are modular homes (not trailer homes) just as good as regular homes?

Question

For instance are they less expensive to build?
what is the resale like vs a regular house?
are they as strong as a regular house?

Answer 1

Modular, or manufactured homes cost less because they are factory built. Mass production of anything reduces cost. They are also prone to mass - production troubles such as asembly glitches, and problems caused by hurrying along the process. They do not appreciate in value like a site - built home, but this is somewhat offset by the lower prices in general. You can buy more house for your dollar. They are not "mobilehomes" and they are not "trailerhouses" they are intended to be brought out to the building site and set up one time. They do, however share some of the "bad rap" with mobiles and such. If you intend to keep the home, and resale is not your focus, they can be an excellent option. Also, they are much faster to the time you can move in. They use a combination of steel and wood in their construction, and expansion/contraction troubles can be huge in areas where there are extreme seasonal temperature differences, such as high desert country with 100 + summers and below zero winters. This can cause huge ceiling and wall cracks, and floor troubles. We purchased a 2500 sq. ft. manufactured home in 1998, and lived in No. Cal.'s high desert country. within the first three winters we had ceiling cracks that opened up 2" wide and 15' long in the winter, and then closed in summer, and similar troubles in walls,(under walpaper, which tore) . Go into the deal well - researched, with your eyes open and educated, and you can do well and be satisfed. Otherwise, the surprise stuff can really bum you out.

Answer 2

Years ago I bought a home from one of those trailer places. They told me it was a double wide MODULAR. I found out later they spoke out of turn. There IS a difference. They way to tell is HOW it's brought in. If it's brought in like most -- in half -- it's a trailer. A modular is brought in differently, with something like a fork lift. So if it's trucked-in the same way as a trailer, it's a trailer. Admittedly, I LOVED my double wide. The one thing missing with them is an attic, so be aware. But with house prices being at an all time low, there's less people buying double wides right now. Don't discount them, though: we were given several thousand dollars ($5,000 I think) and a wholesale catalog, and were able to furnish our home the way we wanted. It was fantastic!

Answer 3

Ok, my brother-in-law is an appraiser and though modular homes appraise different they do not lose value like a single-wide or a double-wide trailer. They may appreciate at a slower rate, but they do appreciate. So they are in no way like a car. There is a modular home in my subdivision that was built 5 years ago for $200,000 and just sold for $240,000

My wife and I just built a stick built brick home and started construction last February and moved in last July. We researched the modular option and found that the only real advantage is that you can sometimes get into your home a little faster. If I had the choice again, I would still go stick-built.

Answer 4

Depending on the type of home you're looking for, it could be much cheaper buying a pre-fab house. The resale isn't all that great, unless your land is well maintained and keep up with the repairs on the house. They are a bit stronger than regular homes. They have to meet a strong guideline with the U.S. government. Good luck to you!

Answer 5

No. They are just as good as a trailer home. They DEpreciate in value rather than Appreciate like a normal home would. It's kind of like buying a car. Also, no they are not as strong. Putting the rooms together like a puzzle will not be as solid as the carpentry when they're built as a regular home.

Answer 6

I am in the industry, and merideath could not be much righter. I have seen stick built houses literally falling apart after 2-3 years. Never a mod. Just remember that a mod is different than a single wide manufactured home.

Answer 7

A modular building is built to the same codes as a site built home. And because they must be transported to the home site, modular homes are much stronger than site built homes.

Such dwellings are often priced substantially lower than their site-built counterparts and are typically more cost-effective to builders and consumers. These new homes can be constructed in a fraction of the time it takes to build a home "on-site" and they’re built to higher standards as well. Manufacturers cite the following reasons for the typically lower cost/price of these dwellings:

Indoor construction.
Assembly is independent of weather which often leads to cost overruns on site-built dwellings.

Favorable pricing from suppliers.
Large-scale manufacturers can effectively bargain with suppliers for discounts on materials.

Low waste.
With the same plans being constantly built, the manufacturer has records of exactly what quantity of materials are needed for a given job. While waste from a site-built dwelling may typically fill several large dumpsters, waste from a modular dwelling generates much less waste.

And once assembled, modular buildings are essentially indistinguishable from typical site-built homes. While mobile manufactured buildings often decrease in value over time, a well-built modular should have the same longevity as its site-built counterpart, increasing in value over time.

Answer 8

They are perfectly good homes, I know people who have them bigger and nicer then my house! but you have to think about the resale value if and when you ever decide to sell it. They loose value kinda like cars do. Years devalue.

Answer 9

Yes; I believe so; and they are stronger than a normal house. They use stronger frames rather than stick built houses. Or so I was told by my uncle and a guy who worked @ a mobile home dealer.

Answer 10

no