What Are Modular Vs. Manufactured Homes? (2024)

FAQs

What Are Modular Vs. Manufactured Homes? ›

Modular homes are built in modules so they can be transported from a manufacturer, then assembled into one unit at the building site. Manufactured homes are what used to be referred to as mobile homes. These are assembled again at a factory, but ready to roll to the mobile home site.

Modular homes are assembled on a site and anchored to a foundation, whereas a manufactured home is transported in one piece to a site and can be relocated. Because they can be moved, manufactured homes are considered chattel (personal property) — like a recreational vehicle.

While modular homes are built on a removable chassis, manufactured homes are fixed to permanent chassis, which helps guarantee its mobility if desired by the homeowner later on.

Lack of customization – You might choose from several designs of modular homes, but you never get the possibility to fully customize your dwelling, unlike a site-built house. Social stigma – Some time ago, modular homes were associated with low quality.

Customization: You can customize the floor plan, kitchen, living room and exterior of a manufactured home, such as choosing kitchen islands, backsplashes, porches, roof and siding preferences. Fast construction: It may take less time to build a manufactured home compared to a stick-built home.

If you're looking for a home that will appreciate over time with a lot of options for upgrades and expansion, a modular home could be the perfect fit for you. If you're more interested in saving money and the ability to move your house from one place to another, a manufactured home may be the better option for you.

The main difference between manufactured and modular homes is that manufactured homes are built to the national HUD code, while modular homes are built to all applicable state and local building codes. This is similar to the way traditional site-built homes are constructed.

If it is a metal frame, it is likely that metal is the old chassis of the home and it is a “manufactured home.” If the frame is wood and lines can be seen where the sections of the home join up (doubled up joists bolted together), then it is likely a “modular home.”

It is also important to remember that manufactured homes are built under the HUD code. Therefore there should be a HUD tag attached to the outside of each piece of your home. You should also be able to locate a HUD label that has a compliance certificate somewhere in the kitchen or master bedroom.

It may be difficult to make changes once construction has started because so much of the home is pre-built. Bias exists. Some people confuse modular homes with manufactured or mobile homes, which don't have a foundation, and may therefore avoid them.

What is the downside to a manufactured home? ›

A disadvantage of buying a mobile home is that its value will depreciate quickly. Like a new car, once a mobile home leaves the factory, it quickly drops in value. Stick-built homes, on the other hand, normally appreciate in value over time because the stick-built home owner almost always owns the underlying land.

The short answer is that modular homes can last just as long as traditional site-built homes, if not longer. In fact, many modular homes come with warranties of up to 50 years. The key to a modular home's longevity lies in its construction process and the materials used.

Today's homes are the best-insulated homes built, and that includes both modular and manufactured homes. Before we get into detail about insulation, you will need to know about the term R-value. R-value measures an insulating material's resistance to conductive heat flow.

The term “manufactured housing” often comes with negative connotations: poorly maintained homes, sub-par quality, and aesthetically unappealing. This unfavorable stereotyping belies the fact that today's HUD Code manufactured homes are not unlike the ugly duckling flourishing to a refined adulthood.

Custom Design Prefabricated Home Prices. Custom modular home prices range from $100 to $250 per square foot. Prices are $200,000 to $500,000 when including all site-work, installation, and finishing. Most modular builders will customize their existing designs to change the finishes, floor plan, or the home's size.

“People assume that because it shows up in pieces, the quality is less than” a site-built home, Braun says, “and that's actually completely the opposite. “Most of my colleagues would agree that modular homes are actually a superior product because you're getting an engineered house,” Braun adds.

Modular homes are houses built off-site, usually in an indoor, quality-controlled setting. Modular homes are completed in sections called modules, according to specific plans. These sections are then transported to the site where they are assembled by builders and installed into the foundations.

These structures are made inside factories, so the materials that go into your home reside in a controlled environment with little moisture. Modular homes are built to be safe in case of a tornado or storm, and inspectors check surfaces for structural soundness before shipping.