Mobile Homes
After World War II, mobile homes were an attractive option for veterans as there was a shortage of traditionally built homes. Plus, with not being in active service, veterans needed to find jobs. The ability to travel and provide for their families allowed veterans the freedom to live where they want while acclimating to the best of their ability.
As time went on, mobile homes were built with little to no oversight. The lack of oversight allowed for the price of mobile homes to be cheap but lacking in quality and safety.
In the mid-1970s, the U.S. The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) put their foot down and enacted quality standards for manufactured homes with the “Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards” law, which became effective on June 15, 1976. This law separated mobile homes from manufactured homes, with a “mobile home” being a specific type of manufactured home. The term applies to any manufactured home built before June 15, 1976.
With this in mind, any mobile home on the market today is over 40 years old. Since the term “mobile home” only refers to prefabricated, transportable homes made before 1976, it’s a largely obsolete phrase and we heavily advise Colorado homeowners to think twice when buying a mobile home. Additionally, most lenders will not give out loans for mobile homes since they are unsafe and not approved by HUD. Even if mobile homes have been “updated” to attempt to meet the HUD’s standards, mobile will NEVER meet the standards due to the law that was passed.
Modular Homes
Modular and manufactured homes often get confused for one another, and it’s no surprise since they’re fairly similar. The main difference between manufactured vs. modular homes is that the modular home isn’t fully assembled before it’s shipped, while manufactured homes are fully assembled before transportation.
A modular home is a house that is built, section-by-section, in a factory setting. These factories are massive, climate-controlled facilities that assemble roughly 80-90% of the home inside the factory. These factories are compliant with the International Residential Code (IRC), which requires compliance with all state and local building regulations.
IRC is similar to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in that both put forth standards for quality and safety. When it comes to manufactured homes, HUD requires each home to have an attached steel chassis to help with transport, whereas homes constructed to IRC specifications are set on a permanent foundation — just like a site-built home.
The Benefits of a Modular Home
Nowadays, modular homes are built as efficiently as traditional stick-built homes. Quality control and adherence to local building codes have ensured that modular homes are safe and durable. Modular homes built in a controlled, indoor setting allow protection against weather or any other outside force. Raw materials are gathered and sent on-site to the factory where skilled workers assemble each component to your home. Other benefits Colorado modular homeowners enjoy are:
Design Flexibility
Imagine how fulfilling it would be to design your own home from top to bottom. Modular housing construction allows you to do just that! Our network of reputable manufacturers offers a wide range of house plans that can be customized to your preference. With a modular home, the design possibilities are endless.
Cost Efficiency
When comparing apples-to-apples, modular homes save Colorado home buyers between 20% to 30%. Considering the average home costs roughly $200,000, that’s a lot of savings. Those savings can give your Colorado modular home beautiful landscaping, or perhaps a playset for the kids.
Durability
Because modules are shipped they need a stronger frame. Basically, the modules go through quite a bit before being secured to their foundation, and that means that they have to be built more solidly. They are then secured to the foundation and each other using processes that are at least as rigorous as those used for site-built homes.
Colorado’s #1 Modular Home Builder
We hope this provides the insight you needed for your big decision. Modular homes are a great option for homeowners who want to build their custom dream home without the hassle of traditional construction and have the assurance of a sturdy construction.
At Rocky Mountain Modular Homes.com, we know that choosing a home is likely one of the most important financial decisions you will make. As an experienced modular home builder, we are committed to giving you peace of mind and being your guiding light through this process.
