Thread: Anyone know much about Modular/Manufactured homes?

My sister in KY has been looking at homes and asked me if "manufactured" homes are ok. I honestly don't know much about them other than the trailer park stigmas. Out there they seem to be selling at about the same as conventional construction/sft.

Only thing I could tell her was to make sure a professional came out to check the attachment to the foundation. Aside from that if anyone knows any good resources it would be appreciated.

I honestly don't know that much about pre-fab, but the house design mag Dwell has done a lot of stories on pretty high end modular and pre-fab. Might be worth a little research.

The Best of Prefab: 7 Homes We Love | Dwell

Only that they attract tornados.

Originally Posted by jammer06

My sister in KY has been looking at homes and asked me if "manufactured" homes are ok. I honestly don't know much about them other than the trailer park stigmas. Out there they seem to be selling at about the same as conventional construction/sft.

Only thing I could tell her was to make sure a professional came out to check the attachment to the foundation. Aside from that if anyone knows any good resources it would be appreciated.

You are dead on about paying a general contractor a consultation fee to check on the foundation attachment. Not sure I'm reading your post correctly, are you saying she can buy conventional at same sq ft price? If so I would definitely go with conventional because of the stigma attached to manufactured homes when she goes to sell. I can't believe they resale at the same price, sounds like Kentuckians are smoking some of their "blue grass".

Originally Posted by mrm55

You are dead on about paying a general contractor a consultation fee to check on the foundation attachment. Not sure I'm reading your post correctly, are you saying she can buy conventional at same sq ft price? If so I would definitely go with conventional because of the stigma attached to manufactured homes when she goes to sell. I can't believe they resale at the same price, sounds like Kentuckians are smoking some of their "blue grass".

Seems to be, she's in a rural area so at her price point the conventional homes are bottom bottom level. The land that comes with most of the modular homes may be a factor, most of the lots are an acre plus vs supersubs with barely 6000sft per lot conventional construction.

Out here, prefab is becoming more popular, but there is a bit of an issue with meeting Code for seismic design. In Kentucky, obviously, seismic parameters are quite a bit lower, so I would think they would be more acceptable, and they can be quite nice if constructed well. One thing I've noticed is that often the purchase is for the prefab structure and not the land under it. Something to look out for, as that might not be desirable.

Will have to check, right now she's been just going to mls listings and she asked me "what's it mean when it says the home is Modular."

I will be sure that her agent checks to be sure the lot comes with the structure.

My wife and I went to one of the Dwell Magazine shows at the L A Convention Center; the architectural firm Marmol Radziner was an exhibitor.

They had some of the modules on-site, and information on how they could be assembled into a complete structure, with a number of possible configurations.

Marmol Radziner Prefab | Sanctuary Delivered

well, I would suggest she avoid them if possible. Mobile/Manufactured homes are usually built on a trailer chassis and the foundation is usually jack stands. The exterior walls and ceilings are of 2x3, (actual dimentions), lumber so it leaves little room for some decent insulation. The duct system for the FAU/AC system leak like a crazy, and loose 60 to 50 percent of the air you have paid to heat or cool to the atmosphere. The cabinetry is very chinsey and falls apart even with normal wear and tear. Using paneling and acustic material for walls and ceilings just don't hold up. They loose their value quickly. If the soil they are sitting on are not stable, fill areas are common for mobile home parks, eventually the jacks will sink or lift, tearing the seams of the home, especially if it is a double wide apart. The are good cheap housing, and for some, it may be the best you can do, but just be prepared for these flaws.

If she is looking for for a none conventional home, and can afford it, she should look into pre-fabricated homes. The difference is, they are build exactly like a conventional stick home, but build in a factory with common dimentional lumber, common FAU/AC systems and duct work. They are delivered on flat bed trailers and the different sections of the home, (mine had 7) are lifted off with a crane and set into place on a conventional raised or slab foundation. You can customize them to your heart and bill folds content. I have had one for 7 years now, I couldn't be happier. All the doors and windows open, close and seal, like the day it was delivered and put together.