The average price of traditional stick built homes in California has skyrocketed. Fortunately there other options to consider to get new home quality with a more practical price tag.
“California residents are lucky that many of the leading and highest-end prefab and modular home companies operate out of the state. Because of the high cost of normal construction in California relative to other states, modular and prefab housing are particularly competitively priced”. Source: https://www.prefabreview.com
A prefab home is any type of home that is created largely in a factory. That could mean that the entire home is created and built in the factory or it could mean that the parts are and they the home is assembled on-site
A modular home is a home built using a form of construction where modules are built in a factory and then shipped like shipping crates on the back of a truck to a site. Once on site, they are often assembled together using a crane. These generally have the least amount of site work necessary, but they tend to be a bit more constrained with respect to all the achievable shapes and designs. They typically use the same materials as a stick built home.
The major advantages of building with a pre fabricated home are: construction time, price, effect on neighbors during construction, no outside elements such as rain during construction, reduced theft and vandalism on the job site, state inspections approved (although you still need permits) and factory efficiency. Some disadvantages are overcoming the perception of a pre fabricated home, not all home designs can be built, challenges with financing and limited “finish work” available.
The steps to getting a modular home are:
- Feasibility study on each project
- Modular architect, conceptual design & budget projection/ financing
- Construction agreement
- Engineering
- Permitting
- Site Construction/ Modules delivery
- Onsite Completion
Green building! Modular building can include energy efficient and energy generation technology. Manufactures and designers will talk about Net Zero, Net Metering, Net Positive options.
Some energy considerations are:
- Generation: For example Solar Graphene Solar Panels are incredibly efficient.
- Storage: think Tesla Powerwall home battery
- Management: smart energy consumption controls
Building a brand new home has its advantages over purchased an older built home. For example you get all the current safety construction and comfort standards and high performing materials for insulation, windows, doors, efficient low voltage lighting, better noise reduction!
Additional key terms from prefabreview.com:
A Kit Home is a home where most or all of the parts are prefabricated in a factory and then sent to the site to be constructed. Some kit homes manufacturers help you build the home while others require you to build the home yourself or hire your own contractor.
A panelized home is a prefab home where the panels are constructed in a factory but they are assembled together on-site. They require more on- site work than a modular homes, but can typically have a wider variety of shapes and sizes.
California builders:
- https://www.bluhomes.com/
- https://www.s2amodular.com/
- https://www.hybridcorehomes.com/
- https://www.hybridcorehomes.com/gallery
- https://www.claytonhomes.com/
- http://www.deltechomes.com/
- http://www.protohomes.com/
- http://www.livinghomes.net/
- http://connect-homes.com/
- https://acre.co/
- https://www.dvele.com/
- http://stillwaterdwellings.com
- Video: https://youtu.be/Lj10evnclNA
- Video: Tayner. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4X6vsOl38Q&feature=youtu.be
Getting a loan for a prefab home is pretty similar to getting a loan for any new construction project. If like most people, you’re not planning to buy your home “all-cash”, then frequently you’ll likely get either: a construction loan – a short term loan that you then refinance out of post-construction or a temp to perm loan – a construction loan for the period of the construction that then converts to a normal mortgage post the house being finished. The advantage of these loans is you only have one mortgage close vs. two with just a construction loan.
If you are discouraged with he short supply of attractive homes on the market today or you want that brand new home, consider building with modular construction. In Placer County, Nevada County and the entire Norther California area we are seeing a shift to smart building to safe money and benefit form factory efficiency. Call us for more information and we can start the process to getting you into your new home!
