Building with Modular Homes
Modular Homes and the Owner Builder
In the 1950’s Sears and Montgomery Ward began selling packaged homes kit homes in the peak of the real estate boom when building supplies were scarce and costly. Since then the modular home industry has transformed itself into a state of the art production.
Today’s modular home is the symbol of efficiency and quality. The modular home industry provides a wealth of advantages for the owner builder who wants to save time and money without skimping on quality. Not your
What’s different about a site built home and a modular home? Modular homes are 90% built when they leave the factory. This includes walls, flooring, stairs, cabinetry, insulation, lighting fixtures, electrical and plumbing work completed. This reduces on site labor significantly. Since modular homes are built in an off-site indoor controlled environment, control of cost and quality are easily achieved and construction delays are eliminated.
Design
Today’s modular home gives the owner builder a vast array of design options. From a simple ranch design to a customized plan, almost any style of house can be built with today’s modular home technology. The end result is indistinguishable from a site built home.
How are they built?
First your plans are broken into modules which are built in an indoor environment by computer assisted design stations. The plans are fed to building stations where modules are constructed exactly to specifications with complete accuracy. Each phase is completed by experienced tradesmen in an assembly line fashion. The entire home can be built in 30 - 90 days versus the 4 - 9 months needed for site built homes. Once completed the modules are delivered to the construction site and are erected by crane.
Is a Modular Home considered a Mobile Home?
No. They are entirely different in many ways.
If you want to know if you are looking at a mobile home, look underneath the structure. If you see I Beams, or a chasis, you are looking at a mobile home or manufactured house. Manufactured homes are built per HUD standards, modular homes are built to local code. Fannie Mae lending institutions will not typically loan on mobile homes.
A modular home is real property and taxed that way unlike a mobile home which is considered personal property. A mobile home is not attached to the property so it can not be taxed as real estate. Visit the HUD Website for a clear definition.
