Do you know the difference between Modular vs. Manufactured Homes?
February 4th, 2009 categories: Buyers
When you think of modular or manufactured homes, you may picture aluminum trailer homes in a trailer park community. But the truth is, modular homes are quite different from manufactured homes. What are the differences between manufactured and modular housing?
Modular Homes
Modular and manufactured homes are both factory-built. With modular homes, individual modules are up to 90% complete when shipped from the factory to the home site. All walls, flooring, ceilings, stairs, carpeting, and even wall finishes are completed in the factory before shipment.
Contruction of modular homes is efficient, primarily because work is never delayed by weather, subcontractor no-shows or missing materials. Many modular home manufacturers give purchasers the option to design their own floor plans, similar to the experience of a site-built home.
A modular home is places onto a transporter when it needs to be carried from the factory to its permanent site. It then must be lifted off the transport trailer by a crane and set upon a permanent foundation. Unless you were there to see the house delivered and assembled, you might not guess it’s a modular home.
Modular homes are governed by both local and state codes. They are often indistinguishable from site-built homes, and rarely have restrictions on their placement in the community. Modular homes are permanent in nature and once in place are never moved. Therefore, they are typically located on private property. Financing is also the same as a site-built homes, so you can take advantage to todays low rates.
Manufactured Homes
Simply put, a manufactured home (i.e. mobile home) is a building that is constucted in a factory and remains on its transport frame throughout the course of its use. A truck easily backs into a designated site, unhooks the home and drives off. Most sections of these homes are 14 and 16 feet wide, and 54 to 80 feet in length. Manufactured homes do not require any foundation or substructure. They sit up off the ground, with skirting used around the base to hide the wheels and jacks.
Manufactured homes are subject to federal Housing and Urban Development (HUD) codes. They are often located on property owned by private individuals or companies, such as mobile home parks, and the land where the home is installed is normally leased by the property owner. Financing is limited on manufactured homes, typically 10-15 years in length and at a higher rate than conventional rates.
There are some really good manufactured homes that are hard to tell from modular or site-built homes. Make sure to check your MLS sheet for type of home, “Off-Frame” is a modular home, “On-Frame” is a manufactured home.
