do you own a modular home?

**halloweenfreak** · 03-26-2008, 11:31 PM

the hubby informed me he was tired of living in town, wants to move to the country. i told my family he was wanting to move and they are going to give us part of their land if we wanted to move a modular home in. i dont know a thing about these prefab houses. fill me in! ive been looking at pics and floor plans online, and they seem pretty nice, but i want some opinions from some people that actually live in or have lived in one.

**sixfreds** · 03-27-2008, 07:19 AM

I don't BUT one of my good friends so.
They are very happy, they have lived in their home for 7 years now and it was a lot quicker and cheaper then site built and a great quality.

Eileen

**changed4life** · 03-27-2008, 07:43 AM

I have never heard a bad thing about them. Actually, I've always heard good things. Have no particulars for you, though. Good luck, whatever you decide.

**mombottoo** · 03-27-2008, 09:41 AM

I have never lived in one, but my sister did. Initially she was very happy, nice interior/exterior and the floor plan was great! Within two years things started to fall apart, ie: trim, doors, floors warping, ect...so then things weren't so great any more. She ended up letting it go back because of the way it was falling apart (shoddy workmanship).

You need to remember though that we live in Michigan and our weather is not kind...for the most part. Personally I wouldn't trade a stick built for a modular any day of the week, but I do know a lot of people that live in them.

**della92** · 03-27-2008, 09:59 AM

My husband and I work for a custom home builder (stick-built) but my husband also has his own side business where he does small jobs up to good size additions. We replaced a roof on a modular house once and the framing was 2x2's on 24" centers (instead of 2x8 or 2x10's) with very thin plywood. Which made the roof feel very "spongy" as you walked across it.

The modular was very attractive and at a price we as custom builder couldn't even come close to, but on the other hand, the long term quality is not there.

**IntlMom** · 03-27-2008, 10:05 AM

Remember, there is HUGE difference between a Modular home and a Mpbile home. If you are talking about a Modular home, well then, maybe. But a Mobile home, well, just listed to Dave Ramsey to hear what he thinks about them.... (sorry, I'm not trying to offend anyone who lives in them). Dave will tell you that they are not worth any amount of money and they only go down in value, never up. Just something to consider.

My hubby? Oh yea, he calls 'em tornado magnets (Mobile homes)

**Missy** · 03-27-2008, 10:22 AM

we live in a modular. We like it.

**Holly** · 03-27-2008, 11:02 AM

we are looking for a modular home
somewhere.
we'd by the one next door but they are asking more than he paid for it.

**tbs727** · 03-27-2008, 12:04 PM

What is the difference between a modular and mobile home? Just curious. I think all we have around here are mobile homes.

**julieb** · 03-27-2008, 12:28 PM

Halloweenfreak have you looked into other types of homes? I have a friend of mine building a strawbale home. Jury is still out on that one yet but he seems real excited about it. Southern exposure and all that.

This might be a good time to do some research on alot of different homes and really find something that you can live with.

If it were me I would build either an earth home or a log cabin type home. Modular's scare me because of tornadoes.

**Holly** · 03-27-2008, 01:56 PM

Here is a link for a modular home

http://www.ritz-craft.com/

Here is a link for a mobile home

http://www.azchampion.com/

They are 2 different things.
Hope this helps. I'm not sure your area but these will give you an idea.

**freeze** · 03-27-2008, 02:57 PM

We have a BOCA home and have been very happy. The good news if you itemize on your taxes there is sales tax on a modular home and you can take the sales tax off of your taxes.

**DJ1972** · 03-27-2008, 03:18 PM

DH worked for Heritage Homes about 8 years ago, he did the elctrical in the homes. His comment: "I would never buy one of those things, no matter how "well" they tell you they are made they still depreciate in value."

**homemaker66** · 03-28-2008, 07:41 AM

We live in a 28 x 58 home and we love it. There would be a couple of things that I would do different. Put in real sheet rock because the walls are thin. Up grade the kitchen cabnets and on the sky lights if you live in the south I would not put them in because there is alot of heat comes through them. We live in the northern ny way up two hours past syracuse and it very cold durning the winter and it is very very long winters here and we only spent 700.00 on fuel this year and so far that is six months of the furnace running. We love the idea of the warrenty on everything from the roof, windows,applicances,ect. Make sure you do your homework on the dealer that is going to sell you the home. This is very very important. I wish that we had used a bank loan that the dealer always uses because it was costly and one big headache using our bank. Let the professionals put the well,septic,pad,and power because they have to back up their work. It is fun going through all of the homes but keep in mind the dealer should listen to what you want and how you want the home to lay out. Good luck and I hope this helped.

**G'MaDebbie** · 03-28-2008, 11:59 AM

Originally Posted by halloweenfreak

the hubby informed me he was tired of living in town, wants to move to the country. i told my family he was wanting to move and they are going to give us part of their land if we wanted to move a modular home in. i dont know a thing about these prefab houses. fill me in! ive been looking at pics and floor plans online, and they seem pretty nice, but i want some opinions from some people that actually live in or have lived in one.

I have been in the manufactured home business since 1995. I can tell you that you need to do your homework when it comes to buying a manufactured home. Right now I currently deal with Fairmont Homes out of Indiana. They have some very beautiful homes, and offer a line of inexpensive homes for the more common buyer.
Manufactured homes these days are built just like stick built homes, only they are built INSIDE and not outide in the elements. Mobile homes and Modular homes are all built on assembly lines just like cars (very interesting to see). All the materials they use to build a manufactured home are the same as a contractor would buy to build a stick home.
You will hear stories from people who claim their home fell apart, but it is all in how you take care of things. A stick built home will fall apart too if it is not taken care of. You also have to remember that "trailers" are a thing of the past, a trailer is something you would have bought back in 1972.
Mobile homes have a steel frame......Modular homes have a wood frame...that is the only difference between the two. Modular homes are made for land/home projects, such as putting them on a basement, which you can also do with a mobile. You would never know the difference between the two unless you knew where to look for the difference and the price of course.
Hope this helps you make your decision. Good Luck to you!