Posted: 1/20/2005 5:31:48 PM EDT
| Is it a big deal anymore? Me and the Fiance are on a search for a pad. We love this house outside of town, good view, large yard, three stall garage, built in 2002. The thing is it is a modular home. Are they still junk? We are having a hard time deciding what to do. We can afford this house outside of town, but if we want a house inside of town we have to get one buil 40 or so years ago? What would you do? |
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Good link to follow: Modular homes for sale Overview of modular homes |
although those are good links, I am not talking about a trailer. It is a 2600 square foot ranch style house. No frame or wheels. It has a foundation and a basement. Apparently modular and trailer mean the same thing. So I am trying to clarify. |
Wasn't trying to crap on your thread, just thought I would add a bit of humor  ETA: This website has a pretty decent faq on Modular homes. Apparently modular homes are built in an environment controlled warehouse which helps since the materials are not exposed to the elements. As for quality, that would depend who assembled the sections and who finalized the house and oversaw site construction. Modular Homes from Select |
| I wasn't getting upset, and I'm not saying that a trailer wouldn't be anything but a step up from our current situation, but it isn't what we are looking at. Currently we live in a house that would fit in a two stall garage. I know this cause I measured to humor myself. I consider myself really small house trash except you can sit on the couch without fear of sickness. |
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Have you had a building inspector check the home out (not one recommended by the real estate agent if there is one...) Other than that, check for cracks in the foundation, sheetrock repair, major water damage, termites (SD, not sure if there is a termite problem), normal stresss points on homes. Have any pics of the house you are looking at? |
I don't have any pics, but I will try to find the website where it is listed. When we looked at it we really liked it. I looked for cracks and anything wierd everywhere and didn't see anything, but I am not a carpenter either. I will post the link when I find it. |
| We are going the modular route, I wish I had known how much the field has improved..you do need ot find areputable company, but it is less than half the cost of stick built where we live. The construction is better, it is built to survive a 120 mph wind and a trip over the road. As for building inspectors, youhaveot find one that can read first. All modular are built in a factory that has a permanent inspector on site, they do not have to be inspected when they are put together. |
| friend has one - sees decent enough- have seen 2-story modulars too. His is on a wood basment foundation- I still am leery of them- guarnteed for 50 years- OK but what happens after that....cement will last you twice that - not gonna be around that long?...maybe your kids are.... |
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The newer homes have to be made to withstand over the road stresses, as well as being hoisted or lifted into place. A home built in place isn't designed to deal with these issues, therefore I would think there is a good chance the prebuilt might be stronger in some areas of construction. Building codes have come along way recently, new homes need to meet basic guidlines. A built in place home that is "spec built" will just meet building codes. I don't think a home built with minimun requirements would fare to well being transported and moved into place. Summary, I think a new prebuilt is often better built than a in place "spec build". A custom home or older home will likely be more rugged, as quailty was more a factor than cost. |
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Modular or mobile homes "depreciate" over the years just like cars. They do not "appreciate" or go up in value like regular homes so beware of becoming "upside-down" with your payments or you will be stuck paying on a home that is not worth the pay-off and you won't be able to sell it when you want to move because you won't be able to sell it for what is left on the mortgage. That's why there are special financing companies that only handle mobile homes or modular homes, like "Greentree Acceptance Corp". A lot of mortgage companies won't loan on mobiles or modulars because if the owner defaults on the loan, the lender can't auction it for what it is worth and they get stuck with the difference. I've got my asbestos undies on this morning, so flame away. But my brother is a mortgage lender and he explained this all to me a couple of years ago when I was considering buying one on Grand Lake as an investment. It's no investment, only the land that it sits on is. |
There is a difference between modular and manufactured homes. My house is an All American built home. It is 2800 sq ft with a finished walk out basement. It was built with 2x6 outside walls. They cull out and ship back any lumber they don't want to use. Everything is screwed and glued. Stronger than most site built. All walls are square as they are built in jigs. My home has only gone up in value. It is now worth a market value of 3000,000.00 I have had no problems with this home. The walls are flatter and more square than most any site built home. The electric and plumbing is done to state code. They have come a long way. |
