The definition of a modular home is a home that is partially constructed in a factory and shipped to the property where it’s then put together on a foundation and then it’s completed on the inside. Like stick built home, modular homes are placed on permanent foundations and they can have full basements. The construction of the modular home must comply with all local building codes and standards in the area. Although the building process is different from your traditional stick built homes, it is very difficult to identify a modular home just by looking at it. There are all sorts of floor plans and designs the most popular modular home is the ranch and the split level.
Alright now to the manufactured home. These are sometimes referred to as mobile homes or trailers there are single wides, doublewides, and triple wide manufactured homes and they are completely built in a factory on a steel chassis. these are the homes you see on the Interstate being pulled by transfer trucks saying wide load. Once the homes get to their sites the wheels are removed. Construction of the manufactured homes must comply with the building codes set by HUD which is United States Department of Housing and Urban development. The primary way to identify a manufactured home is by its HUD tag man that is usually on the frame underneath the home, sometimes you can find it on the electrical panel inside the home. One of the misconceptions about manufactured homes is that they’re unsafe and or poorly built. That might have been the case but then HUD created an act in 1974 requiring construction and safety standards for all manufactured homes. So any manufactured home built after 1975 will meet these standards.
The differences between the modular and manufactured homes are the way these homes are constructed. Typically a modular home will require a heavier lumber package with extra materials being incorporated into the wall structures and framing. Additionally there are slight differences in the electrical system, plumbing and the HVAC systems. Portions of the modular homes are made in a factory and then those pieces are sent to the home site whereas the manufactured home is built in one factory. The foundation for the modular home is just like your stick-built home foundation, so it is not movable. the manufactured home is sitting on a steel chassis which makes the manufactured home mobile; therefore it has a vin number, and is a little more challenging to get financing for the manufactured home as opposed to the modular home. If you would like to make changes to your home than the modular home is going to be more appealing to you as manufactured homes are already built and are what they are. The biggest difference between modular and manufactured homes are that modular home values will very with the real estate market whereas your manufactured homes will usually lose value overtime. all of these factors affect the affordability, long term value, and financing of these homes. Some buyers will opt to purchase a manufactured homes over the modular based on the price alone. They are less expensive overall but are more likely to lose their value overtime.
So, if you ask me which is better manufactured or modular I don’t have a really answer for that. I tell my clients that there is no perfect home, there is only the perfect for you home. If you have any comments or questions, please leave those in the comments section below or feel free to message me at 704-560-0823.
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