The house has landed

A modular home is absolutely our #1 choice for a home--if reasonably priced land in this area existed inside the 495. (I'm sorry, but $114K for 0.1 acre in Billerica seems overpriced to me). Modular homes are actually becoming more of the norm in hurricane-prone areas like the Gulf Coast, as modular homes are actually STRONGER than "regular" stick-built homes. Their travel-by-truck requires more rigorous strength codes. They're more energy-efficient because they're sealed more thoroughly in the factory--there are few places where air can come/go in the summer and winter. There are a nice group of modulars on the corner of Center St. and Winn St. in Burlington that I watched go in--I agree it's fascinating. Now, if only I could find that elusive piece of land.

Rona,

Yes, I would be thrilled with a well-designed modular home and would be happy living next to a well-designed modular home. Building costs are quite reasonable for the actual house (~40-30% less than stick), but what we found when we looked into having a modular home built were the site costs. As non-contractors, my husband and I do not have the experience needed to know what the site costs are, such as needing to bring in fill, septic design, permitting, etc. Therefore, contractors with the necessary experience are able to beat us to purchasing the property. We cannot afford a $50K or $100K cost overrun because of unforeseen site costs. If land prices continue to decline, we'll re-asses the modular idea.

jjack,
Finding the land was the hard part for my clients. It takes some time, some patience and some shoe leather. But, it can be done.Good luck!

I think that shipping container based modular homes would be an awesome urban design:
bldgblog.blogspot.com/2006/09/container-home-kit.html

jetsongreen.com/2009/06/maison-idekit-shipping-container-homes.html

Modular houses are not less expensive than stick built ,and they are not stronger. Modulars have multiple limitations that cannot be overcome..
They are one step up from a double wide . If you want to go this route , rent in a trailer park.

REmaven,

I've talked at length to both conventional, "stick-built" contractors as well as modular home contractors. My research has been extensive (we've been looking into this for more than a year), and modular homes have a proven track-record of strength, quality and affordability. It's a common misconception that "modular home" is related to "mobile home," and having lived in the South, I can tell you that there is a dramatic difference between the two--having been inside both. Part of the affordability of modular homes--especially right now--is that so many were manufactured to keep up with the building pace of the bubble years...and now many are sitting in factories waiting to be ordered. Most (if not all) of the modular builders I've talked to have several homes "on discount" because of this situation of high supply and low demand. I have absolutely NO hesitations about the quality of a modular home, whatsoever. All homes have to meet the same code and the same quality standards--and all of my research has led me to modular homes, hands-down.

#5, I am not sure where you are coming from. I agree with rest all that Modular home is just what we need in this rip off market. At least the contractors will know that people are exploring other options. I am sure, modulars are stronger and made well. It would be great if I know the company that 'Rona Fischman''s friends got their modulars from.

REmaven, where are you getting your info? The modulars I've seen look nothing at all like doublewides.

I saw a tour of a modular home on TV and it looked great. RE Maven, I think your info is dated by a few decades. Do a Google image search for modular homes. They have some houses that are amazing.

It really does not take much to improve upon developer built cookie cutter McMansions. Most developments during the housing boom are an eyesore with row after row of homes that look alike and lack any type of character. Of course, the developments in California, Arizona and Phoenix are even worse than here. Out there, they apparently only have access to a couple of different house designs, because all the homes literally look alike.

A well built modular home is no different than a well built stick frame. Instead of building a wall on site, you are building it in a factory. Codes are codes and whether you build a home on site or in a factory, you have to meet certain minimum standards.

John,
I don't know what you're implying about Phoenix. The houses are very different. For example, if you live at 22048 Buena Vista, you can easily tell that your house is the one with the two twos, a zero, a four and an eight. Your neighbor's house is 22050. Fives and zeros don't look anything like fours and eights.

The big plus with modular homes in New England is they're not subjected to weather during construction. Imagine what a typical stick built home would have gone through had it been built in the last two months here in the Boston area! Do you think the frame would really be fully dry before the roof went on with all the rain we've had this summer?

"Modulars have multiple limitations that cannot be overcome."

REMaven, want to clue us in on these limitations, or are you planning on leaving it at this -- a broadly negative statement with no specifics and no support?

I know nothing about modulars, but the posts here discussing the positive aspects of them sure seem to be able to point to some specific benefits and some specific reasons not to be afraid of the quality. This type of home would never have occurred to me, but it is interesting.

