Are modular homes a bad idea?

[milee]

I think the concept is fantastic - less waste, less time to install, less exposure to elements during constuction. It's something I'd consider.

On the other hand, the actual implementation is sometimes of less quality than desired, so it pays to be very careful and do research before you order. You want to not only tour the factory and see their recommended models, you want to ask about the last 5 actual houses they shipped and go look at what those look like from the outside and talk to the owners if possible. See how that might get you a more realistic response than just talking to the owners who are happy or being paid for their glowing recommendation?

[Deleted]

Modular housing is the same as mobile home. Financing can be hard to come by, typically you have no basement, just cheaply made but enough bells and whistles to make someone think this is a great option.

[Deleted]

I think modular has come a long way. I really like Dwell magazine, and they often feature modern modulars that are very attractive. I'm not sure about 'traditional modular' ? Actually my personal experience is limited to all of them I guess.

Husband says if they are decently manufactured they can be built better than stick built, BUT many are not... through production short corners and poorly trained workers, low production costs... etc. I guess I'd say thoroughly research the company and their track record/references, etc.

[Deleted]

mille and husband are on the same page ...

This is the kind of modular i like ...

[milee]

Sept 30, 2012 17:39:59 GMT -5 @blondegranny said:

Modular housing is the same as mobile home. Financing can be hard to come by, typically you have no basement, just cheaply made but enough bells and whistles to make someone think this is a great option.

No, modular is not the same as mobile home. Modular can be built to many specs - some better than site built - and is readily financeable. Different animals.

[Deleted]

Husband has put brick/stone, etc. on a modular... never on a mobile. Not the same thing.

[milee]

Sept 30, 2012 17:43:42 GMT -5 oped said:

mille and husband are on the same page ...

This is the kind of modular i like ...

Yep, that is gorgeous and Dwell is very cool. Not sure that all the moderns lend themselves as well to living with multiple children, though, since (in our case anyway) kids tend to be a bit messy and a large part of the beauty of the modern homes is their sleek, uncluttered feel. I'd love something like that when the kids are older, but right now, it wouldn't work for us.

I'd consider modular as a concept, but in reality would probably have a hard time finding a modular company that met my quality desires and also was able to build to fit the unusually shaped lot we have. It's a bit like a big piece of pie with our waterfront view being along the big, curved edge and necking down to only 10' wide at the point of the pie wedge.

[Tennesseer]

They may not be a good idea in tornado/hurricane prone areas.

[midjd]

Our house is a modular Cape Cod and we love it. We bought it brand new and it was about 25% cheaper than stick-built houses on similarly-sized parcels. It's very energy-efficient - we use around 850 kWh per month to cool and power 3500sf - bill is usually <$100. It hasn't required any maintenance in the two years we've lived here, although that's probably true of most new houses. The floor, carpet, cabinets, etc. are all builder's grade but good quality.

I would definitely buy another modular home if we ever move from this one. SIL and DH's aunt both have modular homes and are happy with them (and in all three cases it allowed us to buy more "house" than we otherwise could've afforded).

[milee]

...::: They may not be a good idea in tornado/hurricane prone areas. :::...

Or they may be better. These have been some of the best survivors in hurricane areas due to their round shape.

www.deltechomes.com/

www.deltechomes.com/build-smarter/hurricane-resistant/

[Deleted]

When the kids leave you can just get a yert milee

or maybe something like this:

[Tennesseer]

If the modular home has hurricane straps connected to underground anchors along with windows and frames tested to withstand tornado/hurricane force winds they just might be able to withstand strong winds.

[Deleted]

Sept 30, 2012 17:39:59 GMT -5 @blondegranny said:

Modular housing is the same as mobile home. Financing can be hard to come by, typically you have no basement, just cheaply made but enough bells and whistles to make someone think this is a great option.

Our house in Michigan is a manufactured home. It has a basement and we didn't even realize it was a manufactured home until we got it inspected.

We had no problem getting a VA loan to buy it. They are financed just like a traditional home.

Mid, our home in Michigan is a Cape Cod as well.

[Deleted]

I think they are fine. And probably better built than onsite. At least in a factory you have more quality control versus hiring God knows Who Contracting and hoping for the best. But, pricewise, i don't think it neccessarily is any cheaper.

[Bluerobin]

Shooby, nothing wrong with modulars. Only problem I see is site preparation - they will probably try to get you on that. You CAN have a basement with a modular. Crabby and I have looked at several and you can't tell the difference.

[InsertCoolName]

Most folks around here replace their homes with modular homes after fire or storm damage. If we had been able to find affordable land in town limits I would have been thrilled to live in one.

We looked at one7 yrs ago. 5.1k sq ft. 5 bedrooms 4.5 baths laundry room family room formal dining room. THE WORKS. The model they had was simply awesome. $87k And the kitchen? OMG I would have been cooking all the time cause it was beautiful I never wanted to leave that room. The ONLY reason we didn't buy it? No lot in town that was 1) big enough 2) under 40k. Otherwise I would have had a HUGE home.

[Wisconsin Beth]

We're contemplating one for the vacation land, if we ever get to build on it.

ETA - if we can ever afford to build on it is how that should read!

