Modular homes (Penn Hills, Economy, Duquesne: apartment, loan, how much)

[captainmidnight]

Does anyone have experience with modular homes in this area? My wife and I are considering several housing options and we came across modular/pre-fab homes and were interested. Any big risks involved?

We will be moving from an apartment in Elizabeth. We have a four month old and want at least one more child, so we are thinking a three bedroom home.

Thanks.

[Copanut]

They are currently building million dollar pre-fab homes in the Outer Banks. I think the stigma of "double wides" is starting to disappear.

[robrobrob]

They are also building multi million dollar modular homes outside of D.C. I forgot where I saw the article. Also, in the magazine This Old House, a company even advertizes about custom historic looking modular homes.

Every so often I will google them and look at the plans. My complaint is that the outsides look like a a Marona home.

[rugerjitsu]

Originally Posted by bmantz65

Does anyone have experience with modular homes in this area? My wife and I are considering several housing options and we came across modular/pre-fab homes and were interested. Any big risks involved?

We will be moving from an apartment in Elizabeth. We have a four month old and want at least one more child, so we are thinking a three bedroom home.

Thanks.

i think the main problem is finding land to put it on, then costs of getting it wired up to city utilities...

if you're planning on purchasing a modular already lived in, then there's really nothing to fret...they are as solid or more than regular homes, assuming that they were put together right!

[captainmidnight]

Originally Posted by rugerjitsu

i think the main problem is finding land to put it on, then costs of getting it wired up to city utilities...

if you're planning on purchasing a modular already lived in, then there's really nothing to fret...they are as solid or more than regular homes, assuming that they were put together right!

We found a piece of land online, but haven't seen it in person yet. We are just seeing our options. About how much is an estimate on the cost to get wired to utilities? The land has public water and sewage available.

[robrobrob]

Do you mean modular or manufactured? I think a manufactured home is a mobile home. A modular home is something different. With a modular home, you hire a contractor to finish the home once it is assembled on your lot. The modular home companies can give you an estimate for all of this stuff.

[Copanut]

Not to be a geek, but:


[SIZE=2]Mobile home: Built in a factory on a permanent steel chassis before June 15, 1976. Not built to a specific code. Not eligible for Fannie, Freddie, FHA and most conventional lenders. VA may loan on these.

Manufactured home: Almost the same as a mobile home but built AFTER June 15, 1976, on a permanent steel chassis and built to the HUD national building code. This home will have metal labels (plates) attached to the exterior showing a certification number. They will also have a paper data plate (label) on the interior with information about the home, where and when it was built, serial #'s etc. Eligible for Fannie, Freddie, FHA and VA. Needs to be "legally" affixed to the land.

Modular homes:
1. On frame/on chassis modular. Almost identical to a manufactured home. Could even have been built on the same assembly line on the same day as the MH in front of it and the one behind it. But it is not built to the HUD code. It is built to UBC or some other building code. These were built in the 80's as a get around for municipalities that prohibited mobile and manufactured homes (by building to the local building code or UBC, they didn't have to be called mobile or manufactured) There are very few of these left and are quite rare. Fannie won't lend on them. Freddie might. I don't think FHA will either. Be careful of these.

2. Off frame/off chassis modular. These are built in sections in a factory and not on a permanent chassis. They are built on removable frames that serve as a work table. These are then towed or loaded on a low-boy trailer and delivered to the site where they are craned onto prepared foundations. The finish work is done by specially trained contractors. When finished they are quite often indistinguisable from site built homes. Most appraisers won't recognize the finished product as modular. They can be compared with any site built home of similar quality. They are eligible for all types of financing.

Other types of factory built housing are kit homes, panelized construction and a few other systems.
[/SIZE]

[captainmidnight]

Originally Posted by robrobrob

Do you mean modular or manufactured? I think a manufactured home is a mobile home. A modular home is something different. With a modular home, you hire a contractor to finish the home once it is assembled on your lot. The modular home companies can give you an estimate for all of this stuff.

Modular. There seems to be some advantages to a modular home and I have read good reviews.

[Velvet Jones]

Originally Posted by bmantz65

We found a piece of land online, but haven't seen it in person yet. We are just seeing our options. About how much is an estimate on the cost to get wired to utilities? The land has public water and sewage available.

It can cost a fortune, depending on the municipality. I know that in Economy borough the tap in fees for water and sewer are over $12,000. But others, like Penn Hills, are only $2500 or so. Call the township and ask before making an offer on a lot. I never priced gas, but I think Duquesne Light was around $550 for electric hookup.

[Tallysmom]

Mind the quality -- do your research. Some people we knew had a gorgeous mod home and several years later it was just like a regular house -- no difference whatsoever.

Across the street from me three cheap mod homes were put in cheaply.... and they look like the crap they are.

In this case you really do get what you pay for. And we've lost touch with our friends so I can't find out who made their house.