All - If you all think modulars are faster ,cheaper ,and better . Step back for a second and think . Why do developers stick build? It seems that if they could make more money faster they would . Faster , better ,cheaper is a myth, and just an advertising ploy. Don't believe what they tell you . Local contractors when custom building are grossly over priced because they realize you want something that you have no chance of doing yourself.
I have fifty years experience building , and have a pretty good understanding of the process.
In one townhouse project North of Boston, we considered prefabing the units . We sent the plans to a number of prefabers and the estimates were generally 20 to 30% higher than stick built. It seems that someone makes the profit, either the developer or the prefabber. Local contractors are adding excessive profit to the costs, The latest downturn should see some adjustments to those costs .
In an experiment, we hired a prefab company for a single family on an odd lot to see how much time savings would be possible. From the date of signing the contract , the prefab took nearly a month longer than stick building a similar home.
All houses are not created equal. As John points out, all house have to meet minimum standards. The prefabbers are very good at minimum standards . We never built a home that conformed to minimum standards . A home built to these standards is unexceptable in my mind.
As far as quality and design , the difference is similar to the differences between a Hyndai and a Bentley. If you buy your clothes at Walmart and think a gourmet meal is Friday's,you are probably a good prefab client.

Let me guess REmaven... you are a builder?
The manufacturers of modular units have set prices you can negotiate. Its like buying a car, a set price. You may need to pay for the land you park it on, the paved driveway, and a way to keep it out of the snow, but you dont randomly pay more because you say so.

And yes, they do have "standards" to meet, but transportation loads are much much greater than any loads a house will experience at site. All modular companies have to build to the transportation "standards" which dwarf any run of the mill stick house standards. Also, way to get your point across by ending your point with a sentence a 10 year old would use.... stick it to the middle class.... if they cant afford nice things, then they don't deserve a more expensively built stick house.

RE Maven,
Your post 14 is helpful. We were all responding to your post 5, which I think is unfair. I have a total of 8 months' experience in college mostly carrying around lumber. Some things I saw with stick built scared me. We framed most of a house with 2 penny nails because the general contractor couldn't be bothered to buy any more 3 penny nails, support rods for expensive bay windows ignored, putting a roof on without the necessary supports and almost losing the structure to a snowstorm, etc. Not everyone has your standards.

Many modular homes have great features and design. They are stronger than site built and are preferred by many living in coastal areas. Here is a video of one being set in Florida. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbIoXuKdeL4

I'd like to know approximately how far in advance these prefabs are made and where. Considering 23 states report significant problems with houses built with Chinese drywall I would be looking for specific assurances. As far as is known, Massachusetts builders didn't use those materials.

Perceptive,
The houses are built to order; they are not made in advance. There needs to be a go-ahead from the town before construction begins.
These clients closed on the land in May, and their house has landed. My other clients closed in April and their house is still being built. The difference is in the time to get the house plans approved by the respective towns.
The houses are built in New Hampshire.

Perceptive - Prefabs are not made in advance. They are constructed when an order is placed .
For fun ,I called a prefabber who advertises that they have an "overstock" .
I inquired as to what foundation sizes their " overstocks" would fit and what they could deliver immediately. As it turned out there were no "overstocks" just a total lack of orders.

REmaven: No question, prefabs used to be junk. But the technology has come a long way and has now reached a point where I don't think it's fair to generalize. There is a range of quality in prefabs-- from junk to excellent. The same can be said about stick-built. It's all about the particular home and the builder. It has little to do with the method of construction per se.

My opinions aside, I like how you called the prefabber out on his overstock claim... Very funny!

Most of the well-known modular manufacturers in the northeast build very good products, one reason that modular construction is higher in the northeast than anywhere else in the country. Those I am aware of generally use equal-to or better materials compared with a site-constructed home, higher skilled employees, and better tools. In most cases, there are far more inspections in a production facility - both by employees and by independent 3rd-parties. Equally important - if not more - is to find a retailer or builder that you trust, has a proven good track record, and is patient working with you.

Disclosure - I'm with a manufacturer of modular homes, reasonably new to the business, having spent several decades in high tech. I completely believe the faster, better, cheaper mantra having owned many homes over the years.

A lot of interesting comments here. I am not in the construction business and acted as the general contractor for my modular home in 2006. I would not have attempted that with a stick built home. I do not have the time or knowledge.

After buying 5 acres of land I spent a year of weekends and evenings clearing tress and brush. During this time I was also trying to decide whether to go with stick built or modular. I visited about a half dozen modular home builders. Some were high quality, some were not. I am sure the same goes for traditional builders. To me, that is the key - the builder that you choose.

As far as speed of construction, my 1700 sq ft ranch was completed in two weeks by the factory. Had I chosen to go with a custom floor plan, the time would have been longer. The house was going to be completed so fast, the site work had to be well under way before I placed the order.

#2 , you asked about site work costs. I detailed what my site work costs were in 2006 at modular home site costs.