Land for a Manufactured Home in Texas: 2026 Cost | La Tierra
Cleared, unrestricted land for a manufactured home at Nolan Ranch near Cleburne, Texas

How Much Does It Cost to Put a Manufactured Home on Land in Texas?

Land, home, and site work add up to roughly $185,000 to $350,000 in 2026. Here is every cost line, with sources and two worked examples.

Putting a manufactured home on land in Texas costs roughly $185,000 to $350,000 all-in in 2026: $79,500 to $130,000 for a 2 to 5 acre tract near a Central or North Texas town, $79,200 to $163,700 for the home per the Census Bureau's April 2026 Manufactured Housing Survey, and $25,000 to $60,000 for delivery, foundation, well, septic, electric, and permits.

The exact number depends on three choices: where you buy land for a manufactured home, whether you pick a single-section or multi-section home, and how much of the site work the tract already includes. La Tierra Realty is an Austin-based land company that sells surveyed, unrestricted tracts in Central and North Texas with owner financing through Stonebridge Purchasing (NMLS #2349261), and every cost line below uses a named 2026 source so you can build your own budget.

What Does Land for a Manufactured Home Cost in Texas?

Land for a manufactured home in Texas costs $79,500 to $130,000 for a surveyed, unrestricted 2 to 5 acre tract within about an hour of Austin or Fort Worth in 2026, based on La Tierra Realty's current listings. Larger rural parcels average $5,218 per acre statewide and $8,040 per acre in the Austin-Waco-Hill Country region, according to the Texas Real Estate Research Center's second-quarter 2026 report.

Three land features matter more than price for a manufactured home:

  • No deed restrictions. Many subdivisions ban manufactured homes or require site-built construction of 1,800 square feet or more. Unrestricted tracts allow any HUD-code home. La Tierra's unrestricted land guide explains how to confirm this in the deed records.
  • Utilities at the road. A tract with water and electric at the road can save $15,000 to $40,000 compared with drilling a well and extending power. Water is not on every lot, so ask which lots have a meter.
  • Legal access and a flat pad site. Transport companies need a route a 16-foot-wide load can travel, and a level, cleared pad keeps site prep at the low end.

La Tierra's guide to putting a mobile home on land in Texas covers the legal side; this article covers the money.

How Much Does the Manufactured Home Itself Cost in 2026?

A new manufactured home in the South Census region, which includes Texas, averaged $79,200 for a single-section home and $163,700 for a multi-section home in April 2026, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's Manufactured Housing Survey as reported by the Texas Manufactured Housing Association. Those are factory prices before delivery, setup, and site work.

Per square foot, the gap with site-built housing is large. Using 2024 Census data, the Texas Manufactured Housing Association reported in July 2025 that single-section homes cost $78.60 per square foot and multi-section homes $86.71, against $168.86 for a site-built single-family home excluding land. The association's conclusion: “Manufactured homes cost up to 53 percent less per square foot than new site-built houses, according to the latest U.S. Census Bureau data.”

Dealer quotes in Texas track those averages. Braustin Homes' April 2026 pricing guide lists a Texas single-wide base price of $86,700 and double-wide base prices of $153,100 to $159,700, with installed totals of $100,000 to $130,000 for a single-wide and $170,000 to $210,000 for a double-wide before land.

What Are the Site Costs to Put a Manufactured Home on Land?

Site costs to put a manufactured home on raw Texas land run $25,000 to $60,000 in 2026, covering delivery, site preparation, a foundation, a water well, a septic system, electric hookup, and permits. On a tract with water and electric already at the road, the same list drops to roughly $15,000 to $35,000 because the well and line extension disappear.

