Many homebuyers have the attitude that if it’s not stick built, they’re not getting a good house. That may have been true once, but with current materials and building techniques, you can get a manufactured or modular home that rivals or even surpasses stick-built construction. And you may not even be able to tell the difference once the house is set up and the landscaping in place.Manufactured house styles and amenities have also come a long way in the past few years. You can create your dream home in a twostory, rambler, or contemporary style with customized floor plans, exterior, and colors.
According to Manufactured Homes: The Market Facts 2002 Report put out by Foremost Insurance Group, 88 percent of the manufactured homeowners surveyed said they were very or somewhat satisfied with manufactured home living. Additionally, 57 percent said they always plan to live in their current manufactured home. That’s not very good news for the resale market!
Manufactured and modular homes are built in sections under controlled conditions at the plant, then shipped to the site and assembled. This can give you better quality control and lower labor costs that translate into serious savings compared to a stick-built home. Typically, you can plan on saving about $25 or more per square foot when you go with a manufactured or modular home. On a 1,300 square foot ranch, for instance, the savings would be about $32,500 less than a comparable on-site-built home.
In rural or remote areas, where it’s difficult to find good contractors and subcontractors, a modular or manufactured home can be the best way to get the home you want with all the amenities. Plus, these homes meet all state and federal building codes and can be financed with FHA, VA, or conventional 30-year loan programs. However, like any other housing option there are pluses, minuses, and pitfalls to look out for that can cost you big time. This chapter shows you how to avoid those pitfalls and get the best deal when you buy a manufactured, modular, or mobile home.
1 comment:
I am one satisfied homeowner living in a panelized home. A stick built house is not much different from a panelized house; I know a lot of homeoners who actually prefer the latter. Panelized homes are sturdy, can stand wear and tear, and very economical.
Building my own home was just a fantasy of mine until I heard about a DIY build house project. DIY is the most fulfilling thing I ever did; it eventually became my dream home.
In short, I am one of the 57% happy homeowners who plan on staying with their panelized homes for a long time.
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