[deantrip]

As long as the home is placed on a permanent foundation (slab, crawlspace, basement, etc) then you shouldn't have a problem with the financing. Modulars can be custom ordered with as much finished as you desire, manufactured (such as mobile) must be shipped "finished". In my experience in looking at them and working on houses, the finishing touches of the modular and manufactured housing isn't quite up to par with what you get with the stick built. Generally you are limited on various flooring/siding choices. If you like hardwood floors, good luck, mainly you will find vinyl. Most siding you are looking at is vinyl, which in a high wind/lots of sun exposure can cause degradation of the siding. If you can do some of the work yourself (such as installing cabinetry, painting, finish work) then you can generally get into a stick built just as cheap as modular, if you can do more, then you can beat the prices fairly easily. Feel free to steal their floor plans though, very efficient floor plans!

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

DH has a manufactured home. While I do believe that's different from a modular home, you might think about and look into re-sale value. Manufactured home only depreciate in value. If you don't own the land, it's no different than paying rent. The interest rates are higher than stick built housing also.
Good luck!

[Deleted]

Ok, so maybe I don't know the difference between a modular and a manufactured home.....We don't have any vinyl flooring in our house. It is all carpet and tile. Our house didn't lose value until the bubble burst in Michigan. Before that it wasn't depreciating...the owners we bought it from sold it for more than they bought it for....and that was in line with all the comps in the neighborhood. They used regular stick build homes and other homes like ours as comps. Our interest rate is 3.25%....so we didn't get dinged with interest rate either.

The front of our house is brick the rest if vinyl siding.

ETA: our house was built in a factor and shipped in pieces to the sight. It was then put together the rest of the way there. It wasn't like The double wides that you see rolling down the street on a back of a semi. Once it was put together on sight they added the finishing touches.

[midjd]

Manufactured = PC term for trailer, either single or double-wide. Shipped in one or two pieces on a truck and installed on a slab. Depreciates like a vehicle, usually blows away in a tornado.

Modular = installed on a foundation, shipped in several pieces and assembled on site. Holds value like a stick-built and just as structurally sound.

Not the same thing.

[Deleted]

Ok then I guess we have a modular home.

It is 2 story Cape Cod with a full finished basement.....I think Wrongside wants to buy my house!

ETA: By the looks of this thread it looks like I am not the only one confused by the terms. Blonde Granny says Modulars are like the double wide trailers.

[Deleted]

No, mine is in Macomb County.

[InsertCoolName]

Some of the older folks MAY remember when Sears and Roebuck. There is a house hmmm about 3.5 miles from me that everyone knows as the Sears and roebuck house.

You can see that it's a very old home. someone bought the place and restored it several years ago. Seems like it had lightening strike it. Anyways, that is what a modular is to me. And a manufactured home is a trailer that can be moved. House on wheels.

For those who don't remember here's the Sear's homes en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sears_Catalog_Home

[midjd]

ETA: By the looks of this thread it looks like I am not the only one confused by the terms. Blonde Granny says Modulars are like the double wide trailers.

I was confused too, until we bought one We noticed that the floor plan was VERY similar to SIL's (also a 2-story Cape Cod with walkout basement). Then the former owners mailed us a whole box of papers about the house and we saw it was "manufactured in Ohio."

I googled it and got some hits for "manufactured housing," but I've lived in trailers and knew that's not what our house was! I don't like to use Wiki as a source but it does have some decent info on this topic. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modular_building#Modular_homes_vs._mobile_homes

Differences include the building codes that govern the construction, types of material used and how they are appraised by banks for lending purposes. The codes that govern the construction of modular homes are exactly the same codes that govern the construction of site-constructed homes. In the United States, all modular homes are constructed according to the International Building Code (IBC), IRC, BOCA or the code that has been adopted by the local jurisdiction.

The materials used in modular homes are the same as site constructed homes. Wood-frame floors, walls and roof are the most typical. Some modular homes include brick or stone exteriors, granite counters and steeply pitched roofs. All modulars are designed to sit on a perimeter foundation or basement. In contrast, mobile homes are constructed with a steel chassis that is integral to the integrity of the floor system. Mobile homes often require special lenders. Most companies have standard plans. However, all modular buildings can be custom built to a client's specifications. Today's designs include multi-story units, multi-family units and entire apartment complexes. The negative stereotype commonly associated with mobile homes has prompted some manufacturers to start using the term "off-site construction.

[Deleted]

Oct 2, 2012 8:11:15 GMT -5 @wrongsideof30 said:

That's a hike for me. We're looking at Oakland County.

BUT....I wanna sell my house...

Actually our current renters asked our PM if we would consider selling the house because they are hoping to buy in 2 years and like our house....

Sure I will sell it to them....if we don't have to come to the table with $70K. Right now it is underwater since there are so many houses that have been foreclosed on in the neighborhood.

[973beachbum]

Oct 2, 2012 6:12:29 GMT -5 midjd said:

Manufactured = PC term for trailer, either single or double-wide. Shipped in one or two pieces on a truck and installed on a slab. Depreciates like a vehicle, usually blows away in a tornado.

Modular = installed on a foundation, shipped in several pieces and assembled on site. Holds value like a stick-built and just as structurally sound.

Not the same thing.

Modulars are regular homes that are made in a factory. I have never heard the term manufactured being used to refer to a mobile home though. A mobile home is also known here as a trailer and does go down in value much like a car. The lots can be rented and interest rates are tough even if you can get a loan for one.

Modular homes are just like any other home though. they can be real fancy or a real basic starter home. It just depends on what the person who had it built wante dthem they bought it.

ETA I have heard of both moblie homes and modular homes refered to as manufactured homes though. I think because they are made in a factory vs on site.