Site cost item2026 rangeSource
Delivery, about 100 miles$2,000–$5,000 single-wide; $4,000–$10,000 double-wideBraustin Homes, April 2026
Site preparation and driveway$4,000–$8,000 on a cleared, flat lot; $30,000–$47,000 with tree removal and gradingBraustin Homes, April 2026
Foundation$3,000–$8,000 pier-and-beam; $8,000–$20,000 concrete slabBraustin Homes, April 2026
Water well, complete system$12,000–$22,000 (drilling $25–$58 per foot)WellDrillingCosts.com, May 2026
Conventional septic system$5,000–$15,000La Tierra utilities guide, 2026
Utility connections on raw land$9,000–$34,500+ (vs. $500–$700 in a park)Braustin Homes, April 2026
Permits and inspections$500–$2,000Braustin Homes, April 2026
TDHCA installation report fee$75 single-wide; $100 double-wide; $125 triple-wideTDHCA Form 1112, 2023

The foundation choice also affects financing. FHA and most mortgage lenders require a permanent foundation that meets HUD's Permanent Foundations Guide, while a chattel loan accepts piers and tie-downs. Read La Tierra's guide to well, septic, and internet costs for the utility lines in more detail.

Total Cost Examples: Land Plus Home Plus Site

Two worked examples show the range. Example A pairs a single-section home with a 2.2 acre tract that needs a well. Example B pairs a multi-section home with a 3 acre tract that has water and electric at the road. Both use the April 2026 Census averages and the 2026 site costs above, rounded.

Line itemExample A: single-wide, 2.2 acres, well neededExample B: double-wide, 3 acres, water and electric at road
Land (La Tierra tract, from)$89,916 (Nolan Ranch, Johnson County)$80,000 (Arroyo Farms, Milam County)
Home, factory price (Census, April 2026)$79,200$163,700
Delivery and setup$3,500$7,000
Site prep, pad, and driveway$6,000$6,000
Pier foundation, tie-downs, skirting, steps$6,000$8,000
Water$17,000 (well)$3,000 (meter and tap)
Septic$10,000$10,000
Electric hookup and permits$4,000$4,000
Estimated total$215,600$281,700

For comparison, Braustin Homes' April 2026 San Antonio example put a fully installed double-wide at $179,500 before land. Add an $80,000 tract and the total lands near $260,000, in line with Example B. A site-built 1,500 square foot house at the $168.86 per square foot Census average would cost $253,000 for construction alone, before land or utilities.

What Are the TDHCA Rules for Placing a Manufactured Home in Texas?

The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs regulates manufactured homes under Occupations Code Chapter 1201. A buyer must use a TDHCA-licensed installer, file for a Statement of Ownership within 60 days of the sale, and, to treat the home as real property, record the election in the county deed records. Counties handle septic permits; TDHCA handles the home.

  1. Buy from a licensed retailer or seller and confirm the HUD label. Every home built after June 15, 1976, carries a HUD label and data plate.
  2. Hire a TDHCA-licensed installer. The installer files an installation report with TDHCA within 7 days of setup, with a fee of $75 for a single-wide or $100 for a double-wide, per TDHCA Form 1112.
  3. Apply for the Statement of Ownership. TDHCA's instructions state that “Completed applications must be submitted to the Division within sixty (60) days of the date of sale,” and a $100 late fee applies after day 61.
  4. Elect real property status if you own the land. Occupations Code Section 1201.2055 allows the election when the home is attached to “real property that is owned by the owner of the home.” The owner then files a copy of the Statement of Ownership in the county real property records and notifies TDHCA and the chief appraiser within 60 days.
  5. Apply for the homestead exemption. Once the home is real property and your principal residence, the appraisal district can grant the exemption on the home and up to 20 acres.

How Do You Finance Land and a Manufactured Home?

Financing land and a manufactured home in Texas usually takes two loans: owner financing or a land loan for the tract, then a chattel loan, FHA Title I loan, or mortgage for the home. According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's May 2021 manufactured housing report, about 42 percent of manufactured home purchase loans are chattel loans, which “have higher interest rates and fewer consumer protections than mortgages.”

