In the United States, around 65% of families own their homes. 

For many people, getting a manufactured home is a way to step into a finished, cheaper alternative. A modular house offers plenty of advantages over a traditionally built home, but there are some misconceptions about them. 

If you’re about to make the leap and move into a modular home, there are a few things that you should consider. Modular homes have been popular for decades. In the past 30 years, there have been a lot of advances in the construction and assembly of modular homes. 

First of all, what is a modular house? You may hear them called modular homes, prefabricated homes, or manufactured homes. It all boils down to the same thing. They are homes built in a factory before shipment to a location and then assembly. 

Here are seven factors to keep in mind before you move into a modular house:

1. Modular Not Mobile 

A key thing to remember is that a modular house isn’t a mobile home. Their design has a foundation and function in all ways like a traditional home. The only difference between a modular and traditional home is how and where assembly takes place. 

If you do need to move your modular home you can expect that it will be at a considerable expense, so make sure you know where you want to put it. Just like you would if you were having a new home built on site, the expense to move a home can be pricey. 

2. Pay Attention to Zoning Regulations 

Not all areas will allow you to erect a manufactured home as your residence. If you do purchase land, make sure to check the local zoning laws. You should also make sure that if there’s an HOA they approve of it because otherwise, you could find yourself with considerable problems. 

A lot of these restrictions occurred decades ago. Before manufactured homes were as high quality or well built as they are today. These groups have concerns that having a modular home near them could reduce the value of their property. 

3. Manufactured Homes Do Not Depreciate Over Time

In reality, modular homes gain value exactly like traditionally built homes. This means that over time you can expect that your investment will grow in value. It is a mistaken belief by many that the value of a modular home goes down after sale, but it is like any other home once it is on a foundation. 

If there is depreciation then the cause will be damage, like any other home. If you keep up with your home, maintain it properly and take care of the exterior and interior it is like any other house. You’ll find that it can even be superior in some ways to regular homes. 

4. You Can Get a Mortgage

There’s no reason why you can’t get a mortgage with a modular house. You will have to find a bank that allows the mortgage, but modular financing isn’t as difficult as it once was. If you’re having the house constructed you may have to take additional steps depending on who you are having it built by. 

Here at Overlook Homes, we're now offering financing options with our partner, Hearth. You can be pre-approved in one minute, apply today.

5. Modular Construction Is More Efficient 

Having a modular house built for you is more efficient than traditional construction methods. You’ll notice that delays to regular construction because of supply shortages are fairly common, but with a modular home, they simply don’t happen. Each home is shipped together and put together on site, not built from scratch. 

Carbon output from construction is a major contributor to climate change. Modular homes are built in such a way that minimizes carbon emissions because all of the materials are kept in a central place and the construction and supply chain is more organized. 

6. Construction Materials and Techniques Have Improved

While in the past people used to complain about the quality of manufactured homes, that has disappeared. Modular homes are now among the finest, highest quality homes you can get. They are also often more efficient users of electricity and insulation, making it cheaper in many cases to live in a modular home. 

No matter what style or type of modular home you are buying, a modular homeowner can expect that their structure will be sturdy. They are made out of the same materials that a traditional home is. 

7. There Are Other Costs 

When you purchase a modular home, it is easy to think of the final cost as what you will pay in total. This is true if you are moving to an already established manufactured home, but not if you are having one built for you. If you are having one built, then you have to contend with other costs. 

These costs can include everything from having electricity and water run to a new site, as well as taxes and insurance costs. Anything that you would associate with new construction you can also add on to the cost of preparing your new modular home site. This also includes dirt work, such as leveling the building pad, and preliminary construction like foundation work. 

Your Modular House And You 

When you decide to get a modular house, you are seizing hold of several key advantages. They cost less to build as well as to heat and cool in most cases. You’ll have a lot of input on what design options you want extra. 

If the home is already built, then you will still benefit from modern construction and design choices. These will make your modular house a wonderful place to stay for years to come.

Overlook Homes offers log cabins crafted by experts with decades of experience. They use solid White Pine D-Logs harvested from the Appalachian Mountains to create custom homes. With Overlook Homes, you get a one-year structural warranty and a tornado-resistant design.

If you have any questions about modular homes, contact us.