I have a manufactured home and I can honestly say, it's the best built home I've ever lived in. The walls are uniform thickness and straight. All utilities are as good or better than any stick home. In fact these homes are currently built to higher HUD standards than conventional homes. I've had mine for a year and a half, and it's holding up perfectly. I put mine on a full basement foundation with the perimeter frame option. After reviewing my taxes/assessment this fall, I found that my property value went up 12%, an YEAR!!  The best part is that I got 3450 sqare feet of living space for eighty grand, while other people around here have paid more than twice that much for a similar home. I'm happy 
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Pale Pony is right, allot of lenders will not deal on a modular. If your house was ever on wheels it falls in this catergory. Also, this past spring we had some pretty bad tornados, touring the damage made me real glad I did not buy a modular. Still, your choice, as you can see, people who live in them seem to be happy. |
I had no problem what'so ever getting a loan for mine. In fact I had several lending institutions clamoring to give me the best deal. I got 5.5% for a construction loan (excavation included). Also, my home is tied to my basement more securely than most stick homes. This has been verified by an engineer. My home aint goin nowhere, tornado or not. |
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Point A - New construction loans are different from those for existing MH's. Point B - It's not the connection to the basement that you need to be worried about. Most of the tornado damaged MH's were still connected to the basement, you could see this from the helicopter. |
| One thing to check is the building code constrution. A lot of insurance companys look at HUD code as a "moblie home" , and an IRC or UBC as a stick built. HUD code houses will still have the trailer frame under them. UBC/IRC will have a single I beam under them. The answer to your original question is YES, the new UBC\IRC code houses are much better. |
A - Makes no diff. I was going to buy an existing one anyway. I was actually approved for the loan and backed out due to a problem with the septic system. B - Mine is built with 2x6s and 2x4s just like a regular house. I ain't worried 
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If there is a tornado it does not matter how your house is built, it will be gone. Had a tornado go thru my town when I was a kid and it left nothing but a hole in the ground where houses were. Even commercial buildings, with heavy cement block walls lost their roofs and walls. GunLvr |
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my parents bought a modular home. Big, close to 4500 sq feet. 2 story with garage and full basement. To look at it, you'd never know it came partially assembled, and it's by far the nicest home on their block. They've owned it for about 5 yrs now, and the only problem they had was a few shingles blew off during a storm. They live on the shore of Lake Huron and the winter storms are pretty brutal. They had the contractor who guaranteed the roof for 10 yrs come out and reshingle the whole thing, and it cost them nothing. I'm going to buy one for my next house...unless I find an absolutely smokin' deal on a pre-existing home on more than 15 acres. |
| Well it has a concrete foundataion/basement floor/walls and about 400 square feet of the basement is unfinished. I looked at the subflooring and I must say I thought it was build really well. I can't tell about where the halfs were put together though cause there is a wall in the basement that runs the entire length. The sub flooring bracing, if that is what it can be called, is not made of 2x4s alone. It is make to make each piece look like an I-Beam sort of. it had a 2x4 on top then about a foot of plywood and a 2x4 on bottom of each one. Looks pretty stout to me. I don't know what we should do though. It is either a house like this or a really one stick built. and given the options I cannt imagine a 60 year old house is better built or stronger than a new modular home, but I'll tell you again. I'm not a carpenter. |
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My biggest gripe with them is that they still use el cheapo POS appliances UNLESS you specify beforehand. The fnc is the worst area in which they fall down on. One reason is that one world be suprised how goegraphical a fnc can be, barring the "big names" that are overpriced, even if they are a bit better. That can mean you get a "bastard" furnace with no dealer, parts are available but only if the local dealer will either pull part numbers for you. [easy, but some will give you a hard time] have someone fix it for you.[dealer] or can fix it yourself and order the parts yourself.[many places will not sell to the public only dealers/certified repairmen. |
| My bank is more than happy to loan me for a modular home, I am dealing with www.excelhomes.com they build high end homes, come with Kenmore appliances.the glue and foam everything in place...the local guys don't work on monday because his crew has a hangover, |
| I don't know anyone off hand that owns one, but maybe the manufacturer would provide us with refrences or owners in the area. That wouldbe helpful. Today we took a trip around town and decided that we may be able to buy a nice lot in town and put a modular home on it. I can't imagine the neighborhood we are looking at has and rules cause there are people with sheds and boattrailers and dog kennels visible. It is a new neighborhood too so all of the houses look nicer. I will give them a call on monday and see what they will tell me and see if they will give me any names of people that own them. Thank you all for the replies |