OptionCovers2026 details
Owner financing (La Tierra / Stonebridge)Land onlyLow down payment, close in weeks; ask about current terms
Chattel loanHome only, as personal propertyAccepts pier foundations; higher rates than mortgages (CFPB, 2021)
FHA Title IHome, lot, or bothLimits since March 29, 2024: $105,532 single-section, $193,719 multi-section, $43,377 lot (HUD)
FHA 203(b) or conventional mortgageLand and home together as real propertyRequires permanent foundation and real property election
VA or VLBVeterans: VLB for land (1+ acre), VA for homeVLB: 5% down, 30-year fixed, up to $200,000 (GLO, 2026)

The CFPB's report also found that fewer than 30 percent of manufactured home loan applications were approved, against more than 70 percent for site-built homes, which is why buyers benefit from owning the land free of the home loan. Owner financing on the tract through Stonebridge Purchasing (NMLS #2349261) puts the land in your name first; read how owner financing works on Texas land and ask about current terms.

Which La Tierra Tracts Allow Manufactured Homes?

Most La Tierra Realty tracts carry no deed restrictions and allow manufactured homes, barndominiums, and RVs. Entry-level options in October 2026 include Brazos Point Ranch in Bosque County from $79,500, Arroyo Farms in Milam County from $80,000 with water and electric at the road, and Nolan Ranch near Cleburne from $89,916, where Lots 3 and 9 (Block 1) come with a water well.

Each tract comes surveyed, with legal road access and owner financing available. Browse every listing on the available properties page, and ask which lots have water versus a well requirement, because that single answer moves the total cost by $15,000 or more.

Find Land That Is Ready for Your Home

La Tierra Realty's unrestricted tracts accept manufactured homes, and several have water and electric at the road. Call (512) 980-1719 to ask about current owner-financing terms and which lots fit a single-wide or double-wide. Atención en español.

Browse Texas Land Get the Free Buyer's Checklist

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, Manufactured Housing Survey (2025, 2026); Texas Manufactured Housing Association, price and cost-per-square-foot analyses (2025, 2026); Braustin Homes, Mobile Home Cost in Texas (April 2026); WellDrillingCosts.com, Texas guide (May 2026); TDHCA, Statement of Ownership instructions and Form 1112 (2023, 2026); Texas Occupations Code §1201.2055; Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Manufactured Housing Finance (May 2021); HUD, Title I loan limits (March 2024); Texas Real Estate Research Center, Rural Land Markets Q2 2026 (2026); Texas General Land Office, VLB land loans (2026).

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a permit to put a manufactured home on land in Texas?

Outside city limits, Texas counties do not issue building permits for the home itself, but you need a septic permit from the county under TCEQ rules, an electric service application with the utility, and a TDHCA installation report filed by your licensed installer within 7 days of setup. Inside city limits, the city's zoning and permit rules apply, and some cities prohibit manufactured homes.

Can I put a used manufactured home on my land in Texas?

Yes, if the deed allows it. Used homes must be moved by a TDHCA-licensed installer, and the Statement of Ownership must be updated to the new owner and location within 60 days of the sale. Some counties and lenders require homes built after June 15, 1976, the date the HUD Code took effect, and FHA financing requires that date as well.

Is a manufactured home on land considered real property in Texas?

Only after the owner elects real property status. Texas Occupations Code Section 1201.2055 lets the owner of a home attached to land they own file that election, record a copy of the Statement of Ownership in the county deed records, and notify TDHCA and the appraisal district within 60 days. Until then the home is personal property and is taxed and financed separately.

How much does a double-wide cost installed in Texas?

A double-wide in the South Census region averaged $163,700 in April 2026 according to the Census Bureau's Manufactured Housing Survey, and Braustin Homes' 2026 Texas guide puts the installed cost at $170,000 to $210,000 before land. Delivery, a pier foundation, skirting, steps, and utility hookups make up the difference between the factory price and the installed price.

Does a land-home package cost less than buying separately?

Sometimes on paperwork, rarely on price. A land-home package bundles the dealer's lot, the home, and one loan, which simplifies closing but limits your choice of land and often prices the lot above market. Buying an unrestricted tract with owner financing first, then shopping the home separately, lets you compare several dealers and keep the land out of a chattel loan.

This article is general information for Texas land and manufactured home buyers and is not legal, tax, or financial advice. Home prices, site costs, loan limits, and TDHCA fees are examples as of the dates cited and change; get written quotes for your tract and home, and confirm rules with TDHCA and your county. Owner financing on land is offered through Stonebridge Purchasing (NMLS #2349261); ask about current terms.

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