on the location’s design criteria.
Manufactured Home Community: Why They Might Be Popular in 2026 & Beyond
Tiny homes and ADUs are newer, but the manufactured home community has been around for decades. The idea of buying a modular home is growing as real estate housing prices push most first-time buyers out of traditional single-family markets.
The Manufactured Home Community and Tiny Homes Communities
If you dream of owning a home, compare classics to modular alternatives. Mobile Home Matadors’ article, “Manufactured Homes in Colorado: What Buyers Need to Know,” highlights a big price gap between the two. Factory-produced homes’ 66% lower pricing looks pretty good next to a built-on-site home’s eye-rolling 40% price increase in 2025.
Homebuyers can choose between an average of $599,000 for a traditional home, or an average of $123,300 for a prefabricated alternative.
The same “Manufactured Homes in Colorado: What Buyers Need to Know” article notes that manufactured homes are going mainstream nationwide, with over 22 million owners in the U.S. today. Coloradans are among those setting aside old perceptions and buying factory-built abodes.
Affordability isn’t the only reason Colorado residents are moving into a manufactured home. Check out these reasons and see if they make sense to you.
- Lower price per square foot - $87 vs. $166
- Excluding land, purchase prices typically range from $100,000 to $150,000
- Pay less in property taxes.
- Lower insurance & utility costs
- Great for first-time buyers & downsizers (empty nesters, retirees, and minimalists)
Bought a Triple-Wide Manufactured Home? Mobile Home Movers & Do You Hire One?
Moving – we love a new start, but hate packing, loading, and unloading everything we own. More people are buying modular homes like HUD, ADUs, mobile homes, or tiny homes and wondering whether it’s better to DIY or hire a moving company.
Moving? A Better Way to Decide: DIY, Moving Company, or a Combination of Both
Weigh these factors as you decide whether you’ll DIY, hire a moving company to handle 100%, or take a hybrid approach and take most of the heavy lifting off your shoulders.
How Much Time Do You Have?
Packing your life into boxes takes time. People working full-time, with children, or going to school might not have the bandwidth to finish before moving day. The process typically takes 3 to 4 weeks for DIYers. So, if you have less time, hiring a mover makes sense.
How Much Are You Moving?
It’s not just the size of your house. List what you plan to move room-by-room for a more accurate idea of the volume or amount of stuff you’ll be packing, loading, and unloading. A four-bedroom house with lighter furniture or fewer items to pack is easier to DIY than a two-bedroom apartment with heavy furniture and twice as many moving boxes.
Is Your Move More Complicated?
Moving out of an apartment on the 10th floor requires more time and effort than on the first floor. If you have a storage unit or are moving a greater distance, you might need a moving company’s help.
Read “Moving Apartments Quickly and Easily” for more information about moving apartments.
Do You Have Friends or Family to Help Load & Unload Heavy Items?
You’re not carrying that sectional couch down the driveway, no matter how strong you are. If you don’t have enough friends or family to help you on moving day, get three different moving company estimates and pick the best one.
Read more about estimates in “Moving Estimates: Insider Answers on Binding vs. Non-Binding & How They are Calculated.”
Learn why Bailey’s Moving is a mover you can count on.
Need more advice? Read “Who Should Use a Mover and Who Shouldn’t.”
Why Modular Homes Are Good Traditional Alternatives & Hiring a Moving Company
We explored how affordability is a major barrier for homebuyers and how different generations can still buy a home despite today’s real estate market realities. Tiny home costs and modular house affordability are part of a growing trend in manufactured homes. If you buy one of these options, ask yourself if you have the time and the help to DIY a move into your new home.
Get a moving estimate from Bailey’s Moving & Storage.
