While doing your research before buying a home, you must have come across terms such as ‘modular homes’ and ‘manufactured homes.’ For wannabe first-time homeowners, such terms could sound quite daunting. This can become a big problem when homeowners try to resell the house as well if there is a lack of clarity among both the parties involved. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to get a basic understanding of the intricacies involved to make an informed decision.

Read on to gain an insight in this regard so that you get to live in your dream home without any regrets.

What are modular homes?

Modular houses are prefabricated houses, in which the different sections of the house are built in a factory. The separate parts are joined together to form the house at the actual location. The term ‘modular’ comes from the method in which the houses are constructed, which is different from other forms of construction. The different parts of the houses, which are called ‘modules,’ are brought together from the factory to the site. Then, they are joined together with the help of various tools and machines to form the house.

At first glance, you can hardly differentiate between a modular house and a site-built house. As technology is advancing, the difference between the two is vanishing even more. Just like site-built houses, modular homes also have to follow all the local, state, and regional building codes. They are inspected by officials as well.

Modular homes are becoming more popular right now, primarily because modular homes are easier to repair after enduring any kind of damage, such as an aftermath of an earthquake. Many studies have shown that compared to built-in homes, modular homes can withstand the effects of natural phenomena like cyclones much better. Also, the time taken to build modular homes is lesser since machines do most of the work.

What are manufactured homes?

Manufactured homes are an updated version of what was previously known as a ‘mobile home.’ These homes are built entirely in a factory. The entire house is built on permanent steel chains, which have wheels attached to it so that the finished house can be transported to the site. After the transportation, you can retain the wheels or remove them, according to your requirement. In the year 1976, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) created some codes which the manufacturers must maintain while building manufactured homes. These codes enforce quality standards regarding transportability, energy efficiency, strength, and durability, etc.

Earlier, manufactured homes were seen more as a liability than as an asset. These homes, due to the low quality, lost value very easily and did not have any resale value. Also, due to its low cost, these houses were typically associated with low-income families. But modern manufactured houses have become much more valuable. Due to high-quality products that are being used nowadays to build these homes, they are not losing value, even after an extended period. These houses, especially the more modern versions, have become energy efficient, which is an added advantage.

Difference between modular and manufactured houses

Although both types of houses come under the category of ‘factory-built homes,’ there is a lot of difference between the two:

• Modular houses are built in different sections, and then the sections are transported to the site and joined together to build a home. On the other hand, manufactured homes are built on a steel chassis with wheels, and the whole house is transported to the site.
• Modular houses can be transported on flat trucks. However, manufactured homes require a tow truck for transporting the entire structure.
• It is more difficult to get loans for manufactured homes. On the other hand, loans for modular homes are easily available.
• The modular houses are built with keeping the IRC codes in mind, while manufactured homes are built by HUD codes.
• Manufactured homes have axles attached to them and are built on a permanent steel chassis. On the other hand, modular houses do not have axles and are laid on the ground.

By considering these factors and weighing the pros and cons, you can decide on the type of home that would suit you the best. The advantages of getting a modular home are greater than that of a manufactured home. Unless you are always on the move, transporting a manufactured home is difficult and time-consuming as compared to a modular house. The choice is entirely yours, depending on your budget and lifestyle.