Frequently Asked Questions

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We believe factory-built homes are one of the solutions to solving the housing shortage for several reasons:

1. The cost of the structure is less than building it on site. There is less waste and damage to the materials. There is more efficiency when builders are centered at one facility rather than traveling from site to site. Production line processes are more efficient than building one structure at a time. 

2. Federal financing programs have been developed to finance homes built in factories. When houses meet certain requirements, they can be appraised against site-built homes.

3. Homes maintain their value and appreciate at similar rates to site-buitl homes. 

We use high-quality building materials that are energy-efficient and durable. Materials are stored in a controlled indoor environment prior to usage, reducing waste due to weather damage, erosion, and theft.

We do not provide financing options directly, but we work with reputable lenders who offer a variety of competitive financing options for our clients. We can help you with organizing the documentation needed by your lenders to assess the value of the project.

We encourage our clients to be as involved as they would like to be in the building process. Our Concierge Construction Consulting services include frequent updates throughout the project to ensure our clients and stakeholders are informed and satisfied with the project's progress.

When exploring home construction options, it's essential to understand the key differences between on-site stick-built homes and off-site factory-built homes, often referred to as modular or manufactured homes. These distinctions span the construction process, cost efficiency, time frame for building, customization opportunities, and the financial aspects of ownership, such as financing and appraisal. Here's how they compare across these critical factors:

Construction Process:

• On-Site Stick Built Homes: These homes are constructed from the ground up at the property location, involving a traditional building process that can be influenced by weather and other external factors. Raw materials often sit outside at the job site, regardless of weather. 
• Off-Site Built Homes (Modular/Manufactured Homes): These homes are pre-constructed in a climate-controlled factory setting and then transported to the site, where they are placed on a permanent foundation, streamlining the building process and minimizing external disruptions.

Cost Efficiency:

• Stick Built Homes: The cost can vary widely, often higher due to the labor-intensive nature of on-site construction and material usage.
• Factory-Built Homes: Generally offer more cost-effective solutions due to the efficiencies of mass production, which reduces waste and leverages economies of scale.

Time Frame:

• On-Site Construction: Building a traditional stick-built home can take anywhere from several months to over a year, depending on various factors, including weather and labor availability.
• Factory Construction: The time frame is significantly reduced, often requiring only a few months from start to finish, thanks to the controlled factory environment. Labor is on-site and does not travel from job to job. Weather typically does not impact construction schedules.

Customization and Design:

• Stick Built Homes: Offer extensive customization options, allowing homeowners to tailor every aspect of their home's design and features.
• Modular/Manufactured Homes: Modern advances have greatly expanded customization possibilities, challenging the misconception that off-site built homes offer limited design choices. 

Quality and Durability:

• Stick Built Homes: Quality depends on the construction team's expertise, materials used, and site conditions, with variability in the final product's consistency.
• Factory Built Homes: Built under stringent quality control standards in a factory, ensuring consistent and high-quality output that rivals or exceeds traditional construction methods.

Financing and Appraisal:

• Stick Built Homes: Lenders are more familiar with traditional financing options, with appraisals based on comparable site-built homes in the area.
• Manufactured Homes that meet MHAdvantage standards: Financing has evolved, with many homes now qualifying for traditional mortgage terms and rates. MHAdvantage-qualifying houses are typically appraised against comparable site-built homes unless there are other MHAdvantage-qualifying homes in the area. 

Understanding these differences helps in making an informed decision when choosing between the traditional stick-built home construction and the modern efficiency of factory construction. 

The affordability of factory-built homes compared to traditional site-built homes can be attributed to several key factors that influence the overall cost efficiency and economic value of the home-buying process. Understanding these factors can help potential homeowners make informed decisions about their housing options. Here are the primary reasons factory-built homes are generally less expensive:

Factory Production Efficiency:

• Streamlined Manufacturing Process: Homes are built in a controlled factory environment, allowing for efficient assembly line production. This streamlined process reduces construction time and labor costs significantly, contributing to lower overall costs.

Bulk Material Purchases:

• Economies of Scale: Manufacturers purchase building materials in bulk, benefiting from economies of scale. Bulk purchasing results in lower material costs per unit, savings that are often passed on to the buyer, making manufactured homes more affordable.

Reduced Waste:

• Efficient Use of Materials: Factory-built homes produce less waste due to precise construction and material usage, minimizing excess costs associated with material disposal and loss seen in on-site construction projects.

Climate-Controlled Construction:

• No Weather Delays: The indoor manufacturing process eliminates weather-related delays and damage, ensuring a faster, more predictable build timeline, which in turn reduces financing and holding costs.

Labor Efficiency:

• Skilled Workforce: The construction of manufactured homes utilizes a skilled, stable workforce operating within a factory, leading to efficient and consistent labor use. This contrasts with the variable labor costs and scheduling challenges of site-built homes.

Design and Customization:

• Pre-Designed Options: While offering customization, manufactured homes also provide pre-designed models that streamline the design process, further reducing costs associated with custom architectural services.

Transportation and Installation:

• Integrated Logistics: The cost of transporting and installing manufactured homes is often lower than the cumulative costs of traditional construction logistics, including material deliveries and on-site labor coordination over an extended period.

Regulatory and Inspection Efficiency:

• Pre-Inspected Homes: Manufactured homes are inspected for compliance with federal HUD Code standards before leaving the factory, reducing the time and expense associated with multiple on-site inspections required for site-built homes.

Financing and Insurance:

• Specialized Financing Options: The growing acceptance of manufactured homes has led to more competitive financing and insurance options, contributing to their overall affordability.

In summary, the reduced cost of manufactured homes arises from efficient production processes, economies of scale in material purchasing, minimized waste, and streamlined labor and inspection processes. These factors make manufactured homes an attractive, affordable option for homebuyers seeking quality housing without the higher price tag associated with traditional site-built homes.