Question:
What is the advantage of buying a modular or manufactured home versus a site-built home?
Answer:
One of the biggest advantages is cost—manufactured and modular homes typically cost less than stick-built homes. Another advantage is quality control. Because 70 to 90 percent of the home is completed in a factory, a modular or manufactured home is built under controlled conditions and strict quality control standards. Speed of construction is also a factor. Factory-built homes can be erected onsite in 1-2 days, as opposed to 3-6 months for a site-built home. The 1998 report, Factory and Site-Built Housing: A Comparative Analysis for the 21st Century (available at www.huduser.org/Publications/pdf/factory.pdf) showed an approximate 30 percent savings for manufactured homes and 10 percent savings for modular homes, over site-built homes.